Inspired by John Piper
- 03.31.10
- Church, Fasting, Sabbath, John Piper
- 9 Comments
I’ve admired John Piper for some time now. I was introduced to him back in college in the form of his book, Desiring God. It was required reading for a class I was taking, and I devoured it. In it, Piper gave me permission to enjoy God and enjoy my faith-journey with Him. This was a breath of fresh air for someone like me who had been raised in a very legalistic church where enjoyment of anything was suspect at best.
I am now in my 15th year of full-time church ministry, and John Piper has been one of my closest ministry companions over the years. His constant outpouring of books, sermons, articles, and blog entries have been a part of my ministry diet since the beginning. When I hear him preach, I’m inspired to be a better preacher, and when I read his writings, I’m inspired to be a deeper thinker. His passion for the glory of God is contagious…but its taken its toll on him.
According to The Christian Post, Piper announced last Sunday to his congregation at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis that he will be taking his first-ever break from ministry to “reexamine his soul”. He apologized to his congregation for not a specific deed but for the “sins of my own soul,” “ongoing character flaws” and stresses that they have caused to others.
He admitted to several species of pride that “may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry, but I grieve over them.”
This will be the first time in his 30 years of preaching that he will take an extended leave of absence. For the next eight months, Piper’s public life of preaching, writing, and speaking nationally will go silent. “I’m letting go of all of it,” he said. This means no preaching, no book writing, no blogging, no tweeting, no articles, no papers and no speaking engagements.
I have to admit that when I read about this, I was immediately stunned. Not for him, but for me. I think its safe to say that John Piper is a rock – not perfect but a serious and passionate follower of Christ. If he needs to reexamine his soul, what does this mean for me?
Once again, John Piper has inspired me. He’s inspired me to look deep inside of myself – to reexamine my soul – to see in what ways the sins of my soul, my ongoing character flaws, and the stresses I have caused others need to be brought under the Lord’s submission and repented of. Seems highly likely that my Lenten period of reflection and examination needs to extend beyond Easter Sunday.
May the Lord minister deeply to my ministry companion during his time of fasting from ministry, and may the Lord minister deeply to me – and to all men and women who minister in His name – in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
PIPED PIPER JOHN INVITES RICK WARREN HERETIC TO DG 2010
FIRST THE CLOSE WORK WITH EMERGENT CHURCH MARK DRISCOLL FOLLOWED BY A 8 MONTH LEAVE FROM MINISTRY DUE TO ” UNNAMED PRIDE ..? ” NOW HIS DESIRING GOD CONFERENCE HAS NOTED HERETIC PROSPERITY GOSPEL MONEY HUNGRY MEGACHURCH AUTHOR RICK WARREN AS A SPEAKER. WHAT’S SAD IS SO MANY YOUTH OF TODAY PASTORS OF TOMORROW FOLLOW PIPER’S HEDONIST DOCTRINE OF PREACHING TEACHING & WRITINGS ! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH JOHN, COME BACK TO YOUR FIRST LOVE !!
MRWBBIII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJmkk1XjrGw
MRWBBIII – You are a ridiculous nut who doesn’t know what you’re talking about…shut up.
Well, I think I’d have to agree more with “sick…” than with “MRWBBIII. MRWBBIII: I don’t know who you are, but I do know that you are wrong in your assessment of John Piper, Rick Warren, and Mark Driscoll. Most (if not all) pastors struggle with what John Piper calls “several species of pride.” As a matter of fact, I would say that EVERYONE breathing struggles with some species of pride. I admire John Piper for stepping away from things for a time to sort things out. My only criticism of him would be that he probably should have done this long before now. Sabbaticals for pastors are a MUST if they’re going to survive for the long-haul. And to say that Rick Warren teaches the prosperity gospel and is money-hungry…COME ON! You’re way off on that. Rick Warren has refunded his church his entire salary of the past 25 years. He serves Saddleback for free. And, he is using the money from his book sales to fight AIDS in Africa. Not something a money-hungry man does. And by the way, the video you posted makes no sense. The point you’re trying to make with it is lost.
Mike, I agree completely with your response, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was just challenged by Paul’s attitude in 1 Cor 9:27 which I think calls for a similar response. Paul says “No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” if Paul was concerned with not wanting to be disqualified, how desparately I need God to search my soul.
Thank you for this post. It really makes this church-wounded person think that at least some pastors in this country are trying to get on the right track.
JOHN PIPER ON RICK WARREN DESIRING GOD 2010 SERMON JAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSmU8EcbjWk
MRWBBIII: May I recommend you get your facts from venues other than YouTube. Perhaps you should read the men you defame and listen to ENTIRE sermons from their own mouths in CONTEXT before making erroneous claims. Don’t believe everything you hear, watch, and read online, it will save people a lot of time, pain, and dignity, including yourself.
I assume you mean well, but meaning well is not enough, you have to study/research well too.
Alan I would listen to Rick Warren preach but I cant afford a ticket to the show….:( Its OK I count it as a blessing !:)
MRWBBIII
If only we would ALL take our sin seriously.