Our thoughts? If Dr. Piper wanted to say that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father but by Him, there are better ways to say that. Such as, oh, I don't know, quoting the actual Scripture verse rather than coming up with an obscure Universalist haiku. Just sayin'
Additional Resources
John Piper Encouraging Lectio Divina
John Piper's Bethlehem Baptist Church Endorsing Books by Contemplative Spirituality Mystics Dallas Willard and Richard Foster
Beth Moore and John Piper Lead "Lectio Divina Lite" Prayer at Passion 2012 Conference
We're Really Not Out To "Get" Beth Moore and John Piper
Just Do Something: How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc. - by Kevin DeYoung
Just Do Something - by Kevin DeYoung (audio)
Secular Interview About What Mysticism Is - BBC Radio Program
What Is Mysticism? (Sola Sisters Article)
What Is Mysticism? (3-Part Series by Dr. Gary Gilley) - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5
On John Piper and Lectio Divina
Biblical Silence vs. Mystical Silence
Testimony of a Former Mystic
Rick Warren Gets John Piper's Stamp of Approval?
Its also a logical fallacy. Allah doesn't have a son and in Islam Jesus isn't deity and wasn't raised from the dead. So, no, Muslims cannot know Allah through the crucified and risen Christ. "Allah" is not just another name for God - he was a pagan moon god. One cannot come to a false god through the risen Christ.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly, Jessica. I might also point out that the "Adonai" the unbelieving Jews worship does not have a Son named Jesus either. So they have not known the God of the Bible, neither can they know Him outside of faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. John 8:54-55.
ReplyDeleteGood point!
DeleteWith Piper's recent excursion into Lecto Divina,the next time he goes "silent" and listens for the "voice" of Jesus he will be told that it's okay to follow after allah. How anyone can defend this guy is amazing.
ReplyDeleteDarrel
I also caught the "Allah can be known" bit, immediately recognizing that just as the idols that food are offered to are nothing, so is Allah. It is rather startling that a man of Dr. Pipers education and theological training would knowingly or unknowingly make a mistake that nullifies it's own claim.
ReplyDeleteI fear the leaven, I fear it greatly. With just a little leaven, one looks up from the book one is reading and realizes that although the ship was only off by 1/2 of one degree, it is now closer to the North pole than England, when it all seemed so clear leaving Boston. As the crumbs are wiped from the lap, suddenly the new and better muffin with the sweet, sweet leaven doesn't quite taste so...good.
And so it is with men and women, when we begin to veer ever so slightly away from sound and sure doctrines, and yes, traditions. And yes, our Religion. Worse yet to our peril when we ignore the warnings of those around us.
I saw the post on Facebook and he has stirred up a hornets nest, Christians arguing with each other over the meaning of what he wrote. He could easily settle it by explaining himself but he has not. He has posted several other status updates since this one and has chosen not to address this one, or clarify, causing so much division between people on there.
ReplyDeleteI am not a Piper fan but hearing about him and the Lecto Divina, supporting Beth Moore and such; I don't think I will be anytime soon either.
Anyone who knows about Piper's history with Ralph Winter would not really be surprised about this. Just go to the Mission Frontiers website and you'll see plenty of articles about missions that are questionable at best. This is also where the Piper/Warren partnership began - with Ralph Winter.
ReplyDeleteSome more data and even quotes would be very helpful.
DeleteSean,
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean:
http://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/article/muslim-hindu-and-buddhist-followers-of-jesus-how-should-we-respond
Very sad...
Allah is simply a the Arabic word for God. I don't get the Universalist assertion here...
ReplyDelete