By Linda Moldovan [Photo cred, Andrew Neel] John Piper recently penned a piece on the upcoming presidential election that has incited a strong reaction from Christians of every stripe. What Do We Mean … 4. But I wonder if future generations would understand if we explained the loss of our freedoms and the slaughter of millions of more babies by saying, “Yes, one party espoused these terrible policies. While abortion ranks among the top political priorities for evangelical voters, evangelicals are less than half as likely as Americans on average to say the president’s personal character is a deciding factor. His position was also misread by some “Never Trump” evangelicals who are campaigning for Biden this election. Pied Piper. “Now that is some theology. The school’s most recent convocation was an election-themed discussion with Republican Senator Ted Cruz and evangelist Tim Lee, a Liberty trustee and an outspoken advocate for Trump. The surprising thing is that this in effect puts him at odds with his generation and his theological constituency. As to our support for Trump, we can vote for him without selling our souls for him. Contents Introduction Are All Sins Equal? When it comes to Trump, we can vote for his policies while saying, “I don’t like many of the things he does and feel his example is often very destructive. John Piper (John Pieper Facebook page) John Piper … According to LifeWay Research, only 2 percent of evangelicals are backing a third-party candidate in 2020, compared to 8 percent four years ago. Here’s how, America's mental health, COVID-19 and the Book of Job. Seventh, I agree with him that, whatever path we take, it must enhance, not detract, from our witness for Jesus. Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Piper’s famous sermon “Don’t Waste Your Life” (also known as the seashells message). John Piper: On Election, Sin and the Painful Lives of Muscular Women. Theologian, author, and seminary professor Wayne Grudem has written a lengthy response to John Piper’s commentary on the 2020 election. Piper said he is baffled and bewildered over the fact that some Christians think they are “saving human lives and freedoms” by downplaying the destructive effects of a “self-absorbed, self-exalting” leader. John Piper has published a piece entitled “Policies, Persons And Paths to Ruin: Pondering the Implications of the 2020 Election.” 1 It is an attempt at a thoughtful summary of some of the things a Christian should keep in mind as election day approaches. Before sharing my differences, though, I want to share my points of affirmation. Pied Piper. Close. Here’s a list of 7 times Pastor MacArthur and Phil Johnson of GTY.ORG has rebuked John Piper for his errors. “Abortion is an evil the scope of which and depths of which very few people in our culture feel. He is author of more than 50 books, including Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist and most recently Providence. Bible translation is about more than just technical accuracy. I would recommend that Pastor Piper do a little more biblical research and seek the true mind of God and His will. John Piper: On Election, Sin and the Painful Lives of Muscular Women. Shortly after John Piper’s election post went viral, Liberty University removed the pastor’s convocation, citing “a controversy we did not seek out or desire.” Piper’s post implored Christians to consider the candidate’s character in addition to the issues. Before sharing my differences, though, I want to share my points of affirmation. John Piper on Christians in the 2020 Election. A number of years ago, he invited me to speak in Minneapolis for one … Continue Reading "John Piper, Me, and the Cool Shame Election" Or strip away religious freedoms. Theologian John Piper gives a sermon at Passion 2020 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Jan. 1, 2020. RZIM Confirms Ravi Zacharias’s Sexual Misconduct, Inside RZIM, Staff Push Leaders to Take Responsibility for Scandal, Ravi Zacharias’s Ministry Investigates Claims of Sexual Misconduct at Spas, Christian Leaders Pray for Peace and Safety Amid Capitol Mob, Jericho March Returns to DC to Pray for a Trump Miracle, When A Word Is Worth A Thousand Complaints (and When It Isn’t), Why There Are So Many ‘Miraculous’ Stories of Bibles Surviving Disaster. John Piper is soothing the conscience of people who will vote for evil policies that are far deadlier than any character concerns of Donald Trump. The Turning Point USA founder recently criticized Piper while speaking at a Tennessee church, saying the pastor has “no idea what he is talking about politically” and “he should stay out of this space, because he is a fool when it comes to this stuff.”, “So to Kirk, the preacher must stay out of politics, but the politician and his pundit can wade neck-deep into the church,” wrote Matthew Boedy, professor of rhetoric at the University of North Georgia. Timothy Keller is not an evangelical anomaly. Shortly after John Piper’s election post went viral, Liberty University removed the pastor’s convocation, citing “a controversy we did not seek out or desire.” Piper’s post implored Christians to consider the candidate’s character in addition to the issues. His Twitter feed in recent months is almost entirely Bible quotes and Bible commentary. John Piper has been a friend – a good and faithful friend – for more than 40 years. To begin with, the political system itself is earthly and flawed, with all candidates being far from perfect. Yet I differ with his suggestion that Christians might do best by sitting out the presidential election, since a vote for either Trump or Biden cannot be justified.. Before sharing my differences, though, I want to share my points of affirmation. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. October 22, 2020. Latest Videos. At times like this, my counsel is simple: Be idealistic in terms of living out your own faith as a witness for the Lord. Playlist: Line of Fire TV. First 2 were part of the Strange Fire Conference, the third one was an interview with Phil Johnson and the last 4 were blog posts written by MacArthur himself in response to claims made by John Piper. It aired Friday and is still available online. Theologian, author, and seminary professor Wayne Grudem has written a lengthy response to John Piper’s commentary on the 2020 election. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s). Destruction of more kinds than we can imagine.”. John Piper Weighs In on Trump. 3. 2. Twitter. Pastor Piper writes, “I find it bewildering that Christians can be so sure that greater damage will be done by bad judges, bad laws, and bad policies than is being done by the culture-infecting spread of the gangrene of sinful self-exaltation, and boasting, and strife-stirring (eristikos).”. Two videos of a discussion with Piper and Southern Baptist Convention president J. D. Greear were removed from Liberty’s social media and its convocation page at the direction of interim president Jerry Prevo. He writes, “I remain baffled that so many Christians consider the sins of unrepentant sexual immorality (porneia), unrepentant boastfulness (alazoneia), unrepentant vulgarity (aischrologia), unrepentant factiousness (dichostasiai), and the like, to be only toxic for our nation, while policies that endorse baby-killing, sex-switching, freedom-limiting, and socialistic overreach are viewed as deadly.”. Please click here to learn how. A week and a half before the election, theologian John Piper shared what quickly became one of American evangelicals’ most-talked-about political opinions of the campaign season. We can cast a ballot in his name on November 3 while shouting from the rooftops that our hope is in the Lord, not in a man or a party. I thank God for his remarkable worldwide ministry, his evident deep love for God, his faithfulness to every word of Scripture, and the way his life of self-sacrifice continues to provide a challenge to me personally. On the other hand, if those with a different agenda are empowered, their policies will affect us by the millions. Readers of my book Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? He stated then that he believed that Donald Trump was morally unqualified to … As I read it, his argument is that the ungodly traits in a president’s character are more deadly for a nation than any ungodly policies because they breed ungodly traits in the citizenry. That said, I believe both are egregiously wrong in this instance. John Piper Endorses Doug Wilson. by Michael L. Brown John Piper is one of the most respected Christian leaders in America, and I personally hold him in high esteem. Prevo cited negative feedback and the controversy surrounding Piper’s article, Lamb said. The Influences of Sin The Cool Shame Election Introduction: I will begin by saying that I owe a great deal to John Piper, and one of the central things I owe to him is respect. The university’s board of trustees met Friday following controversy over a photo circulating on social media. @JohnPiper. The pair recorded the session with pastor David Nasser, the senior vice president for spiritual development at Liberty, on October 12. Whipping out the ultimate tool in the pastor’s complexifying toolbox, he employs biblical Greek to add authority to his case against Trump and against voting at all. Second, I deeply share his concern that many American pastors have failed to develop “real, radical Christians,” Christians who will be willing to die for Jesus. Full report from outside investigation to be released in January. Timothy Keller is not an evangelical anomaly. The Pied Piper Plays Again. Piper tweeted the release of the article with the commentary, “This article is probably as close as you will get to an answer on how I will vote in the upcoming presidential election.” After reading the article, one cannot walk away with any other conclusion than John Piper will … John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. Yet I differ with his suggestion that Christians might do best by sitting out the presidential election, since a vote for either Trump or Biden cannot be justified. John Piper. Brett McCracken applies food-pyramid principles to our habits of media consumption. CTWeekly delivers the best content from ChristianityToday.com to your inbox each week. Do we therefore compromise our views on these issues so as to avoid offense? Here is a taste: In fact, I think it is a drastic mistake to think that the deadly influences of a leader come only through his policies and not also through his person. Comments on Facebook posts promoting the Piper-Greear convocation appeared to be directed at both speakers. 1. Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Why I Can't Help a... Why We Must Resist the War on... Is America a City on a Hill? A group called Christians Against Trumpism ran an ad in the Washington Post thanking Piper among other Christian voices who stood up against the president. The surprising thing is that this in effect puts him at odds with his generation and his theological constituency. How, then, can Christians vote for someone who embodies the former sins (such as “unrepentant boastfulness”) in the name of fighting against the latter sins (such as abortion)? Piper’s current views are consistent with his views during the last election. John Piper on Final Justification by Works. While the Baptist pastor doesn't mention either candidate by name, it's clear in his latest blog piece on DesiringGod.org that he … I have a massive problem with a self-identified pro-life, pro-Bible Christian voting for Biden and the Democrats. The Reformed Christian leader wrote about the “sins that destroy people” through the “deadly influences of a leader,” arguing faithful Christian voters shouldn’t only be concerned about abortion, but should also stand against “the culture-infecting spread of the gangrene of sinful self-exaltation, and boasting, and strife-stirring.”. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Join over 250,000 others to get the top stories curated daily, plus special offers! John Piper’s Liberty Convocation Pulled After Election Post University said Piper's appearance with J. D. Greear was “unfortunate timing,” falling the … Christian preacher and author John Piper is one of the few conservative Christian figures who doesn’t have glowing reviews of Donald Trump. The Influences of Sin The Cool Shame Election Introduction: I will begin by saying that I owe a great deal to John Piper, and one of the central things I owe to him is respect. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. Jerry Falwell Jr. Takes Leave of Absence from Liberty, After Binging on the Internet in 2020, We Need a Major Knowledge-Diet Overhaul. No doubt both are under a great deal of pressure to declare decisively on this election. John Piper Weighs In on Trump. If voting for a man with a sexually immoral past can give support to persecuted minorities in China, can that vote be justified? John Piper (John Pieper Facebook page)John Piper is one of the most respected Christian leaders in America, and I personally hold him in high esteem. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. John Piper Invites Rick Warren to speak at 2010 Desiring God Conference Before sharing my differences, though, I want to share my points of affirmation. Sixth, I respect the humility with which Pastor Piper presents his viewpoint, making clear that he is not telling anyone else how to vote. Contents Introduction Are All Sins Equal? Piper states that only a naive person would think a man who displays character traits that lead to death could also be pro-life. John Piper is one of the most respected Christian leaders in America, and I personally hold him in high esteem. If John Piper was present in King David’s time and King David’s rule was dependent upon an election, Pastor Piper would be caught sleeping and refusing to vote. Piper said he is baffled and bewildered over the fact that some Christians think they are “saving human lives and freedoms” by downplaying the destructive effects of a “self-absorbed, self-exalting” leader. He notes that the first list of sins is not only deadly in this world but also deadly forever. Posted on Fri Oct 12, 2012 by dee October 13, 2012. Piper states that he will vote for neither candidate, and lays out a solid argument for his stance. John Piper is one of the most respected Christian leaders in America, and I personally hold him in high esteem. John Piper answers, Greg Laurie: Let’s let go of anger in 2021, Churches, you become what you celebrate. First, I wholeheartedly agree with Pastor Piper that the foremost calling of a minister of the gospel “is to lead people to see Jesus Christ, trust his forgiveness for sins, treasure him above everything in this world, live in a way that shows his all-satisfying value, and help them make it to heaven with love and holiness.”. (SEE UPDATE BELOW).If I read him correctly, it sounds like he will not vote for Trump or Biden. Subscribe to CT and The non-believing world is appalled by the hypocrisy. John Piper Invites Rick Warren to speak at 2010 Desiring God Conference I thank God for his remarkable worldwide ministry, his evident deep love for God, his faithfulness to every word of Scripture, and the way his life of self-sacrifice continues to provide a challenge to me personally. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. It is another thing to empower a party that will sanction the killing of the unborn. I respect and admire author and pastor John Piper, but his recent column “pondering the implications of the 2020 election” has not persuaded me against voting for Donald Trump next week. Put another way, if voting for a boastful man can potentially save millions of babies’ lives, can that vote be justified? Here is a taste: In fact, I think it is a drastic mistake to think that the deadly influences of a leader come only through his policies and not also through his person. Dr. Brown Responds to Pastor John Piper on the Elections. Author and pastor John Piper published a blog on October 22 that has gained lots of attention, responses, and retorts. Fifth, I have no problem with a Christian saying he or she cannot vote for either candidate. “I think it is a drastic mistake to think that the deadly influences of a leader come only through his policies and not also through his person,” Piper … And does he get credit for keeping his promises and commitments in ways that few presidents in our lifetime have done? I wish John Piper would have come out earlier with this post. He adds, “I think it is a drastic mistake to think that the deadly influences of a leader come only through his policies and not also through his person.”. News and Current Events :: Pastor John Piper on Presidential Election Re: , on: 2020/10/24 18:19 BeginQuote: It is the sins of the preachers who failed to teach the people the way of life. Yet I differ with his suggestion that Christians might do best by sitting out the presidential election, since a vote for either Trump or Biden cannot be justified. Piper objected to the political use of his name, saying he had had not signed on to the statement. In a recent blog post, popular pastor John Piper asserts Republicans aren’t morally rigid enough. Conservative preacher and writer John Piper laid into American Christians recently for supporting Donald Trump for president. (Photo: Passion/Kendra Harrell) There's an "eternally significant" question Donald Trump and Joe Biden should ask themselves as votes continue to be counted, says John Piper, but it's not whether they've won this election. I wish John Piper would have come out earlier with this post. Pastor John Piper and the 2020 elections: A respectful response. CP VOICES do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post. To the contrary, hasn’t he expressed regret about some of his past actions? John Piper on Justification. If John Piper was present in King David’s time and King David’s rule was dependent upon an election, Pastor Piper would be caught sleeping and refusing to vote. We can proclaim that JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR and Trump is just our president (with giant fonts for the former and small fonts for the latter). Author and theologian John Piper has waded into the debate over who Christians should be casting their vote for on 3 November. As I read it, his argument is that the ungodly traits in a president’s character are more deadly for a nation than any ungodly policies because they breed ungodly traits in the citizenry. , self-exalting boastfulness, he served as pastor of Bethlehem College & seminary opposed them he... 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