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
12 Reasons Why…
With football season upon us there is a new meme that has been circulating Facebook recently. You might have seen it.
Obviously, this is meant to be a passive/aggressive criticism of those who use these same excuses for not going to church. And as usual, it gets its share of “likes” and positive comments and “amens” all around.
So, with one of our topics being all the issues wrong with the institutional church, and with our focus being that of home fellowships, and because I have a tendency to be a trouble-maker, I decided to take the above idea and run in a different direction with it. For your consideration, I am pleased to present to you:
12 reasons why attending a sporting event is better than attending church.
- The coach isn’t going to kick you out of the stadium for being critical of his play-calling.
- The only people asking you for money are the workers at the concession stand, and at least you get a snack and a cold beverage in return.
- You are surrounded by total strangers, but most people will interact with you like you’ve been lifelong friends.
- Those same people won’t judge you for what you’re wearing.
- There’s no “fan covenant” to sign where you agree to support the team no matter what.
- Nobody is going to question your team loyalty if you show up to the stadium late or not at all.
- Group participation is not only allowed but encouraged!
- You don’t have to worry about the coach showing up at your house the next day asking you why you weren’t at the game.
- You don’t have to worry about the coach getting on the P.A. system to bad mouth the season ticket holders who missed last week’s game.
- If you get to the stadium early, that’s ok. There’s most likely several parties already going on in the parking lot, and they won’t mind if you crash in, even if you didn’t bring a dish to pass.
- If there is ever a team scandal, the coach doesn’t blame the fans for it.
- You can be fairly certain that no one will ever tell you that the outcome is pre-determined!
Of course, if you have any others that you care to add, you are welcome to do so!
Andy
Church: Pastor Worship is in the Contract
As discussed in another post, “church covenants” are legally binding contracts that actually waive your rights under state law. Clearly, the type of church discipline that has become vogue in evangelical churches is a crime in most states under coercion laws; unless you agree to be held hostage under pain of reputation loss and the dividing of your family. And in most church covenants, you do that exactly if you sign it.
This is just one more example of churches behaving like cults. “Church covenant” is a soft term for “church contract.” These “covenants” are not written agreements to prevent future misunderstandings with your signature being a confirmation that you read it, you are entering into a legal contract with said church. In most cases, you have agreed to put yourself under the authority of the church leadership. And our ministry deals with this enough to know that whether or not the pastor et al behaves biblically is not the issue—their authority is the issue. You have virtually agreed to keep your mouth shut and live with whatever is doled out; of course, for the sake of unity. Never enter into a legal contract with a church no matter what they call the contract because it’s a contract.
Furthermore, you are agreeing to give a pastor authority over your life that he/she does not have biblically…period. Pastors are teachers and have no authority over you, or your family. The pastorate is a gift granted to the church for its equipping to do ministry—not an office. In fact, pastors are emphasized little in the Bible. The emphasis on pastors in the church is completely out of sorts with what the Bible states. A meager four times; that’s how many times Pastors are specifically referred to in the New Testament.
Moreover, their nonexistent authority is well documented in the Scriptures. Other than the example of the noble Bereans who held the apostle Paul accountable to Scripture, other examples follow:
1Corinthians 4:6 – And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another (KJV).
2Corintians 4:1 – Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God (ESV).
NO man is to be revered above Scripture. No person is to go against their conscience in regard to the plain sense of Scripture for any pastor—NO exceptions!
The apostle Paul said, “Follow me AS I follow Christ.” This is why we NEVER sign any agreement that mandates the following of pastors regardless of their handling of Scripture.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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