Comments on: Book Review: God is the Gospel by John Piper http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:13:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Josh http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-2#comment-129696 Josh Sun, 09 Sep 2007 05:50:34 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-129696 If God focuses so much on the "benefits" he gives to us as his covenant people (see Gen. 12, Is. 53), why should we fast from thinking about them? To say God is the Gospel, when the Gospel includes benefits, ie, salvation, forgiveness, etc., then we neuter His Gospel if we do not meditate on what He has decreed. Preach the Gospel, not some new gospel, which despises the fullness thereof--Psa 103:2: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. If God focuses so much on the “benefits” he gives to us as his covenant people (see Gen. 12, Is. 53), why should we fast from thinking about them? To say God is the Gospel, when the Gospel includes benefits, ie, salvation, forgiveness, etc., then we neuter His Gospel if we do not meditate on what He has decreed. Preach the Gospel, not some new gospel, which despises the fullness thereof–Psa 103:2: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

]]> By: Mike Keller http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-2#comment-113044 Mike Keller Sat, 07 Jul 2007 07:41:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-113044 The criticisms leveled against John Piper echo the criticisms leveled against Richard Baxter, John Wesley, Johnathan Edwards, George Whitfield, D.L. Moody, etc. These guys were also accused of "perfectionism". I wonder who God will own on judgement day, their critics or them? God seems to have overlooked their theological imperfections and I'm confident he will do the same for John Piper. Cry out for grace to desire God more. mkeller4christ@yahoo.com The criticisms leveled against John Piper echo the criticisms leveled against Richard Baxter, John Wesley, Johnathan Edwards, George Whitfield, D.L. Moody, etc. These guys were also accused of “perfectionism”. I wonder who God will own on judgement day, their critics or them?

God seems to have overlooked their theological imperfections and I’m confident he will do the same for John Piper.

Cry out for grace to desire God more.

mkeller4christ@yahoo.com

]]> By: Eric Phillips http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-1#comment-4211 Eric Phillips Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-4211 Sounds like an expansion of an article I've read by Piper, and with the same big problem. He's right on target in 95% of what he says, but then he says, well, what you've identified as a problem. He says that without a conscious focus on wanting GOD as opposed to wanting things like forgiveness and eternal life, you're not actually saved. And that's just really, really, really bad. Really bad. Really very bad. Bad enough that I don't think I can even focus on the other 95% of his argument. Sounds like an expansion of an article I’ve read by Piper, and with the same big problem. He’s right on target in 95% of what he says, but then he says, well, what you’ve identified as a problem. He says that without a conscious focus on wanting GOD as opposed to wanting things like forgiveness and eternal life, you’re not actually saved. And that’s just really, really, really bad.

Really bad.

Really very bad. Bad enough that I don’t think I can even focus on the other 95% of his argument.

]]> By: Don C. http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-1#comment-4212 Don C. Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-4212 Eric said it before me, but I agree. Here is the part that gets me: If Piper is right, I might as well throw in the towel right now. I don't think I can ever love God as much as he deserves, though I try. And if being saved means I must *always* want God more than anything, 24/7/365, never letting up for even a nanosecond, I'm doomed, because being human and a sinner, that won't happen. I will stumble. Where's the hope in that? Eric said it before me, but I agree. Here is the part that gets me: If Piper is right, I might as well throw in the towel right now. I don’t think I can ever love God as much as he deserves, though I try. And if being saved means I must *always* want God more than anything, 24/7/365, never letting up for even a nanosecond, I’m doomed, because being human and a sinner, that won’t happen. I will stumble.

Where’s the hope in that?

]]> By: iMonk http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-1#comment-4213 iMonk Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-4213 Piper is clear that our experience of this is imperfect and incomplete. I am most concerned with the uncritical use of Edwards. JE was brilliant, but on Christian experience he needed a massive dose of Luther. I mean people in his church went nuts, maybe even committed suicide, under this introspection stuff. Piper is clear that our experience of this is imperfect and incomplete.

I am most concerned with the uncritical use of Edwards. JE was brilliant, but on Christian experience he needed a massive dose of Luther.

I mean people in his church went nuts, maybe even committed suicide, under this introspection stuff.

]]> By: Scott http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-1#comment-4214 Scott Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-4214 Michael, Thanks for the review. I am looking forward to reading it. Until I can buy it I am reading it online here. <a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/product/1581347510/browse/1#browse">http://www.gnpcb.org/product/1581347510/browse/1#browse</a> The thing that worries me is what the others have said. 24/7 there are things I love more than God. Scott Michael,

Thanks for the review. I am looking forward to reading it. Until I can buy it I am reading it online here.

http://www.gnpcb.org/product/1581347510/browse/1#browse

The thing that worries me is what the others have said. 24/7 there are things I love more than God.

Scott

]]> By: Eric Phillips http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-1#comment-4215 Eric Phillips Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-4215 Of course Piper has to say it's imperfect and incomplete, because he isn't _insane_. But that really doesn't help matters. Here's the quandry it leaves us in: 1) We know we can't desire God perfectly. 2) But we also know we have to do it to SOME degree, or we're screwed. 3) Short of perfection, there is no other measure of degree we can actually recognize. 4) Therefore we simply don't KNOW if we're screwed or not, which 5) Causes us to doubt the Gospel. Or at least to doubt that it's for US, which is the same thing. It's a new kind of works righteousness, and more damning than the old kind, because it's all based on emotions instead of actions. Of course Piper has to say it’s imperfect and incomplete, because he isn’t _insane_. But that really doesn’t help matters. Here’s the quandry it leaves us in:

1) We know we can’t desire God perfectly.
2) But we also know we have to do it to SOME degree, or we’re screwed.
3) Short of perfection, there is no other measure of degree we can actually recognize.
4) Therefore we simply don’t KNOW if we’re screwed or not, which
5) Causes us to doubt the Gospel. Or at least to doubt that it’s for US, which is the same thing.

It’s a new kind of works righteousness, and more damning than the old kind, because it’s all based on emotions instead of actions.

]]> By: Bill http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-1#comment-4216 Bill Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-4216 I haven't read the book, so maybe it's not the right time to comment, but suppose you examine yourself and find that your motives or desires don't line up with Piper's (and presumably God's), then what do you do? I know from long experience that it is nearly impossible for people (me) to incubate and cultivate emotions or desires. What's the solution? I haven’t read the book, so maybe it’s not the right time to comment, but suppose you examine yourself and find that your motives or desires don’t line up with Piper’s (and presumably God’s), then what do you do? I know from long experience that it is nearly impossible for people (me) to incubate and cultivate emotions or desires. What’s the solution?

]]> By: iMonk http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-1#comment-4217 iMonk Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-4217 Here is an earlier post with a critique of JP by Steve Brown. <a href="http://www.internetmonk.com/archives/2005/05/019911.html">http://www.internetmonk.com/archives/2005/05/019911.html</a> Here is an earlier post with a critique of JP by Steve Brown.

http://www.internetmonk.com/archives/2005/05/019911.html

]]> By: Don C. http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/book-review-god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper/comment-page-1#comment-4218 Don C. Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=199#comment-4218 Eric, that is exactly what I mean. Thanks for saying it better than I did. Eric, that is exactly what I mean. Thanks for saying it better than I did.

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