Tuesday, November 27, 2007

I had no intention on posting anything today...we have a great dialog going on in the comment section of our last post. But I came across this clip by Dr. John Piper and I got all choked up and upset...my heart broke...people of God sober up! I could not resist posting it now...this is the voice of a New Testament prophet of God...

19 comments:

Community Gospel Church said...

It is tragic the lies that have been propogated regarding faith. God help us.

irreverend fox said...

amen Joel. God help us. this "prosperity gospel" is a cancer which has infected too many local churches...both Pentecostal, Baptist and "non-denominational"...God help us indeed.

the cure...as in every heresy...is found behind "the pulpit". men of God, filled with the Holy Spirit and with fire in the belly, must move and flow in the power of the Spirit and speak against this in no more uncertain terms. ENOUGH!

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

You guys should stop judging. If you all want to stay poor and suffer and if you all want tell poor people around the world to stay poor and sick that's on you.

But I'm not going to be poor!

Matthew 7:7-11 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

Anonymous said...

Gary,

Piper has become one of the most influencial men of God in my life. He preaches the truth without compromise and with power. This message in particular is very important in the materialistic world in which we live. Many Christians have this concept that Jesus is supposed to take away all the problems of life and only bring prosperity and earthly blessings. We miss out on the concept of denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus. We forget about the Rich man that Jesus looked at and told to go sell all he had and follow Him. We forget about the fishermen who left their nets in the water as Jesus said "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." We in a America are so "I" focused that we cannot see the cross clearly anymore.

Thanks for this post. May the true Gospel bring us salvation and the heart to follow Jesus wherever He leads!!!

Chris

irreverend fox said...

adam,

thank you for reminding me why I write semper reformanda.

brother chris,

thanks and AMEN! I hate to break this to you brother...but Piper is a CALVINIST!

lol

Isaac said...

I like the message, but honestly I don't get much from the po/mo music track underneath. I guess I just have a revulsion toward music being used in a way that tends to manipulate rather than express a collective feeling. But certainly this is a good message. Piper should come learn from the Orthodox about how to suffer.

irreverend fox said...
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irreverend fox said...
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irreverend fox said...

the Reformed Church has its share of pain, heartbreak, suffering persecution and martyrs throughout ancient and contemporary history.

we have more than one champion who bore a cross or two and knew "how" to suffer with grace, glory to God.

Anonymous said...

I am still amazed that people still follow the prosperity gospel. Who is prospering? Nobody but the one sitting up on the stage.God help us.Jesus lived a life of sacrifice, indeed the Apostles gave up everything not so that anyone could gain riches on this earth. Paul says I lay down everything for gospel of Jesus Christ. How many times does a man, or woman have to hear that their big breakthrough is just ahead, and every time it never happens its because....well you just didnt have the faith. Let me break down exactly what the prosperity gospel really is. Its a game. People exploiting young Christians, hurting them, and giving them enough rope to hang themselves with.Giving them false hope.(Remember that false hope is still hope)I hate the prosperity gospel, its not biblical, its not the life Jesus called us to live. Heaven will be where I store my treasures.Anything I receive on this earth is a bonus from God, as he is all I need, he is all anyone needs.

Anonymous said...

I have never commented before but I have to speak up, Zac, that comment was arrogant and quite judgmental. You do not know anything about John Piper, what suffering he has been through or how he has dealt with it.

Thanks for all the great posts Pastor Fox! When are you going to preach at our church again?

~Anne

Isaac said...

Dear to Christ Anne,

I'm sorry that my arrogance forced you to speak up, although it is nice to see another poster!

I don't wish to defend myself, but let me just clarify that I'm definitely not belittling or trivializing Piper or his individual capacity for, or experience of suffering. In this brief sound-byte he says that he wishes that the Christian Church would be marked by suffering for Christ, which is a profound statement even without the emo-music in the background. I meant that he should read the lives of the Orthodox of the 20th Century who suffered unspeakable death and torture for the name of Christ throughout Russia and Eastern Europe at the hands of the godless. I could name countless other examples down through history, but my point is the Orthodox really are marked by suffering for Christ. And he could learn from that-- maybe that's arrogant of me... but let me just also say that I could learn from it too.

Comment more often, Anne, or I'll be forced to become more arrogant! =^)

Anonymous said...

Gary,

As for Piper being a Calvinist...I am okay with that. I don't like titles...but I am part Calvinist...just not a 5 pointer!!!!

Piper is a brillant man of God for our day and time. I learn from him what I can. By the way Max Lucado is another man who has greatly impacted my theology...I don't think he is a Calvinist! John Maxwell is another. There are others but these are the big ones.

If it is predestined...have a great day :)

PC

irreverend fox said...

AMEN BROTHER CHRIS! We will have a great day if God wills it! lol...and I choose to believe it, lol!

Anne,

thanks for emerging! tell your pastor to give me a call! let's take it easy on zac and not cast judgment upon him (by bouncing words like "arrogant" around) or his motivations. We evaluate statements...not people. Trust me...zac is not arrogant.

zac,

you certainly can not be assuming that Dr. John Piper is unfamiliar with the lives of the Saints or specifically the plight of the Eastern Orthodox? I'm sure he could lecture the both of us in Church History. I'm really not sure why you would say he should learn about these things when he is a famous, distinguished and celebrated scholar...

Isaac said...

Gary,

Well yes, I am assuming... not because I'm certain of it but because Orthodoxy in general and the horrible persecutions of the 20th Century in particular are for the most part unknown in mainstream American Evangelicalism, even to the famous pastors.

How much Church history does Dr. Piper know? Perhaps much, perhaps little, depending on his own focus and the resources of the seminary he attended. I would definitely like to hear more soundbytes from him, either way.

irreverend fox said...

hey zac!

yeah...Dr. Piper is no flashy or pop mega church pastor by any means. he is a first rate scholar and incredible communicator.

I would encourage you and everybody else to check out all the free resources he has at his website,

http://www.desiringgod.org/

Isaac said...

Just wanted you to know I finally posted on my blog again.

Rev. said...

AMEN!