I recognize some of our readers are not going to be pleased with this post, but we believe it is necessary to point out error when it occurs. Too many within evangelicalism hold some men in high regard to the point that they will accept all that individual states or preaches with no rebuke ever forthcoming for deviations into false doctrines or the acceptance of such. True believers would do well to remember that we must answer to our Lord Jesus Christ, and not to men. Men will fail, preachers will fall, evangelicals will decline into apostasy – and all of this will happen as the latter days come upon us. The apostle Paul made this clear in 2 Thessalonians 2.
Sadly, when evangelicals begin to slide, more times than not, the degree of the slope gets steeper rather than more shallow! For a long time, I have held a high regard for John Piper’s stand on the fundamentals of the faith. While I would not agree with him on a few issues, his doctrine has remained solid for years. I do not think that a great deal has changed that is until recently.
Despite the positions (language and sexual innuendos) that Mark Driscoll holds to and practices, John Piper continues to uphold this man as both a friend and as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. No public rebuke has been forthcoming from Dr. Piper at the degrading of the pulpit, but instead they continue to share ministry together.
Now the slope is getting steeper as John Piper openly endorses N.T. Wright and Douglas Wilson while sitting cozily with Mark Driscoll.
N.T. Wright holds to what is known as the New Perspective on Paul and in simple terms reaffirms the Roman Catholic teaching of salvation by works. N.T. Wright is teaching heresy and stands opposed to what the Reformation reaffirmed. Dr. Piper insists that N.T. Wright does not preach a false gospel but that he “preaches a very confusing gospel.” Dr. Piper is VERY wrong! The gospel is a simple message and what N.T. Wright teaches in the NPP is another gospel and one certainly not preached or taught by the apostle Paul. Let’s make this VERY clear — NPP rejects the doctrine of justification by faith alone AND IS HERESY!
Dr. Piper has also endorsed Douglas Wilson who holds to a teaching known as Federal Vision. In a nutshell, Federal Vision identifies the moral law of God to be the gospel. FV believes the moral law or The Ten Commandments can justify fallen sinful man by obedience to that law. FV confuses law and gospel. The apostle Paul made it clear that the law cannot be mixed with the gospel. Like NPP, FV is a teaching that is heresy! The law cannot be mixed with the gospel in order to obtain salvation or justification. It is by grace through faith alone, not by works.
Sadly, Dr. Piper for all he has done in the furtherance of the gospel is now mixing with and enthusiastically endorsing men who preach contrary to the Scriptures. Why he is doing this cannot be surmised. However, he is certainly showing a larger degree of latitude than would have been given by the apostles Paul, Peter, Jude, John, and James. The apostles of old would have put these men in the same camp as those they condemned in their epistles. These teachers spouting heresy should be shunned not embraced, and I believe Dr. Piper is showing a lack of wisdom and discernment in regards to both NT Wright and Douglas Wilson.
Galatians 3:21 – “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.”
I include a link to A Gentle Rebuke to Brother John from R. Scott Clark. This has been very well written and addresses the problem far better than I could do.
In addition, a post on Christian Research Network gives further information along with accompanying video in regards to Dr. Piper’s invitation to bringing Douglas Wilson to preach at his conference. You can read and watch at this link to a Gentle (and not so gentle) Rebuke.
I am sad to see this plummet continuing especially in light of the wonderful gospel message that Dr. Piper has been preaching for years. Why would anybody who preaches justification by faith alone be willing to endorse such preaching? Why would he endorse men who openly hold to heresy? Finally, why would Dr. Piper be so ready and willing to bring a man like Douglas Wilson to preach along side of him?
THAT IS CONFUSION and certainly DOES NOT portray the truths of the simple plan of salvation made available to all who place their faith alone in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary!
Watching the Slide Continue With Great Sadness,
The Desert Pastor
A.) I’ve been uneasy with Piper’s overly emotional approach to preaching.
B.) I’ve been blessed with much of his teaching.
C.) When any man strays, those who know and love him owe it to Christ to confront him with his error.
Many thanks for bringing this forward so we will be more and more on guard against error.
With a sad heart but a glad heart, for though men fail, Christ alone never will.
Manfred,
Thanks for your reply. I also want to reiterate that while he may be unwisely endorsing others teaching heresy, I do not consider Dr. Piper to be a heretic in anyway. I have gained much from Dr. Piper’s writing in the past particularly with regards to his book on missions.
TDP
I’d never heard of “Federal Vision” or “New Perspective on Paul” until the last few days. The thing that stood out to me was that we don’t need a new perspective on Paul.
It’s really puzzling to me why Piper would want to fellowship with these guys. The problems with his association with Driscoll seems a little more subtle, but his association with these guys is clearly wrong. What is he thinking?
Thanks,
Bill
I agree. I don’t get it either. It is sad, puzzling and disturbing. :/ I love his preaching and he’s had such great influence on so many.. May the Lord bless Dr. Piper with the truth and grant him wisdom in all things.
Thanks for highlighting this DP as I saw the same watching a Red Beetle video on YouTube. Re. Piper, I have been incensed by his endorsement of Driscoll as it is beyond pale in my eyes as the Scriptures are patently clear as to the qualification of an elder. Here, I won’t beat a dead horse as to why Mark Driscoll misses the mark, yet why Piper does not see this or hold him accountable is totally unacceptable in my eyes.
Along with this, I’m not sure why we should be surprised at how Federal Vision (i.e. Romanism cloaked) is gaining ground in the evangelical church and how men like Piper are falling prey to this nefarious enemy. He and many others are already advocates of Rome’s days/seasons of Advent, Lent, “christ” Mass, etc; which are nothing more than Papal traditions of men being taught as doctrine. Found of course no where in the Word as they are all inventions of Mother Rome now accepted by many as gospel truth even by those who preach with their lips Sola Scriptura. Yet these traditions are as far away from Sola Scriptura as law is from grace.
And so the slide continues back to papa pope with his open arms welcoming back to Rome the scattered sheep. This slide will continue as long as the church denies Sola Scriptura in all matters of faith and practice. And likewise where men are esteemed more for their oration and eloquence than for their Scriptural fidelity.
I would not go as far as to say Piper is falling prey to NPP. Did’nt he author a great book about justifcation recently?
Matthew,
I am not say he is falling prey to NPP anymore than hanging around Mark Driscoll means he is falling prey to cursing and using vulgar, sexual innuendos from the pulpit. What I am saying is that he is using a great lack of discernment in being so willing to openly endorse men who teach and believe either FV or NPP!
Again let me clarify that I believe John Piper has written many good things and ministered well down through the years to the encouragement and admonition of many. This is why I do not understand why he is choosing the path that he is going.
Thanks for your reply.
I was primarily addressing the statement made in the post made by brother Micahel.
Matthew and Desert Pastor –
I agree that John Piper may not necessarily be falling prey to adopting NPP/FV (the jury is still out) but the slide to Rome and the love of her outward adornments is clear w/o even considering NPP. This is why I mentioned the Romanism that is already accepted by John Piper and many others that hardly registers on the radar. Something which would sicken and grieve both the reformers and saints of old who stood boldly against the mother of harlots; many who died horrendous deaths for such stands during her reign of terror.
My greatest concern is for those who follow John Piper and any man who is in such a major spotlight. Many will accept what he says, advocates and whom he welcomes into fellowship lock, stock and barrel because of all the good he has done. A prime example is with Driscoll where you will find countless folks defending clear violations of the Scripture that if done by a non-believer would be publicly decried. But since Mark is “reformed” all guard is dropped, the gate is opened and the heresy/blasphemy walks un-accosted into the church.
This is why I am greatly concerned about John Piper. He is a shepherd and when one starts hanging out with those preaching heretical doctrine there is a problem. I view NPP/FW as a heretical doctrine that will lead many unsuspecting sheep to dine with wolves.
I, like you, am in no way condemning Piper but this is no small issue and I hope there will be a major turn for John not only here but in other areas as well.
brother Michael,
Thanks for your comments. I agree wholeheartedly that this is no small issue, and also agree that it seems strange that just because somebody is “reformed” that makes them acceptable to mainstream evangelicalism. As stated, I believe both NPP and FV are heretical teachings and will only serve to divide the true church as so many other doctrines have in recent years, including false teachings like open theism.
Having pastored in England for several years, I saw many churches fall away only to be caught back up in the arms of Rome! Very few had issues with such an adulterous marriage, even pastors who used to stand for the truth and would have held in high regard martyrs from centuries gone by. What a travesty!
It probably deserves to be mentioned that N.T. Wright is an Anglican Bishop and thus not part of the Lutheran / Calvinist reformation at all. His doctrines, as far as I can tell, and as far as the Anglican church can tell are fully in keeping with the Anglican church and not heretical to his church. If you believe the Anglican church preaches a false gospel that’s just a rejection of the breadth of ecumenicalism that Piper has always stood for. It is not something recent to Piper at all.
Have you ever read Doug Wilsons disturbing paper on slavery?
http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/Documents/southern_slavery_as_it_was.pdf
I really love John Piper and am very sad to see him slide. :(
I feel I need to defend Piper on one thing. About NT Wright. Did anyone actually read Piper’s response to this man’s writing?
I am asking about this book because it explains very well where people who condemn NT Wright go wrong in understanding what he says.
I do not agree with NT Wright (neither does Piper) and absolutely despise his books but Piper was more balanced and he was able to point out NT Wright redefines everything and therefore for example the word ‘justification’ used in Wright’s books is not the traditional understanding.
I think it is really important to see before we start saying NT is going back to Roman Catholicism.
Still, I agree Piper should behave differently concerning other things mentioned in the article.
CD-Host, i am anglican and there are many different views is this church.
There are strong Calvinists among us. And there are those who are absolutely heretical on the other side. Just like with Baptists I guess. And no, NT Wright does not represent a traditional beliefs of the anglican church (at least not in his books).
And just because reformation in England and Scotland happened after Luther does not mean it was worse or not influenced by him.