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‘Another gospel’ is to imply that Piper has abandoned the faith and ‘deserted the one who called [him] by the grace of Christ’ (Gal 1:6). An accusation of heresy is really out of line and unfair.

Remember that we will have to give an account for every careless word spoken, so please be careful as to how you talk about your brother in Christ, whether it’s Piper or Driscoll etc. Be honourable towards them, and perhaps allow a little discernment or benefit of the doubt. Sure it may well be right in certain circumstances to question actions and words of other, particularly when the core truths of the gospel are at stake. But to bring out your heresy horns and start blowing them in the face of a faithful brother and servant of the Lord is a little dangerous in my opinion.

Loving warnings from a concerned brother!

I don’t read many of the other blogs and don’t know a whole lot about Camp but you’d better believe I’d say the same thing about him or John MacArthur or anyone else if they had said what Piper and Driscoll had said. In fact, we heard some of this same kind of nonsense in England. I am only going by what I heard Piper and Driscoll say not because of something Camp has said. Everything I have made comments on I checked out for myself.

On the other hand, I know you have made the comment that Piper is your pastor and whinged because people were saying things about your pastor! This is not a popularity contest that says the most popular preacher should be allowed to say whatever he wants regardless of what the Bible says! Your continued defense, in spite of the fact that what has been said and commented on IS contrary to the Word of God, shows forth the attitude that you don’t truly care what the Word of God says but you are more interested in WHO THE PERSON IS!

I truly believe in my heart that if this were Joe Blow off the street, you would not be saying anything and even applauding the fact that someone is standing for the truth but because it’s Piper and Driscoll it’s ok! THIS IS A DOUBLE STANDARD! I say this because although you have read (or say you have read) what contemplative means, you feel it’s ok. Either you are sticking your head in the sand and not reading what is truly meant by this or you are purposefully making yourself believe it is other than what it is. Either way, you are passing over heresy and error in order to say that Piper and Driscoll are not wrong. Yes, Piper is wrong in his associations because in effect he is saying that he approves what Driscoll stands for by having him at the Conference.

I am very much disappointed in the direction Piper has taken because I have read his books AND enjoyed them very much! No, you are wrong in saying that I would be all for someone simply because they are someone that I know. I defended Piper for quite awhile (to people I did know) but would not do so now because he is going the way that is contrary to the Bible! It’s time for you to wake up and realize that your pastor is betraying you into the hands of the enemy (namely Satan) by allowing heresy through other men to come into the flock that belongs to the LORD, NOT TO PIPER!

Desert Pastor’s wife

Piper did provide some gospel essentials, and he also failed to provide some gospel essentials therefore he presented a partial gospel in response to the question “What is the gospel?” Now, there are any number of explanations for this situation, and you’ve advanced several plausible ones here, but all we really have to go on at this time is the partial gospel presentation contained in the video itself.

You said: Piper WAS NOT presenting the Gospel.

Exactly. And isn’t that a curious response to the question “What is the gospel?” I and many others think it is.

In Christ,
CD

Thanks once again for your comments. You could turn the tables and claim all you wanted to as is your preference to do so. Personally, for me and Mrs. DP (LOL) this has NOTHING to do with Camp and whether he jumped on them first. I do huge amounts of reading (natural speed-reader at about 1500wpm – so I get through a lot every week). The reading I did brought questions to my mind which needed to be addressed.

I don’t care whether Camp or others would decide all of a sudden that the use of profane language or the use of sexually explicit materials were to be suddenly hip or cool. I believe it is still wrong and would raise a warning flag or banner even if I had to stand alone. FOrtunately, there are others who are willing to seek to live a life of holiness and CHOOSE NOT to accept a lot of what passes for reformed ministry.

Again, Jim you are jumping to huge extremes. There has been plenty of admittance that Piper is a great guy and our continued prayer is that the Lord will use him into the future for His honour and glory. The issue at stake is the recent denigration of the pulpit in front of evangelical Christianity by the inclusion of those who should have their mouths washed out with soap.

As to the points about the gospel message, I have not read enough on that particular issue to make a call at this time. This only applies to the matter of Driscoll/Tripp/et al.

The Desert Pastor

So when Piper, or anyone, is asked to answer the question: what is the gospel? then what we should expect IS the gospel in response. Don’t you agree?

All of us should remain teachable and humble to the critical words of others. Why? Because none of us have arrived in our sanctification and theology completely. Amen?

Amen Steve, amen.

James Pratt – Amen and amen! Soli Deo Gloria!

papapatriot – Exactly – repentance among other things…

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Where is Repentance?

You gave a wonderful explanation of the gospel!

I saw that SJC updated his original post with a separate link to another Piper video, but as you’ve already pointed out most everyone who knows anything about Piper knows that he has the capability of presenting the whole gospel which makes his statements in the linked video all the more curiously incongruous.

I’m sorry if you don’t find my post to be “at least” as decent and charitable as Steve Camp’s, whatever that’s supposed to mean. Maybe Steve Camp represents the bare minimum of Christian decency and charity that’s personally acceptable to you?

At any rate the question under discussion us in this thread seems fairly straightforward – in articulating a position on the essentials of the gospel why would Piper have omitted an essential of the gospel?

In Christ,
CD

“I deeply admire John Piper and his ministry to the Lord.”

Really?

At least Camp had the decency and charity to post a Piper video alongside this one where the gospel presentation is more fully-orbed.

You are, I am sure, fully aware that Piper has dozens of videos available on the Internet (much more if you include his video sermons) as well as hundreds of sermons available on his site. Yet, you want to pick at ONE 3-MINUTE VIDEO which you readily admit is neither “WRONG” nor “FALSE”, because it doesn’t contain every jot and tittle you’d like it to contain. Never mind that Piper has elsewhere explored this issue to depths you and I will likely never touch in this lifetime.

For shame.

http://blatzkrieg.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/deleted-at-defendingcontendingcom/

We have such a limited conception of what CHRIST JESUS did for us. HE left Heaven!!! no eye has seen, no ear has heard, or mind conceived of such Gloriousness. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah saw the LORD and pronounced a curse of death upon himself and confessed his sin. Even before being made aware of this chapter, I always thought of myself as disintegrating into nothing in HIS presence. And CHRIST died on a Cross. That was the most painful and disgraceful way a person, especially a Jew, could be put to death. And it pleased YHWH to crush HIM – what more do you need to know about GOD’S Mercy and Love for us? We only need one Blessing in our lives, and that is to be saved from the Wrath of GOD. Any other blessing we receive just makes GOD that much more Glorious.

I appreciate your comment and I agree with your assessment that Piper – in an explanation on the essentials of the gospel – missed the resurrection which thing scripture claims is an essential (1 Cor. 15:3-19). In my mind this is a staggering omission and one that’s worthy of further reflection and consideration. I recognize that my comments here are strident, yet they’re not intended to be merely petty, factious or divisive – after all we’re talking about the question of the contents of the gospel here, not a peripheral or secondary matter.

In our day the gospel itself is under direct assault from within the church and therefore it’s important for true, regenerate born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to “cut it straight” and draw lines in the sand when it comes to the truth of the eternal gospel of grace.

Let me clarify by plainly stating that I am not claiming that John Piper is consciously or intentionally attacking or attempting to undermine the gospel! Piper has been (and prayerfully will continue to be) mightily used of the Lord for His own glory, but in this instance a pastor-teacher of no less stature than Dr. John Piper swings and misses when the question at hand is What is the Gospel?. This is very troubling.

Teri,

I respect your feelings on this matter, and I deeply admire John Piper and his ministry to the Lord. This being said Piper’s poor judgment with respect to Driscoll and his unfortunate embrace of the notion that Jesus Christ was damned upon the cross are troubling enough in and of themselves to merit closer scrutiny of the contents of his teaching. Now when he comes out in a video and ticks off what he believes to be the essentials of the gospel but then proceeds to omit certain essentials of the gospel I think believers ought to prayerfully consider why such a thing might be so.

In Christ,
CD

You guys stop this! Pride and arrogance is ugly and this is no more “defending and contending” than a man in the moon. Step away from the computer and take a breath of fresh air outside. At this rate, the next time I see your blog posts we will be Jesus vs. Paul – defending and contending….

You guys do so much good, don’t start stooping to this, please.
Blessings and prayers,
Teri