Two preaching-teaching trends seem to be repeatedly showing up in our day. They are found in local church ministries and subtly appear in online Bible studies, magazine articles, books, or podcasts.
Two reasons they are so subtle are congregational discernment and pastoral duplicity! [1].
√ The theological nuances and subtleties within a sermon are often lost on the average layman-laywoman. Fellow pastors easily pick up on the subtleties and nuances. What is artfully promoted or subtly being preached and taught is readily recognized by those who live full-time in ministry.
√ Secondly, pastor-teachers can be duplicitous. They can be teaching something that is not generally accepted by the congregation. What he is preaching-teaching is cloaked in a way that precludes it from being clear, transparent, challengeable, and/or even creating ministry problems — such as unemployment.
I believe that this is what is happening when it comes to these two new theological trends.
Theological Trend #1: A “One Size Fits All” theological axiom.
After decades of repetition, one of the most damaging theological aphorisms has been left unchallenged, accepted, and/or reiterated by many pastors-teachers . . .
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” — John Piper —
Anytime you make a single theology axiom the focus around which all other truths revolve, you are bound to end up in a theological ditch. The obvious damage that this theological ditch creates continues to emerge. [1]
God is not only “most glorified” when we are satisfied in Him.
God is most equally glorified when we . . . .
- obey His commandments,
- share the Gospel,
- read His Word,
- meditate on His precepts,
- love our spouse, neighbors, enemies, the lost,
- suffer for His name,
- come to Him in prayer,
- worship Him on His day,
- sacrifice for others,
- train up our children in the fear of the Lord,
- in all our ways acknowledge Him,
- separate from ungodliness,
- serve Him in ministry,
- tithe,
- go beyond our tithe,
- behave selflessly,
- reflect the fruit of the Spirit,
- obey His call on our lives,
- resist temptation,
- are humble,
- walk in the Spirit
- confess our sins,
- repent daily,
- sing hymns of praise,
- intercede and pray for others,
- are compassionate
- work hard without eyeservice
- pray for the “king”
- forgive others
- trust Him through the toughest trials of life
- . . . . . .
Piper, and others, would like to stuff these (and any others) under being “satisfied in Him.” He would like to link all these to being “satisfied in Him.”
That is how “one size fits all” theology works, whether it is Piper or another theological fad of our day. A single truth becomes the sole focus, and a “new religious crowd” is born and identified by that singularity — Seventh-day Adventists / Ruckmanites / Holiness church / Free-will Baptist / etc.
However, one could do that kind of cosmetic linking with many a theological concept such as “loving” (Him & others), “sacrificial” (no greater love than a man lay his life down for another), “spiritual” (walk in the spirit), pride (the original sin of Lucifer),or “obedient” (if you love me, keep my commandments).
Let’s make “obedience” the “most glorified” link!
— “God is most glorified when we are most obedient.” —
First of all, Piper’s overstated principle dilutes the biblical instructions for each and every one of those specific areas of Christian living.
For instance, while “acknowledging Him in all thy ways” CAN spring from being satisfied Him, and does glorify Him, there is far more specific biblical instruction about following God’s will than only being satisfied in Him — i.e. reading His Word, seeking the wisdom of others, waiting on Him, praying for wisdom, observing (I went by the field of a sluggard), be not hasty, staying humble (for He resists the proud), etc.
Second, it is overly simplistic. Not every area of Christian life and living is addressed by extolling — “be satisfied in Him.” If it was, there would no need for much of Scripture. It may be one answer, but it is not the full biblical response.
For instance, when facing temptation, being satisfied in Him is not the whole of God’s instruction. There is far more than the application of one axiom.
The Scriptures includes . . .
- putting on the armor,
- putting on and putting off,
- turn from that path,
- abstain from fleshly lust,
- make no provision to fulfill the lust of the flesh,
- take heed,
- walk circumspectly,
- pray without ceasing,
- He will provide a way of escape,
- “Resist the Devil, and he will flee,”
- “Listen my son,”
- “add to your faith,”
- die to self
- etc.
Piper offers one solution to all of life and living — find your satisfaction and pleasure in Him.
Third, obedience is expected whether or not it comes from a heart of satisfaction or pleasure. As stated, let’s make “obedience” the “most glorified” link! “Obedience” might be the more foundational issue — from the beginning — in the Garden.
Fourth, it misstates temporal and/or secondary avenues of satisfaction and pleasure that the Lord has provided. There are many avenues of satisfaction and pleasure that the Lord has provided and included as part of life and living. All of them are legitimate pleasures and satisfactions of life! They all come from His hand and plan. And even the lost world share in these God-ordained pleasures and satisfactions of life, even though they may have no interest in glorifying Him — the rain falls on the just and the unjust!
^
Piper’s singular solution produces aberrated answers for life and living!
For instance, John Piper teaches that even when your husband abuses you verbally and physically, a wife is to accept it, and loving pray and tolerate such abuse, to be satisfied in Him, to find her satisfaction in Jesus and for what He has sovereignly allowed to be part of her life (I can assure you I am not overstating his position.). [1]
♦ As if the Lord did not provide marriage to be just the opposite, a place of security, peace, fulfillment, and warmth — which are all part of the pleasure that He has planned for us through godliness.
♦ As if stoically tolerating and/or willingly declining those avenues of satisfaction and pleasure is being Christlike — while desiring the satisfaction that ought to flow out of a godly marriage is not being satisfied in Him.
♦ As if refusing to accept such spousal abuse, and demanding some level of decency and godlines, is deemed not being satisfied in Him — or worse yet, is a rejection of a husband’s leadership!
♦ As if renouncing the ungodly abuse, and desiring the satisfaction and pleasure that the Lord has essentially designed for marriage, is an unspiritual response.
There is satisfaction and/or pleasure that God has ordained in the temporal, the here and now. Such pleasure and satisfaction would have been part of our daily living were it not for the Fall and will be part of life and living in the new heavens and the new earth.
There is, and we find, satisfaction and pleasure in knowing that your spouse loves us.
There is, and we find, satisfaction and pleasure in seeing your children follow the Lord.
There is, and we find, satisfaction and pleasure in watching the sunset, the mountains, the trees in Fall, and the snow blanketing the ground.
There is, and we find, satisfaction and pleasure that comes out of living in a safe and secure environment — as will be the case in that eternal and holy city.
There is far more in the Scriptures than one axiom that seemingly and dangerously frames all other truths.
Theological Trend #2: (TBC)
^
1. Check out John Piper’s most recent absurd position, which is ideologically driven — fresh off the press!
It is Piper’s position on spousal abuse.
“If it’s not requiring her to sin, but simply hurting her, then I think she endures verbal abuse for a season, she endures perhaps being smacked one night…” (John Piper)
Link: https://baremarriage.com/2022/06/john-piper-tells-women-with-harsh-husbands-to-basically-do-nothing/
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