Desiring God - Killjoys: The Seven Deadly Sins

Killjoys: The Seven Deadly Sins
2015 Desiring God

Published by Desiring God
Post Office Box 2901
Minneapolis, MN 55402
www.desiringGod.org

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Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

Cover design: Peter Voth
Typesetting: Ryan Leichty
First printing 2015
Printed in the United States of America

CONTRIBUTORS

JOHNATHON BOWERS is Instructor of Theology and Christian Worldview at Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis. In 2015, he began a PhD program in Christian Philosophy at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Crystal, and their son, Charlie.

RYAN GRIFFITH is Assistant Professor of Christian World-view and Director of the Integrated Curriculum at Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, where he teaches biblical studies, church history, and literature. He is also a PhD student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

DAVID MATHIS is executive editor at desiringGod.org, pastor for Cities Church, Minneapolis, and adjunct professor at Bethlehem College & Seminary. He is co-editor of Acting the Miracle: Gods Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification and co-author of How to Stay Christian in Seminary. He and his wife Megan have three children.

JASON MEYER (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church and associate professor of New Testament at Bethlehem College & Seminary. Prior to coming to Bethlehem, he served as Dean of Chapel and Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at Louisiana College. He is the author of Preaching: A Biblical Theology and The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant in Pauline Theology.

Jonathan Parnell is a writer and content strategist at desiringGod.org, and is the lead pastor of Cities Church in MinneapolisSaint Paul, where he lives with his wife, Melissa, and their five children. He is also the coauthor of How to Stay Christian in Seminary (2014).

JOHN PIPER is founder and teacher for desiringGod.org and Chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary, Minneapolis. For more than 30 years, he served as pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church. He is the author of more than 50 books, including Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist and Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure. More than 30 years of his preaching and teaching ministry is available at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.

TONY REINKE is a content strategist and staff writer for desiringGod.org and the author of Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books (2011) and John Newton on the Christian Life: To Live Is Christ (2015). He hosts the podcast Ask Pastor John, and lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and their three children.

JOE RIGNEY is Assistant Professor of Theology and Christian Worldview at Bethlehem College & Seminary, and the author of The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts (2014) and Live Like a Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewiss Chronicles (2013). He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons.

MARSHALL SEGAL is the executive assistant to John Piper and a writer for desiringGod.org. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Bethlehem College & Seminary. He lives in Minneapolis and is a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.

MARSHALL SEGAL

His wife was gone. Sure, last night looked like a lot of nights recently. Shed walked out many times before, but this was different. The abandonment, the adultery, and the deception had mounted a massive assault on their marriage and family. Had it been three men in just six months? He feared there were more. Again and again, shed wrecked the familys affairs with her own. She had spent and overspent the family budget to please another guyanother illicit, irrational, imaginary love.

Their marriage, once sweet, had become a nightmare. Those first days, maybe even months, of marital bliss felt so distant and unfamiliar. It was hard for her husband to believe they were ever even real. Two childrena son and a daughterwere the real victims, loved by dad, but left by mom. They were conceived and raised in despair and misery. Their dad had always hoped things would change. He even promised that things would be different, that the loneliness and betrayal theyd known their whole lives would be turned for goodfor hope, belonging, and love.

Not knowing what to say to his confused and wounded children that night, dad knelt down between their beds, and he prayed:

God, please rescue my bridethe mother of my precious childrenfrom this destructive, suicidal path. Shes left us for other lovers, believing that with them shell find the protection and affection she craves. For as long as she runs from the promises we made and the family weve built together, graciously cause her to be unsatisfied, empty, and lonely. Maybe then, in her despair and need, she will remember us, return to our family, and be Wife and Mom again. If she would only come home, I would welcome her into my arms and heart as if it were our wedding day. I would love her as if we never lost her. Bring her home, for the sake of your Name, Amen. (Hosea 2:57)

Several years later, on a hot afternoon in August, the husband was walking downtown through a local park. His oldest, a teenager now, had left an assignment on the kitchen table, so he was dropping it off at school. He could walk from his office, and usually even enjoyed the break and exercise, but it was uncomfortable today. Temperatures had soared to record highs, leaving most people hiding inside until evening. He saw a woman, thoughthe only soul hed seen since he left work. She was exhausted, disheveled, and desperate. She was squeezing every last drop out of a public drinking fountain, clinging to it like she might drown if she let go. As he walked closer, he started to make out her face.

Hannah?... is that you? He looked into her eyes and saw the face he knew so well, the woman who had hurt him so deeply. She was still his wife. She looked around uncomfortably, as if she was waiting for someone else to walk by and discover her shame. She had left so much for so very little. She left the provision, safety, and intimacy of a truly good man for a treadmill of temporary pleasure and terrible, destructive life choices. The other men always seemed so attractive, but they never truly loved her, and the relationships never lasted.

Why are you out here, Hannah?

I have nowhere else to go, and I had to get away from him.... Im tired, and scared, and thirsty.

Come home, Hannah. You know I will take care of youwhatever you need. Ill provide for you and protect you. Youll never be thirsty again.

After several hard, awkward, silent moments, she finally looked back up at him, feeling lost, embarrassed, and ashamed. He was smiling. It wasnt the cute, nave, playful smile she saw on their first dates together. No, it had been replaced with something deeper, more refined, and durable. I love you, he said. She couldnt believe what she was seeing, what she was hearing.

But you dont know what Ive done... where Ive been.

No, I do. I know about the men. I know about the one at your apartment right now, and the six that came before him. I know each of their names, Hannah. Come home.