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Jewgrass
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2001
Total Posts : 113

Posted 12/9/2001 5:01 AM (GMT -6)

I found the following message by John Piper at http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper2k/6-11-00.htm

Piper may be one of the more outspoken enemies of Open-Theism, but I think this letter says a lot about the man's character.

--Jewgrass

John Piper:

I regret the sins of my heart and the sins of my mouth mainly. James 3:1-2 says, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well." I am not a perfect man. And I have stumbled and sinned with my heart and my mouth. And I am regretful of it. You have been a very forgiving and long-suffering people and have covered a multitude of sins with your love for me (1 Peter 4:8).

But this would be a good occasion, I think, to make at least one public confession of public sin. I received a letter from one of our members a while back calling me to repent for things I had said about Greg Boyd in this recent controversy over the foreknowledge of God. I see in my heart a great tendency to defend myself and to justify my words and my actions. And I know that the intensity with which I disapprove of "open theism" easily moves into scorning persons rather than disagreeing with viewpoints. So I sent this letter to the elders and asked them all to read it and tell me if in their view I need to confess to sin in this matter since I distrust my judgment about myself.

Here's a response from one of the elders whom I respect very highly. He wrote, "On two distinct occasions I do recall thinking: 'It seemed like John attacked Greg Boyd (not Greg's theology).' One of those occasions was at Northwestern College when, in a non-flattering way you mimicked Greg. . . . The problem was not with what was said. The problem was that the manner in which the words were spoken was disparaging [to] Greg. . . ." The second incident the elder refers to was on a Wednesday night when I referred to abominating Greg's theology. The elder wrote, "I suspect that only the most careful listeners could hear an angrily spoken phrase such as 'Even Greg Boyd, whose theology I abominate' as a description of theology and not an attack of the person."

So I want to publicly apologize for the sins of my tongue and the impure heart behind it. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," Jesus said (Matthew 12:34 RSV). I regret moving from what I hope is a proper disapproval of theology across the line into expressed scorn for the person on those occasions. As I look back over twenty years of ministry, I am regretful that one of my most characteristic sins is to be quick to anger and quick to criticize in a way that runs ahead of brokenhearted concern and pastoral compassion. So, as you look with me into the future, there's a place for you to focus your prayers. I don't want us to be an angry church. I want us to be a humble, joyful, singing, Christ-exalting, God-centered, Bible-believing, patient, caring, kind, merciful, truth-telling, broken-hearted and bold people. It would help if I were that way. Pray for me.

"But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves." --James 1:22

GregBoyd
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 1818

Posted 12/10/2001 12:26 AM (GMT -6)

I deeply respect any person who has the character to do this as well as the wisdom to be surrounded by leaders who can speak this honestly into his or her life.

Greg

"Three is the magic number, oh yes it is, it's the Magic Number" - De La Soul

writerdad
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 448

Posted 12/10/2001 5:51 AM (GMT -6)

I think this all anyone could want: disagree, keep the dialogue going and be loving enough to admit when one is wrong...

Starkman
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1747

Posted 12/10/2001 7:11 AM (GMT -6)

Well, there's a nice splash of Christian reality across my face. Makes me want to step back about five paces and examine myself before I open my mouth again (sheesh!). How good it is to have these reminders of humbleness and...to learn by them. God save me from embarrassing Him before others with my mouth! Gads!

Thanks very much, Mr. Piper - I've learned a lesson (again!) well today!

Starkman

Springs
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 636

Posted 12/10/2001 6:11 PM (GMT -6)

Reading this letter was an answer to prayer.
God is so faithful. I pray now, that those he leads will follow his example of walking humbly and justly.

"God has instituted prayer so as to confer upon his creatures the dignity of being causes." — Blaise Pascal

Tom
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 10353

Posted 12/11/2001 4:38 AM (GMT -6)

I was really happy to read this. I would have been happier if Piper somewhere in the course of his letter actually called Doc a "brother in Christ." Does he consider him so? I was thinking of Sproul's statement about Pinnock and wondered if Piper shared it.

Tom

writerdad
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 448

Posted 12/11/2001 5:58 AM (GMT -6)

Tom: any reformed brother calling an open theist a brother in Christ would be a true miracle...

writerdad
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 448

Posted 12/11/2001 5:59 AM (GMT -6)

...because, for them, to do so would be to admit that such views fit, somehow, within the scope of orthodoxy. And I don't think most reformed believers are ready to do that...

writerdad
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 448

Posted 12/11/2001 6:02 AM (GMT -6)

I am truly glad and grateful that Piper posted that, but I would add it was within a larger context of a full letter which included many different items. I would have hoped that Piper would contact Doc personally and deal with such things personally, for in doing so it helps to tear down walls and builts better understanding. However, everything is in small steps in life and perhaps this is the small steps towards that better understanding. Harold

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