In the Orthodox tradition, Christians are often called to a life of repentance, vigilance, and asceticism. But this can sometimes leave people wondering: *Is it wrong to enjoy the pleasures of life — a good meal, a glass of wine, time with loved ones? Is pleasure itself something we must overcome?* At times, Orthodoxy can seem to paint all earthly enjoyments with a negative brush. But a deeper look reveals something more balanced and life-giving.
Creation Is Good
The Orthodox Church begins where Scripture begins: *“And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good”* (Genesis 1:31). The physical world is not evil; it is God’s creation and gift. Food, drink, beauty, music, intimacy, nature, and companionship — all are good in themselves and given to us for enjoyment.
Orthodoxy is not Gnostic. We do not believe that the body or the material world is opposed to the spiritual life. On the contrary, the Incarnation of Christ affirms that the material world can become the very means of communion with God.
Pleasure vs. Passion
The critical distinction is between pleasure and passion.
- Pleasure is a natural, holy enjoyment of what is good. It can uplift the heart and lead us to gratitude.
- Passion (pathos), as understood in Orthodox spirituality, is a disordered attachment — when pleasure becomes an end in itself or begins to dominate the will.
As St. Maximos the Confessor teaches us, pleasure in itself is not a sin. It is the misuse of pleasure that gives birth to sin.
We are not called to reject pleasure, but to rule over it — to enjoy without becoming enslaved, to partake without excess, and always to give thanks.
Moderation and Detachment
Orthodoxy calls us to practice moderation and detachment — not because the world is evil, but because our hearts are prone to idolize its gifts. The goal is freedom: to receive and enjoy what is good without being ruled by it.
A glass of wine with dinner, shared in love and gratitude, is a gift. But when we “need” it to feel whole, or overindulge, or use it to avoid inner emptiness, it becomes a passion.
Fasting and ascetic practices train us to re-order our desires — not to kill joy, but to make space for deeper joy: the joy of communion with Christ.
Asceticism as Joyful Freedom
The ascetic life is not about rejecting creation. It is about learning to love it rightly — to receive earthly joys as reflections of the eternal joy to come. The real question is not, *Is this pleasurable?* but, *Does this bring me closer to Christ or away from Him?*
As St. Paul writes:
“Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4).
Thanksgiving transforms pleasure into worship. It sanctifies enjoyment and guards the soul from slavery.
A Feast with Christ
Christ’s first miracle was at a wedding — turning water into wine, not for necessity, but for joy. The Christian life, at its heart, is not grim denial, but joyful communion. The Liturgy is a feast. The Kingdom is a banquet. The table of the Lord includes wine, bread, and shared love.
To enjoy life with thanksgiving, humility, and freedom is not a sin — it is a path to holiness.
Let every good thing draw your heart upward to its Giver. Receive it with love. Let it go when needed. This is the Orthodox way: not the rejection of pleasure, but its transfiguration.
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