Piper on Gratitude

On the Desiring God site, Pastor John Piper has responded to statements from atheist Christopher Hitchens (author of God is Not Great) and Bishop John Shelby Spong complaining that Christianity requires so much gratitude to God. He provides quotes from both attacking a "permanent" "posture of gratitude" to God as resulting in "weakness, childishness, and dependency."

I'm glad Piper is engaging these two on the issue, especially since I think Christians sometimes secretly feel the same way about being prodded to "give thanks" all the time.

You say this “constant gratitude” produces “childishness.” Not really. Children do not naturally say thank you. They come into the world believing that the world owes them everything they want. You have to drill “thank you” into the selfish heart of a child. Feeling grateful and saying it often is a mark of remarkable maturity. We have a name for people who don’t feel thankful for what they receive. We call them ingrates. And everyone knows they are acting like selfish children. They are childish. No, Bishop Spong, God wants us to grow up into mature, thoughtful, wise, humble, thankful people. The opposite is childish.

The whole thing is worth reading for the content and as an excellent example of engaging those who attack God's glory with truth, graciousness, and wisdom.

(HT: Between Two Worlds)