John Piper Explains - March 31, 2010

By Justin Edwards

John Piper took some time yesterday to explain why he has invited ecumenical ear-tickler Rick Warren to his Desiring God 2010 conference. While I disagree with Piper's decision to invite Warren, I will remain in prayer that Rick Warren is exposed for who he is, that the truth about him will be revealed and he won't be able to slither out of tough questions, that the Holy Spirit convicts him unto repentance, and that God use this time for His glory.  Until then, we will have to wait to see how this pans out.

John Piper’s Reason

April 1, 2010 by pastorboy

 
Here, John Piper gives a detailed explanation as to why he is inviting Rick Warren to speak. A lot of my friends who agree with me about what rotten fruit the purpose driven life is, and the whole pragmatic approach to church growth are very angry about this whole idea of inviting Warren to speak. I have to admit, it is not a choice that I would make if I were inviting people to speak.

I am not, however, going to judge Piper’s whole ministry according this move, or even the Driscoll or Wilson move. As a Pastor, I have personally bungled many things and made poor decisions that I have later regretted (and even had to repent of some). But the whole of Piper’s ministry over time, and the respect he has among peers such as RC Sproal, and Albert Mohler, I personally must cut him some slack concerning this decision.

That means that I will not cut off affiliation with John Piper, and I might still attend the conference with a critical ear towards seeing if Piper does in fact ask the hard questions and Warren does in fact satisfactorily answer them. But just like in the Christian walk, we must do more than say words and what we believe, we must walk them out. I am eagerly anticipating to see Warren walk out his beliefs and use his huge worldwide pulpit to declare them, even hoping against all hope that he repents publicly of his pragmatism, his ecumenism, and, indeed, his system which he has intended for good, but has been used to take over and to decimate churches, turning Pastors into CEO’s and Elders into board members of a fortune 500 company.

There is much that has been written and documented about Warren, and his beliefs. There is much more that has been recorded both on video and audio that demonstrate how those beliefs translate into the public sphere. The man Piper believes he is inviting is 167 degrees different than the public presentation; which I believe demonstrates what he (Warren) really believes.

I am going to cut Piper some slack. I am still going to read his books. I am still going to listen to his sermons. I am not going to break fellowship with him because he invited Warren. But I will have a keen eye to see if this will change the public personna of Warren, and a listening ear to see if Warren throws off the pragmatic, man centered approach to ministry. Here is hoping that he does.

An Honest and Heartfelt Assessment of Piper and Warren

Rick Warren to have pulpit at Desiring God 2010

March 31, 2010 by pastorboy

 When I heard that John Piper was inviting Rick Warren to his Desiring God Conference 2010, I thought it had to be some sort of cruel April Fools Joke. There is no way, I thought, that a man like John Piper, a man who promotes the true Gospel, a man who I look up to as a model of discernment, and a very theologically and studious individual, how could he? No way, I thought to myself.

But the reports kept pouring in.

I have to question some of Piper’s decisions of late, with inviting the cussing Pastors and all, but I cannot under any circumstances accuse him of anything deceptive or devious regarding his decisions about bringing people in, so when he says that he wants to ask tough questions about his apparent pragmatism, I must take John Piper at his word. Here is the announcement, right from his own lips:


About 35 minutes in…. John Piper’s confirmation that Rick Warren will be at Desiring God:

Well I put my cards totally on the table here, um I have invited Rick Warren to come to the Desiring God National Conference this fall. And he’s coming. Now I will get a lot of criticism for this from my Reformed brothers, because… not because Rick Warren is openly non calvinistic or non reformed. I don’t think he wears his theological distinctives on his sleeve, but would be probably theologically more at home with where I am than where an arminian is. I believe that. What makes Warren a problem, and I’m gonna… well, when I wrote him, here’s what I said. And he’ll probably watch this video too. I said the conference is called “THINK: The life of the Mind and the Love of God.” I want you to come. You are the most well known pragmatist pastor in the world. I don’t think you are a pragmatist at root. Come and tell us why thinking Biblically matters to you in your amazingly pragmatic approach to ministry.” …

“I want him to lay his cards on the table. I want him to tell us what makes him tick. Because he does come across in much of what he says and does as very results-oriented and pragmatic and not theologically driven, and yet, I met him for the first time last year at Ralph Winter’s funeral in Pasadena. And we sat beside each other on the platform for three hours. I like him because he sings. He sings badly. And anybody who’s willing to sing when they sing badly, I like em. And we were talking beforehand and he said to me ‘I’m reading all the works of Jonathan Edwards this year. I pick a great theologian every year and I read all of his collected works. I’m on volume 17 of the Yale series of Jonathan Edwards’ works.’”

“‘You’ve gotta be kidding me. Nothing you’ve ever said would incline me to think …’ (laughter)
“So these guys are gonna go interview him tomorrow I think so you can quote some of these things. I do think he’s deeply theological. He’s a brilliant man. He wouldn’t have the church he does or the Peace Plan, or all the influence he does and of course the greatest sentence in the Purpose Driven life is the first one isn’t it? It’s not about you, it’s about God. The Glory of God. So I don’t think he’s emergent. At root I think he is theological and doctrinal and sound. And what makes him tick? Actively and doing church? I intend to find out. So. I like him and I’m frustrated by some of his stuff.”

I have to question some of Piper’s decisions of late, but I cannot under any circumstances accuse him of anything deceptive or devious regarding his decisions about bringing people in, so when he says that he wants to ask tough questions about his apparent pragmatism, I must take John Piper at his word.

But I have to question it, simply because of what John Piper says later on the same tape:

“What are the boundaries of ecumenical involvement and interaction?…The principle that I work with is this: To the degree that hanging out with, or interacting with, or praying with, or walking with a person that holds a defective view of the Gospel would appear reasonable to endorse that defect- to that degree you shouldn’t do it.

So I have to question why is he joining together with the king of eccumenicals Rick Warren, and giving him your pulpit for a time during the conference, are you not in some measure endorsing him?
I think we are right to criticize, but only because we care and we love and support Dr. Piper, and his fruitful ministry. But I will criticize, and I believe rightly so, if Rick Warren is not seriously questioned about his pragmatic approach to the faith. Questions should include:

• What is the Gospel? Be as complete as possible with your answer.
• How do you feel now that health care has been passed, and thus abortion is supported by tax dollars, your inaugural prayer and thus tacit approval of the President?
• Do you believe that Muslims really worship the same Jesus? (Praying in the name of Isa is praying to the name of the Muslim Jesus, who was not God, and did not die on the cross for our sins)?
• Do you feel that God could not accomplish through Christians your PEACE plan, or do you just join hands with others because it is your vision and you don’t see any other human way possible of accomplishing it?
• Do you really believe that practicing Catholics are Christians and worship the same Jesus?
• Do you really believe that the way God intended to build the Church was through relevant entertainment, good music, media to get a bunch of people through the door, and then watering down the gospel to keep them there?
• What is your view on church discipline? Are you really Rupert Murdoch’s pastor? Is he really a member of your church?
• What do you really believe about homosexuality?
• Why do you present Purpose and PEACE at conferences like Davos and Ted, and not the Biblical Gospel?

This is not an exhaustive list, but if the questions cover pragmatism, the true Gospel, and ecumenism, I think I will be happy and satisfied as to why he was invited. If they are not, I think that those who hold to the Doctrines of Grace will have every right to be upset, and critical of this decision.

Here’s praying that the works of Jonathan Edwards expose Pastor Warren to the doctrines of grace, and he repents of his man-centered pragmatic ways and turns to Jesus, and begins to use his HUGE pulpit to preach a Christ-centered Gospel. Only God can save anybody; and I pray that is Pastor Warren is not saved that he comes to a knowledge of the truth and turns to Christ.

By the way, Dr. Piper, I am praying for you on this sabbatical. I do love you, and your ministry, and I pray that you are refreshed and restored in only ways that God can do it.

John Piper on the Theological Soundness of Rick Warren

John Piper – Quote of the Day

Posted by Ingrid Schlueter 

 

“.. I do think he’s deeply theological. He’s a brilliant man. He wouldn’t have the church he does or the Peace Plan, or all the influence he does and of course the greatest sentence in the Purpose Driven Life is the first one isn’t it? It’s not about you, it’s about God. The Glory of God. So I don’t think he’s emergent. At root I think he is theological and doctrinal and sound.”

~John Piper, speaking here 35 minutes in on Rick Warren and his invitation to Warren to attend his Desiring God Conference 2010 

Note: Please see Pastor Bob DeWaay’s Berean Tool for the Purpose Driven Life to learn how Rick Warren’s opening sentence referred to by Piper is denied by everything in the rest of the Purpose Driven Life. John Piper has neglected to check the teachings of the book with the Scriptures which is just wrong.

More Depth into John Piper and Rick Warren

Rick Warren to Speak at John Piper’s Desiring God Conference

Posted by Ingrid Schlueter 

 

It has been confirmed that Rick Warren will be a speaker at the prominent Desiring God 2010 Conference. According to Jonathan Parnell at the offices of the conference, John Piper reportedly met Rick Warren at the funeral for Ralph Winter, and that is how the invitation came about.

Jonathan Parnell was quick to tell me that Dr. R.C. Sproul and Dr. Al Mohler would also be speakers, as if to assure me that things couldn’t get too out of hand with them there. It appears that Rick Warren is going to be given the opportunity to respond to charges that he is non-doctrinal in his messages. Parnell told me that Rick Warren is “more doctrinal” than he appears. That would be news to untold numbers of Christians who have seen their churches abandon the biblical Gospel by jumping on the Purpose-Driven bandwagon.

Additionally, one wonders exactly what doctrine undergirds Mr. Warren’s latest outrage, his involvement with Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation and its “North American offensive”, as Blair put it, with a purpose of “Uniting all faiths.” That would be the doctrine of anti-christ.

Whatever Piper’s thinking is, it is plain that inviting Rick Warren to speak at his conference, giving him prime time to manipulate hearers and present himself as just another misunderstood leader, is a serious mistake. Piper’s years of credibility as a trustworthy minister of Gospel truth are being undermined by this decision. I was one of several who were personally invited to Saddleback by Mr. Warren to speak with him in a private meeting last year. The PR offensive was clever, but it failed. Warren rests not, day or night, in his attempts to bring his critics on board and end the troublesome dissent that always plagues him. To win over Piper and his followers would be a victory indeed.

Piper has also announced that he will be leaving on sabbatical on May 1. Hopefully, he will have time before he leaves to address the likely fallout from this decision. It is not a small thing.

Everywhere we see signs of the falling away talked about in Scripture. It is a warning to all of us to be sober and vigilant, because our adversary walks around, seeking whom he can devour. We need the full armor of God daily and to use our shield of faith and our Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. We also need to pray for discernment in this hour when so many, including leaders, are losing theirs.

More on John Piper and Rick Warren

OVERSTATEMENT ABOUT RICK WARREN APPEARING AT DESIRING GOD 2010

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Mar 31, 2010 in AM Missives

Following up on an earlier tip from my friend John Chisham, last night Apprising Ministries told you that Leadership Network’s propped-up Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren is apparently slated to be among the speakers for the Desiring God 2010 National Conference. Interestingly enough Phil Johnson would tweet:

Sounds like an early April Fools joke: http://bit.ly/9nSwdZ (Online source)

Even though I don’t know him personally, I have quite a bit of respect for Phil, who works closely with Dr. John MacArthur; and from what I’ve heard, MacArthur is good friends with Dr. Piper. So, I didn’t approach this subject lightly; however, when I followed the link over to Sharper Iron I saw this short post was done by Greg Linscott:

SharperIron has confirmed with Jonathan at Desiring God in Minneapolis that Rick Warren is among the speakers for the 2010 Desiring God National Conference. There will be more details explaining the invitation from DesiringGod.org in the near future… (Online source)

Now I’ve had the chance throught the years to speak with pastor Linscott a few times via email and have known him to be very credible; and so, I decided to go with this story. Later as I monitored Intel along the Net I would be led to the In Defense of the Gospel blog of Lou Martuneac, whom I don’t know, who informed us:

Earlier this month I requested and have now received written confirmation from Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) that John Piper invited and will host Rick Warren as a keynote speaker at his (Piper’s) 2010 Desiring God conference.

The source from BBC said Desiring God will, “…eventually be posting registration instructions and conference details, including a video from John Piper on why he invited this year’s speakers,” including Rick Warren. (Online source)

This would be corroboration, with both sources reporting as eyewitnesses, that DG and BBC had personally conveyed this information to Linscott and Martuneac respectively. Hardly reporting this in anger, or outrage, because after five years of rather prominent online apologetics and discernment ministry very little upsets, or surprises, me anymore.

As a former Roman Catholic and as an ordained Southern Baptist pastor I simply brought out a couple of my concerns about Rick Warren. He’s unquestionably a product of Leadership Network, itself a cancerous outgrowth of the semi-pelagian (at best), and highly ecumenical, Church Growth Movement that is already at odds with much of Reformation theology.

Rick Warren, as arguably the most prominent minister in the largest allegedly Protestant denomination in the US, actually has taken a stand against the Reformers in his openly welcoming the Roman Catholic Church; and this despite their own—never repduiated—anathema of the very Gospel of Jesus Christ itself.

I also mentioned that Warren is openly recommending the corrupt Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism perpetrated as so-called Spiritual Formation (SF) by Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster, along with his spiritual twin SBC minister Dallas Willard, that’s now slithering deeper into also pretending to be Protestant mainstream evangelicalism.

Those are facts I report rather dispassionately concerning Warren because the main thrust of my labors in the Lord along the Internet Front of this spiritual Vietnam Truth War is focused on the sinfully ecumenical Emerging Church, also launched by Leadership Network, and which continues developing into a full-blown cult of a new version of Progressive Christianity.

I happen to think Leadership Network’s a spiritual toilet bowl and to paraphrase one of its up-and-comers Dr. Ed Stetzer: I’m not going to argue with full-of-themselve$, think they know-it-all, church “experts” propped up by man-pleasing entities like Leadership Network. It’s like wresting with a pig– you both get dirty, but the pig likes it.

Which brings me to Outrage over Rick Warren and John Piper on the Same Stage by LN’s Todd Rhodes, where he opines:

As Dan Rather would say, some people are ‘madder than a rattlesnake trying to bite a fencepost’ that John Piper has been invited Rick Warren to speak at the annual Desiring God Conference. In fact, Ken Silva even gives Leadership Network (whom I work with) a shout out in the process:

It seems that Leadership Network’s propped-up Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren, who teaches the apostate Roman Catholic Church is part of the Body of Christ and openly promotes anti-sola Scriptura Contemplative Spirtuality/Mysticism, will be a featured speaker at Piper’s Desiring God conference this year.

It’s not enough that Ken doesn’t like Rick Warren… he pulls Leadership Network into the fray as well.  Oh well… (Online source)

But as I explained in the combox of Rhodes’ screed:

“Ken doesn’t like Rick Warren”

Oops, should read: Ken doesn’t like what Rick Warren teaches. I don’t know Rick, so I have no way to know if I’d like him personally.

Now, just maybe my friend and fellow Christian Research Net contributor Steven Macacil is right in what he says in his post Rick Warren To Speak At John Piper’s Desiring God Conference at his Biblical Thought.com blog here:

John Piper’s video about why he chose to have Douglas Wilson at last year’s conference stirred up some good discussions on whether the Federal Vision theology Wilson promotes is biblical or not. Perhaps John Piper will keep with tradition and do another series of videos about why he chose this year’s panel, including Rick Warren.

If so, then perhaps it too will stir up discussion of whether or not Rick Warren’s theology and overall vision is biblical. (Online source)

Now that would be a discussion worth revisting.

Why, John Piper, Why? Piper to Host Rick Warren at Desiring God 2010

By Justin Edwards

It alarms me to see John Piper inviting seeker-sensitive, ecumenical, social gospel, ear-tickling pastor Rick Warren to his Desiring God 2010 conference. Where is the discernment Dr. Piper? I am looking forward to the explanation of why it is considered wise to invite Mr. Warren.

*UPDATE* RICK WARREN TO BE FEATURED AT DESIRING GOD 2010

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher  

Apprising Ministries points you to a short post at Sharper Iron by Greg Linscott who gives us some information that concerns the Desiring God ministry of John Piper.

It seems that Leadership Network’s propped-up Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren, who teaches the apostate Roman Catholic Church is part of the Body of Christ and openly promotes anti-sola Scriptura Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism, will be a featured speaker at Piper’s Desiring God conference this year:

SharperIron has confirmed with Jonathan at Desiring God in Minneapolis that Rick Warren is among the speakers for the 2010 Desiring God National Conference. There will be more details explaining the invitation from DesiringGod.org in the near future… (Online source)

You can see this post, which contains some supplemental information as well, right here.

*UPDATE* We now have further corroboration of this breaking story as not long ago over at his In Defense of the Gospel blog Lou Martuneac informs us:

Earlier this month I requested and have now received written confirmation from Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) that John Piper invited and will host Rick Warren as a keynote speaker at his (Piper’s) 2010 Desiring God conference.

The source from BBC said Desiring God will, “…eventually be posting registration instructions and conference details, including a video from John Piper on why he invited this year’s speakers,” including Rick Warren. (Online source)