October 3, 2006
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John Piper: Popular, but Biblical ?
Why does John Piper think that, “DEMAND FOR A KIND OF ABSOLUTE, mathematical CERTAINTY about [your] right standing with God is ASKING FOR TOO MUCH. (When I Don’t Desire God, p217-218) Read Part 1 of a series analysing Piper’s view of faith.
Piper is one of the most popular preachers coming in the name of Sovereign Grace. He often says that believers are saved by Christ’s righteousness alone.
However, a preacher may use words such as “Imputed Righteousness”, but still deny the sufficiency of Chrst’s righteousness. For example, if a man preaches that a believer can doubt their salvation, then isn’t he saying that Christ’s righteousness is NOT enough to comfort believers?If Piper is correct when he says that unbelievers seek/long after God? He writes, “Moses… cried… “I pray thee, show me thy glory”. THIS IS THE HEART-PANG OF EVERY HUMAN BEING … Only a few diagnose the LONGING BENEATH EVERY HUMAN DESIRE — the LONGING TO SEE GOD.” (The Supremacy of God in Preaching, p 108) Look at Part 2
JP applies Psalms 27,40, 77, etc. to David’s own experiences. But didn’t the apostles apply these Psalms to Christ? Peruse Part 3
When Piper basing his assurance on his “humble heart”, is it any wonder he has doubts about his salvation? Read Part 4
Indeed, JP’s view that faith is more than belief, seems to be the reason he writes that assurance is an “agonizing problem” for him. Look at Part 5
Piper requires unbelievers to believe Christ died for them, when Christ probably did not. Scary, huh? More here: Part 6
How JP’s view that all men know God by nature, forces him to make saving faith mystical, i.e. more than knowledge. Read Part 7
Note — I do agree with Piper that Christ died only for the elect, that all believers are sanctified and persevere, and that believers experience godly sorrow and repentance. However, his view that faith in the Gospel is more than believing the facts of the Gospel is troublesome to say the least. If you read the seven-part series, you may, God willing, understand why.
Comments (4)
Brother, I notice that your birthday is in 1986, this would make you 20 years old. I appreciate your vigor, but honestly I think you are misguided on some issues. Dr. Piper has been pastoring for around 30 years and is in fact one of the best preachers of our day. You would do well to learn from hin instead of bashing him. Even if he is wrong his experience in life and in the pastorate could be very beneficial to you. There are things that He has seen and experienced that only come with age, which you do not have.
As far as this thing of assurance goes. I am not sure why you have made it your soapbox. I really feel that you should look into this thing with more of a clear, unskewed mind. I believe you are looking at the scriptures, maybe unknowingly, with the intent of conforming them to your own ideology; instead of letting them transform your mind.
If God has saved you I agree that you should do everything that you can to disprove fallacies. Much more, however, should you desire to be a blessing to those around you by speaking words of encouragement and edification. I ask you to look at the scriptures and write not with a mind to prove someone wrong but with a mind to lift someone up.
In Love
we understand that you disagree with piper after so many posts about it…instead of targeting people and writing theology around that target, maybe it should be the other way around.
i love you andrew, and i pray for you, as i hope you will do for me.
First, let me address your actual writing. I’m going to begin with the fact that it’s very difficult to follow your posts when you write in a font so large. A more normal font would make it easier to follow your logic. I’m then going to point out that I’m not sure how to connect Piper’s speaking to his own assurance of salvation. You pull his words out of context, which I guess shouldn’t surprise me considering your weak understanding of Scripture. You parrot well, but understand little.
Second, I’m going to caution you on something – John Piper is one of the most Christ-loving, Christ-exalting, humble men I have ever had the chance to meet. Usually I ignore your blog because of your unfounded criticism and very weird logic/theology. While wisdom can come even to youth, it is usually by keeping your mouth shut and your ears/heart open. You would do well to read the Bible’s verses on holding your tongue before having the audacity that you generally exhibit. I only speak now because I choose to defend a man I know to be not only Biblically sound and Biblically wise, but also of good, strong character.
Let me be blunt – Grow up spiritually. I say this as a believer calling another believer into account. God will not take lightly to the misrepresentation of His saints. You speak not out of love, but out of righteousness. You know, the Pharisees were perfect Calvinists. Check out what Christ had to say to them.
andrew,
Interesting post….
I do agree that sometimes “satisfaction”, etc., can be confusing terms. However, you need to read other portions of Scripture that discuss the issue of faith.
Faith is also terms as “calling on the name of the Lord” (Rom. 10:13), Coming to Christ, Receiving, Accepting, Depending, Believing, etc.
And, even the term belief (in the greek) means to go into someone for something. So, the term belief is not just “assent.” It’s a trust in someone for something. So, when we say that you must believe in Christ. We’re not saying, “Believe that He died on the cross for His elect.” We’re saying, “Believe in Christ to forgive YOU!”
I think your logic of assurance counters passages like Matthew 7:21-23 where Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
It seems to be more biblical to say, “Trust in/Depend on Christ for forgiveness” than to say, “Just believe that Jesus died on the cross for the elect and made the appropriate sacrifice for them.” When we say, “Jesus died FOR ME”, we’re saying that we’ve seen the cross and we want it and Jesus will and has saved us because we trust in Him to save us.
John 6.37: “All the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will in no wise cast out.” You have here an unbreakable chain: the Father’s giving of people to Christ leads directly to these people coming to Christ, which in turn leads directly to eternal security (if you will). (quote from Dr. Matthew Hoskinson)
This passage shows us that we must go to Christ for the gift of salvation. It’s not merely assenting to truth. Once we go to Christ, we are eternally secured by God.