Although I was very mystified and disappointed by John Piper's "clarification" on heresy and how it relates to the Roman Catholic Church, and I agree with what Dr. White said recently on the Dividing Line about it and its application from Galatians 5; I still very much like John Piper and don't think I am being too soft or nice on him. I also don't understand totally why he never really answered the issues that people brought up about his invitation of Rick Warren, except maybe he doesn't think investigating RW and spending any more time on that is worth his time. ( I also disagree with Dr. Piper on the continuation of the sign and miracle spiritual gifts, but if they are still continuing today, those that believe in God's sovereignty like Dr. Piper and others like him are the best representatives of that position.) I thought Piper's original video about what would you say if you had 2 minutes with the Pope was very good and more clear than his recent "clarification".
I wrote this at my other blog, "apologetics and agape", where I link to a recent Piper video (with Eric Metaxas) and also to some of Denny Burk's recent blog articles on so called "same sex marriage".
I originally just started a Word Press Blog just so I could log in and debate with Muslims at Paul Bilal Williams blog ; (I just noticed that he may have banned me again; he bans me every now and then, and lets me come back later) but it has resulted in me not being able to resist debating informally with different Muslims there and writing other articles at my "apologeticsandagpe" word press site. ("apologetics and agape" = Meaning the balance of truth and love)
I just don't have the energy or extra time to write long articles on each blog, and also with lots of other mission work, travel, teaching, preparation, and writing other articles on missions; and also writing some articles in Farsi is taking up lots of time; so I am linking to it here.
This video is well worth your time to watch and listen.
Bonhoeffer QA with John Piper & Eric Metaxas from The Hub on Vimeo.
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Although I was very mystified and disappointed by John Piper's "clarification" on heresy and how it relates to the Roman Catholic Church, and I agree with what Dr. White said recently on the Dividing Line about it and its application from Galatians 5; I still very much like John Piper and don't think I am being too soft or nice on him.
I know you know this... but... I like saying it:
The thing I try to do is -sift-. Simply because I disagree with something someone says, doesn't usually mean everything they say is wrong or suspicious.
For instance, I think Dr. Geisler is in error on a number of issues, including some things he says about the Roman church. However, I still use his materials for reference in a number of other areas.
Likewise, I can usually find helpful stuff in books by Roman Catholic scholars.
Yes, I totally agree.
I felt the need to write that, and be clear, because many other Reformed folks seem to be completely throwing Dr. Piper under the bus, it seems to me, and I disagree with that.
Norman Geisler's book that he edited, Inerrancy (with contributions from many other good Evangelicals) is a great book. Also, his "Battle for the Resurrection was excellent and his "A General introduction to the Bible" (with William Nix) is excellent also. "When Critics Ask" is ok for some things, but I find the big questions I have on many passages, he does not even address.
Even Geisler's book on Roman Catholicism has a lot of good information in it that is not in the other Reformed critiques of Roman Catholicism.
The main disagreement, (there are others, but this seems to be the main one) we have with him, is his conclusion that the RC is still a valid, Biblical church with significant error, rather than a false church that teaches against the core of the gospel, with significant truth also. (Trinity, Deity of Christ, resurrection, Virgin Birth, Scripture as inspired, etc.)
But his defense of Ergun Caner brought my respect for him even lower.
Anyway, Piper and Metaxas were excellent in their discussion of Bonhoeffer, civil disobedience, Romans 13, civil rights in the 60s, so called 'same sex' marriage, etc.
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