Preface: John MacArthur described the words and phrases in the epistle of James as...."pungent." One dictionary describes 'pungent' as...."criticism or humor having a sharp and caustic quality." In reading through James you can see why he felt it important to add emphasis. Jude was much like this. I think I write like that at times...well....probably a lot. The following post would be an example....and there is a reason. A conversation needs started. Most would like to avoid the issue of the Lord's Day....or being 'born again'....or Trump as a false prophet....or wasting our days away....or the nearness of the Lord's return. My hope is to generate those conversations....for I know....that if we do....we will benefit from it. If it takes...'pungent'.....or if it takes people not liking me....then that is what it takes. The time is short.....where did I hear that phrase before?
I should have put quotation marks before and after the above title.....for that is the title of John Piper's Sermon Of The Day. It's an odd title isn't it? I mean....what's he getting at here? This is a recurring thought that I give from time to time in these posts....we defend our pastors like there's no tomorrow....we defend our church.....but we do not defend the gospel! We assume that we are defending the gospel by defending everything that our church does.
The seventh chapter of Jeremiah begins with this: "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 'Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD'."
Translate that to today and God is telling us....don't think that because you are walking into a church that you are in His will. Hophni and Phinehas thought that by simply bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the battle site that God would give them victory. Didn't happen.....and the Ark was carried away by the victorious enemy.
I'm not saying that a church has to be perfect. That'll never happen....but these men in the pulpits have a responsibility.....and reminding them of it from time to time is defending the gospel....and if they have any humility at all....they will at least listen.
Back to John Piper. This is an odd sermon....and I think that the church could benefit by hearing it. I've asked a similar question in these posts.....if God is God....then why don't we act like He is God? Piper gave an example in this message....of Albert Einstein. I will not quote this properly but in essence he....or someone that he was quoting....thought that Einstein was not a fan of organized religion because.....he knew that if there is a God then the majesty of that God would be unspeakably glorious.....but the people in these churches....who proclaim everywhere that they believe in God.....don't even seem to be in awe of His glory!
Now it's time for my semi-regular odd piece of advice.....leave these posts of mine. I've given you enough recommendations of faithful preachers....preachers.....Piper being one.....MacArthur being another....Michael Horton another....ligonier.org....and many more. This is what got us in trouble with politics....Rush or Carlson or Levin or any one of a number of these people....tickled our ears.....and we came back day after day....in some cases decade after decade....and never really learned anything. It's the same radio program today as it has always been....("this is the most important election....ever....and Joe Biden is bad!."...Gee d'ya think?)....only the names and faces have been changed. You do not need John Piper.....you need to hear God's Word....preached….and by and large you are not getting it in these churches of today! You need your mind renewed....not your subscription!
Directions.....desiringgod.org....click on the menu at the upper right....click on podcasts....scroll down under Sermon of the Day....and click on subscribe....(you are not subscribing to anything)....click on Apple podcasts....and you are there. I can do it in my sleep!
Afterthought: I wanted to add a little more explanation on why I on occasion recommend people to leave these posts. There are a number of reasons really....a couple of them would be....back in the 1990s I noticed how Christians would show up for this conference or that conference....and thus have an unction for the gospel....for a few days. That unction generally did not carry over....and we came to depend on that conference....and those speakers.....to assuage our not really being involved throughout the year. I also noticed this in politics....as we listened to Rush.....religiously.....every day....and maybe Levin or someone else....and that was it. We were not thinking for ourselves. Nothing was going to eminate from our thoughts....as we only listened to Rush....and then spouted what his mind had come up with. We became followers! God was not going to use us. Then the worst of it all came.....with Donald Trump....for we....no longer able to think for ourselves....or research for ourselves....became blind followers.....and in the church....blind followers of a genuine biblical false prophet. So I do not want people to follow me. I want to be used to wake them up. Men like Piper are God's ministers.....who preach the glories of the gospel of Jesus Christ.....follow them!
