John Piper Proclaims “Christians” Condemned and in Need of Continued Salvation
One of the major truths that will be emphasized in the present TANC book project is that the Protestant Reformation was NOT based on the Bible. The Protestant kerfuffle with Rome concerned differences in world philosophy—not theology. Sola scriptura is a blatant falsehood. Martin Luther concocted a contending worldview in opposition to an increased influence of Thomism in the Catholic Church. Luther then dressed up his philosophy in Bible verses. Actually, to be more specific, he dressed up Neo-Platonism in biblical garb. This is hardly some deep, dark secret; a cursory observation of church history reveals this, unless you get your church history from a Protestant seminary.
Since the Protestant Reformation was really based on Plato’s Republic, the necessary theological fit was/is progressive justification for those who are preselected and the last to know if they are really selected or not. They get the news at the final judgment. Until then, EVERYBODY is presently under condemnation and in need of continued justification because we have “present sin.” In order to be perpetually rejustified, we must “preach the gospel to ourselves every day,” obey the pastors, and be a faithful church member.
Due to the fact that sola scriptura is a farce, the present-day expression of authentic Protestantism via New Calvinists routinely contradicts the plain sense of Scripture in insane fashion, and nobody blinks an eye. Moreover, cowardly pastors who know better even as confused Protestants allow the New Calvinists to be named and quoted among their sheep.
Let’s talk about one example, the one that prompted this post. On August 22, 2015, John Piper prayed at a Christian anti-abortion rally at a Planned Parenthood location in St. Paul, Minnesota. In that prayer, he stated:
And we acknowledge in the face of your holiness and power that we are sinners. Everyone standing here in this gathering is a sinner in desperate need of salvation that you offer in Jesus Christ. We know that our conscience condemns us, and if our own consciences do, how much more your holy law. So we have not lived up even to our own standards, let alone to your standards. And we confess our sins corporately before you as individuals.
In direct conflict to the Bible’s clear definition of a believer, Piper proclaimed everyone at the gathering as condemned under the law; this is the Bible’s succinct definition of a lost person. In addition, Piper clearly proclaimed in the prayer that Christians are still in need of salvation.
How does he get away with this and stand as one of the most beloved evangelicals of our day? Because he supposedly has authority, and we the believers have no real ability to perceive truth. Clearly, if it comes down to what we understand our Bibles to say versus what John Piper says, he will win the day every time.
So then, for all practical purposes, he speaks for God.
paul
The Neo-Protestant Happy Death Culture
TANC Ministries is presently in the middle of a book project that will hopefully produce a finished product by our 2016 conference in August. In the midst of the grind, one is reminded of why somebody has to do this. What is the this? And what reminds me of the why?
TANC Ministries attempts to supply a service to people searching for the truth. It’s a valid service because the Bible states that something comes part and parcel with the new birth (salvation); a love for the truth. That is the tie that binds, a mutual love for the truth.
When I was young I didn’t think truth could be known, and therefore, life looked futile to me and I lived it out according to that attitude. But life brings challenges resulting in a search for meaning, and I thought I found it in the Baptist church. I did find God, and then spent 32 years trying to make sense of church. Finally, the right church folk came along and ruined my life, and as a result, unwittingly set me free to pursue truth without their presuppositions. I was so thoroughly betrayed by the church that everything I had ever learned there was not salvageable for any use in the new journey.
Paul’s Passing Thoughts is the blog for TANC Ministries. There are over 2000 articles posted here. They are pieces of the journey. Presently, several people are scouring these articles trying to make their own sense of church. Some keep in regular contact with this ministry, others don’t for whatever reason. It’s painful to watch as I can track their process; some are up to 400 articles.
This is why I am working on this project with the help of other TANC associates; I want a book that I can hand these people and say, “Here, this will explain it.” That’s what I want. I want to be able to summarize the most important things I have learned in the past eight years and hand it to them on a silver platter. I want them to know in one month what it took me eight years to learn. That’s my joy, that’s what I live for.
What is the most important message that people must get in this book? Answer: the Reformation was NOT founded on an exegetical interpretation of the Bible. Yes, that is the filthy lie of the Protestant Reformation, sola scriptura, and behind that lie is the reality of the Reformation: it was founded on a worldview that finds happiness in hating life. When we see a picture of a Middle East terrorist holding up a head without a body with a big smile on his face, we don’t see a Protestant, but we should. Is that an outrageous statement? Get over it…I can prove it.
In my book, no pun intended, standing up at your father’s funeral and proclaiming him a “wicked sinner” with a proud look on your face is barely less honorable. You can add to that idea that Protestantism holds the keys to your salvation through membership in their local churches. No, no, a Protestant won’t cut off your head because of American jurist prudence, they will merely have your name removed from the book of life for daring to refute their authority. Gee, no terrorism there in the least.
This brings me to the post sent to my email yesterday that reminds me of why I have to do this project, and with the help of our wonderful associates, it must be done well. The post came from a typical New Calvinist mommy blog. The article is indicative of how the original Reformation ideology of death is manifested in our present day. On the one hand, the author of the blog is, “a wife, mom, & seeker of joy!” And what is the worldview that brings this happiness? The same worldview she prescribes for her children: “…feel less than. Esteem not yourself. Feel lonely. Feel unworthy. Feel unaccomplished. Feel small. Feel lost. Feel broken. Feel least. For if you believe you are greater than, your father and I have failed miserably. Among the broken you will find Christ. My prayer for you is that you see Him everywhere.”
Well, there you have it. Imagine laying on a hospital gurney, prepped for major surgery, and hoping that the surgeon performing the operation is a Christian. And in fact he is. And so he comes in and introduces himself with a big, big smile on his face: “Hi! My name is Bob! I am no better than Adolf Hitler, unworthy, and unaccomplished; praise God!” Also, per the normal, the article includes at least one snarkey reference to America because this ideology disdains individualism; their nuanced word for everyday “freedom.” Neo-Protestantism is no friend of liberty, and the original article never was.
What kind of havoc will this worldview wreak in the lives of people? I have seen it for 32 years. Many have struggled in the milieu of this ideology for years and are looking for answers in order to know whether to stay or go, and where to go if leaving is the answer. That’s what this project is about: answers for truth-lovers.
And in regard to the researchers coming to PPT, we could use you. If the book fills your needs, that’s the proof that’s in the pudding. If you are a typical dumbed-down Protestant looking for answers—you are perfect. Join the editing committee. If you have interest in that regard, email the PPT moderator, Pearl, at mail@ttanc.com
What you are looking for, what you understand, and what you don’t understand would be invaluable information.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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