About Gary Thomas

Gary Thomas is a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry brings people closer to Christ and closer to others. He unites the study of Scripture, church history, and the Christian classics to foster spiritual growth and deeper relationships within the Christian community. His unique message is designed to help you:

• Embrace the unique way that you interact with God.
• Partner in the spiritual growth and character formation of your spouse.
• Build a closer, grace-based family.
• Enjoy God with a new sense of freedom and delight.

Testimonials

“Gary Thomas writes for all of us who sometimes feel guilty about the good things God does for us. In Pure Pleasure, he helps us understand that the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10 is a better life than we could ever have imagined. And here is the good news: it is not life after death, but life after birth!”
—Dr. David Jeremiah, senior pastor, Shadow Mountain Community Church

“If Gary Thomas writes a book, you need to read it. It’s as simple as that. He has incredible insight into spiritual truths and is able to make those truths graspable for all audiences. In Pure Pleasure Gary reminds us it is OK for Christians to feel good—even have fun! A refreshing message at the right time for contemporary believers. You are going to enjoy this book.”
—Dr. Ed Young, Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas

“Gary’s book is unlike anything I have ever read. He has stumbled upon a hidden treasure of truth that will no doubt set many Christians free to experience God’s richest blessings. Like Sacred Marriage, Pure Pleasure is a groundbreaking book that I would recommend to any Christian who desires to more fully know the heart of God.”
—Dr. Juli Slattery, family psychologist, Focus on the Family

James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

A recently engaged man hesitatingly revealed to me that his love for his fiancé sometimes felt that it eclipsed his love for God. New mothers often feel overwhelmed with love for their babies in a way that they may not feel in that moment for God. Why do these common and natural feelings often cause Christians to doubt their devotion to their Savior?

A resounding warning to the children of Israel upon entering the Promised Land is often touted from pulpits as a prescription against pleasure. “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God…otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied…then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery (Deut. 8:11-14). But, this teaching has a very important prologue and even a New Testament counter-part.

The earlier verse 7 states, “The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land...” God gave his chosen people a land of pleasure, satisfaction, love, and joy. If such pleasures would inevitably lead us away from God, then why would he give them to us? If marital love and sex, raising children, soul-refreshing friendships and hobbies, healthful and enjoyable foods would unavoidably steal our devotion from God, then he would not provide them. He recognizes the potential of creation’s offerings to tempt us away in certain situations, but then gives advice about how to responsibly enjoy pleasure in ways that brings us to him instead of pulling us away from him.

We embrace pleasures responsibly by enjoying them according to God’s design, “walking in his ways and revering him” (Deut 8:6) - if you drink, don’t get drunk; eat, but don’t fall into gluttony; relish the fruit of the land, but don’t get trapped in materialism; enjoy sex, but express sexual pleasure solely within marriage.

God invites us, and indeed commands us, to enjoy this world as he created it – provided we do so as he designed it. Under God’s law, this created world becomes a lovely place of worship, delight, and spiritual wonder.