Posted on 10/24/2020 8:01:49 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
John Piper, founder of DesiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary, speaks at the MLK50 Conference hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and The Gospel Coalition in Memphis, Tennessee,
Christians from across the spectrum have weighed in on influential pastor and author John Piper's op-ed piece criticizing Christians' support for President Donald Trump.
“I think it is a drastic mistake to think that the deadly influences of a leader come only through his policies and not also through his person,” Piper, founder of Desiring God, wrote on Thursday. “Flagrant boastfulness, vulgarity, immorality and factiousness are not only self-incriminating; they are nation-corrupting.”
Though he later clarified he is not voting for either Trump or Biden, Piper said he is “baffled” by the fact that “so many Christians seem to be sure that they are saving human lives and freedoms by treating as minimal the destructive effects of the spreading gangrene of high-profile, high-handed, culture-shaping sin.”
“Christians communicate a falsehood to unbelievers (who are also baffled!) when we act as if policies and laws that protect life and freedom are more precious than being a certain kind of person. The church is paying dearly, and will continue to pay, for our communicating this falsehood year after year,” he wrote.
Piper’s blog post elicited a wide range of responses from Christian and political leaders, from Beth Moore to NFL star Benjamin Watson.
On Twitter, Moore, a popular Bible teacher, said Piper’s comments are consistent with the approach he’s always taken toward politics.
"Re: John Piper. The article yesterday came from the same John Piper I met 20+ years ago. 100% consistent. And if you want a preacher who will only preach what doesn’t offend you, you need to find one who doesn’t preach the Scriptures. There’s plenty out there. Knock yourself out."
"DO NOT SAY in the aftermath of all this madness, why didn’t anybody warn us???"
In a separate tweet, she wrote: “Incalculable damage was done by marrying evangelicalism to republicanism. (Same would be true if it had been Dem party.) My generation is the elder child of this unholy marriage and we are so deeply indoctrinated, we see them as 1 flesh. NO. The church is married to Christ alone.”
New York Times bestselling author Joel Richardson said that while he “loves” Piper, “abortion is not merely one of many equally relevant factors in this coming election.”
“To equate @POTUS' sins with the societally acceptable wholesale slaughter of the single most innocent little lambs that this world has to offer is straight up bull,” he wrote.
Conservative Christian commentator Allie Beth Stuckey added, “Any leftist cheering on John Piper today will be severely disappointed in his views on marriage, gender, abortion and socialism. Piper is not a liberal.”
In contrast, influential pastor Thabiti Anyabwile called the post “maybe the best blog post I’ve ever read” from Piper.
NFL star Benjamin Watson also approvingly shared Piper’s post.
John Piper is what I refer to as a pseudo spiritual snob. A person’s personality that is repugnant to him is cause for condemning the the good work of that individual. Piper has sacrificed his spirit to his ego. Unfortunate...
Piper has never come close to experiencing the vicious 24/7 onslaught of evil President Trump has dealt with.
Yet Trump fights and wins against the forces of evil, moving the ball forward and preserving the Constitution so Piper can criticize him.
I’ve never cared for Piper’s form of legalism, but his current statement reveals his lack of judgement.
Perhaps he is a closet liberal who hopes to sway believers from Trump.
No sale.
Beth Moore didn’t vote for DONALD Trump either!
Meh!
That is so not true!
If Piper is associated with the New Apostolic Reformation, then I got no time for the dude either.
The Pope, Piper and others are too. God is getting ready to drain the swamp in His church!
Does anyone know Piper’s opinion on Mitt Romney who had the mannerisms that Piper wants but was an advocate of a clearly-false gospel? I know that Piper would prefer someone like Mike Pence but was he okay with Mitt Romney?
Piper probably loved Jimmy Carter.
Bkmk
Tithes are down through the church community. Government money to resettle immigrants, I believe, is the mainstay now. Pastors will not preach against their pocketbook... well, some that is.
“Beth Moore” ??? PULEEEZE!
Women fall for this witch’s bullshirt. She’s a fake, phony, false prophet.
The church we attend is independent, started by college professors who wanted a conservative church. They seem to have plenty of money. I was told “We have plenty of money to do what we want to do but not enough to do what the congregation wants us to do(expand buildings). If they want it badly enough, the money will appear”
It helps when you don’t have to kick money upstairs to the denomination
RE: I know that Piper would prefer someone like Mike Pence but was he okay with Mitt Romney?
I am not aware that he ever wrote a similar article when Romney was the Republican candidate for President.
He’s not a lib
Piper is in love with Piper
Piper is not a liberal....far from it
He’s just an egomaniac
I found a piece by Piper encouraging people to vote in the 2012 election without stating a preference.
You’re pinning this on Calvinists? I haven’t met one yet who wasn’t pro-Trump. The idea that God only really loves His elect and hates all the infidels isn’t exactly a liberal doctrine.
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