Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Teaching What the Bible Says about Suffering Seems Like Healing a Heart with a Tire Iron


In light of my previous 9/11 post about I=an , this is shocking, prophetic and awesome audio from John Piper. He reads and comments on the introduction to his book Spectacular Sins.

Piper's prophecy for American Christians about persecution and partnering in suffering is strong, biblical and true...

Having read 4-5 blogs confronting the health, wealth and prosperity false gospel in the American church, it makes me wonder if this is the tonic for what ails us?

When things do not go well for you, will that be a crisis of faith for you?

"Our felt needs are about to change."

"Coddled people will not be good listeners when their world collapses."

"The aim of this book is not to meet felt needs, but to awaken needs that will soon be felt, and then to save your faith and strengthen your courage when evil prevails."

"If we are to endure and bear and believe and hope, we need to see the spectacular sins of history the way God sees them. I hope this book helps."

I'll buy a copy of this book for the first three people who promise to read it with me.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jim have just listened to this linked audio and have to tell you I thought is was very thought provoking. I am in school and have taken some religious studies classes and this is very consistent with some of my Jewish professors are teaching about Paul's intentions in writing Romans from a Jewish perspective. Some are believers and some are NOT and very angry.
Delete

Pastor Jim said...

Suffering is NOT a popular message - in any era or culture.

I know I don't like it. But as we remember 9/11, it strikes me hard that millions live under the threat of death everyday because of Isl_m.

Anonymous said...

Jim,
I'll join you in reading it if your offer's still good...One of the core things I call my counseling clients to is to really engage with - even embrace - their suffering as an invitation into relationship with themselves and their God.

To quote myself (grin): "Joy is not the absence of suffering...it's the product."

Pastor Jim said...

Chuck, you have the first of three books. I need two more takers and I'm ordering.

Joy is not the absence of suffering, it is the product of suffering... good.

Guess THAT is why the Apostle Paul was so full of JOY as he wrote the Philippian church.

Missy said...

Hey Jim Moon, I have enjoyed reading your blog.

Suffering, do we really know what it means to suffer in our Southern Bible belt little bubbles or do we just watch and read about others who suffer with some sort of disaster movie fascination.

Pipers writing on most things is so eye opening to me. He addresses things in terms that I find refreshing.
My husband turned me on to him a few years ago and we have enjoyed reading some of his things, and watching his videos on youtube, together.

Great blog, I look forward to reading more :)

Pastor Jim said...

Missy
Thanks for the props. Glad you are reading and listening to Piper (and BP too) because I don't think we have a more articulate man of God with such wide influence - who hasn't sold out to the religious right.

To answer your question - No, I don't think southern bible bubble people know what suffering is really, and that is one reason why few lost people want to have anything to do with us.

Who needs plastic Christian friends? They are just No FUN! It's more 'fun' to have crazy plastic friends who don't judge you.

Wouldn't it be great if Christians were known as the least judgmental people on the planet because we believed the gospel was right when it says - we are way worse than we think but more loved than we dared imagine.

Pastor "El Santo" said...

Ok Pastor finally! I'm not very familiar with Pipers topics, we don't have many book's in Spanish, but i think that this book is a good beginning!!

Thanks,

Hector