Why God Is Not a Megalomaniac in Demanding to Be Worshiped

I really like Pastor John Piper. He believes and proclaims the Gospel with passion. He recently spoke at the Evangelical Theological Society and presented the basic outline of his take on who God is and why He has made us. I only list the main points of his talk. If you would like to read the whole thing - and it's not that long - you can find it here.

Thesis 1
My all-shaping conviction is that God created the universe in order that he might be worshipped with white-hot intensity by created beings who see his glory manifested in creation and history and supremely in the saving work of Christ.

Thesis 2
I am also persuaded that people need to be confronted with how self-exalting God is in this purpose.

Thesis 3
I press on this because I believe that if we are God-centered simply because we consciously or unconsciously believe God is man-centered, then our God-centeredness is in reality man-centeredness.

Thesis 4
God’s eternal, radical, ultimate commitment to his own self-exaltation permeates Scripture. His aim to be exalted glorified, admired, magnified, praised, and reverenced is seen to be the ultimate goal of all creation, all providence, and all saving acts.

Thesis 5
This is not megalomania because, unlike our self-exaltation, God’s self-exaltation draws attention to what gives greatest and longest joy, namely, himself.

Thesis 6
God’s pursuit of his glory and our pursuit of our joy turn out to be the same pursuit.

Thesis 7
To see this and believe this and experience this is radically transforming to worship—whether personal or corporate, marketplace or liturgical.