The ideal Christian life

“The ideal Christian life is not a prim, stifling affair in which we moralistically perform righteousness for the Lord as joylessly as possible. The ideal Christian life, the good life God intends for us, is a joyful, pleasurable, happy affair in which we shun sin and seek holiness because we treasure God and desire to taste His goodness in all facets of our lives. We pursue holiness with abandon, but we do so in full view of the expressed mercy of the cross. We live sacrificially and in moderation, but also treasure our bodies and the good gifts available to us on this earth. Swept up in happiness, we exude not a self-righteous, judgmental spirit but a deep joy rooted in conviction and love for God and man.”

— Owen Strachan and Doug Sweeney, Jonathan Edwards: On the Good Life, p69.