I really love John Piper :)
In this clip, John Piper explains why he believes homosexuality is wrong. I like when he admits his own brokenness by saying: "I'm just wired to like certain sins alot"
Just because we may have a genetic predisposition toward a certain sin (such as alcoholism, or a bad temper/prone to violent behavior, homosexual cravings, etc) doesn't make it excusable, but it is forgivable.
Well I should let John Piper say what he has to say, since this blog entry is supposed to be about what he thinks about this:
In this next one he tackles a very difficult question, and I find myself in complete agreement with his thoughts on whether he thinks Jesus was tempted with homosexuality:
And then also there is a very terrific article on the topic of hatred (which I find very well written and balanced, gcmwatch is correct to point out that "we live in a world system that misunderstands and misapplies hate primarily because they misunderstand God and his word", & another excerpt:
"We know homosexuality is a false way because God did not create the male and female and tell them to find someone of the same gender and have sex with them. That simply does not exist. Thus, all sexual activities that are outside of what God commanded and blessed are false ways and false roads. We know where a false road leads to. And we have liberty to hate them as he does.
In this clip, John Piper explains why he believes homosexuality is wrong. I like when he admits his own brokenness by saying: "I'm just wired to like certain sins alot"
Just because we may have a genetic predisposition toward a certain sin (such as alcoholism, or a bad temper/prone to violent behavior, homosexual cravings, etc) doesn't make it excusable, but it is forgivable.
Well I should let John Piper say what he has to say, since this blog entry is supposed to be about what he thinks about this:
In this next one he tackles a very difficult question, and I find myself in complete agreement with his thoughts on whether he thinks Jesus was tempted with homosexuality:
And then also there is a very terrific article on the topic of hatred (which I find very well written and balanced, gcmwatch is correct to point out that "we live in a world system that misunderstands and misapplies hate primarily because they misunderstand God and his word", & another excerpt:
"We know homosexuality is a false way because God did not create the male and female and tell them to find someone of the same gender and have sex with them. That simply does not exist. Thus, all sexual activities that are outside of what God commanded and blessed are false ways and false roads. We know where a false road leads to. And we have liberty to hate them as he does.
Yet, we must be careful that our hate is not prejudicial or motivated
by personal vendettas apart from God. The scriptures are clear on that.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15
Such hatred is malicious and does not reflect the divine nature
rather it reflects the nature of satan. John frames his words with the
story of Cain and Abel who represent humanity.
Hating the deeds of the sinner is well within the realm of our
biblical responsibilities. It is not a sin. If it was then Jesus himself
sinned. In Revelation 2:6, he praised the church at Ephesus for “hating
the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I hate also”."
I enjoy Piper's style and what seems to be very humble and genuineness.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to understand WHY God won't allow this, as so many people are so broken in this area.
I also wonder, why multiple wives were allowed as fornication and adultery were forbidden. Do you know what I mean? Jesus even said he created man and woman to be one flesh, not several fleshes. I know they say things were different back then, but I wonder why this was not frowned upon by God. I know that I would not be a happy camper in that type of situation.
Hi Ma,
DeleteI understand what you mean and wonder myself about the harems of the OT (multiple wives and concubines....were there others beside Joseph, King David, and King Solomon?).
When David took Bathsheba, it seemed the Lord was only concerned with the murder of Uriah the Hittite. Nathan tells King David;
2Sa 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
2Sa 12:8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom , and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
2Sa 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
It sounds like (from the above verses) Saul also had multiple wives, and it says here that the Lord gave these to David....THE LORD GAVE THEM TO DAVID...that's a real tough chunk of meat to chew on, isn't it? I've heard it explained that the culture of the time was a different one, but that doesn't sit well with me either, because Israel was separate for the very reason that it was not to be like other nations, doing the things that were "culturally relevant" is no excuse. I don't know. :oS
First of all, sorry about my horrid sentence structure in that first comment. Blogger should let us edit these things.
DeleteI know this does bug me. Jacob had 2 wives and 2 concubines that are mentioned. Abraham had Ishmael by a concubine, too, of course.
There has got to be something "for our learning" as Paul says in this whole deal, but I'm not seeing it now. I'll keep asking.
I know this does bug me. Jacob had 2 wives and 2 concubines that are mentioned. Abraham had Ishmael by a concubine, too, of course.
DeleteRight, right, I had the name of Jacob/Israel and changed it to Joseph (I'd been staring at this screen all day...sheesh)...
Maybe part of what is learned from this is that it isn't perfect, but He works with it...? Romans 8:28 still comes to mind, but this would be considered a sexual sin, and many people (me included) tend to think anyone that is involved in sinning (particularly sexual sinning) is against God...maybe it's the fact that He had already blessed Joseph, Abraham, David, etc, and that what they did, although not perfect, still was never enough to have God stop being in their lives. Also perhaps it has to do with the fact that He still brings good out of the descendants---Jesus had some of these products of these less than perfect unions for His earthly biological ancestors. (???)
I too like Piper and the humble and honest answers he gives. I like that he realizes his own brokenness. We are all broken, brokenness is brokenness and sin is sin. However, Christ is Christ and a trust in Him brings about change, change brought about by His Spirit, a new creation. This is one thing I think that is missing in his first video. He leaves the struggling sinner too much to himself. I'm learning more and more that obedience doesn't mean getting it or doing it right or perfectly. It just means obey, and God will *help* us from there. There are other sins that are not as in the spotlight but just as much sin as homosexuality, just as culturally relevant... why we pick some sin over others is beyond me. I think it's because we like to pick and choose, Christ says if we break one, we break 'em all. I had to chuckle when Piper describes this particular sin as a disfunctional form of idolatry. Are there functional forms? Is not all sin functional, all God's patience and forbearance functional in bringing the sinner to repent and trust? Of course not all do and we have Romans 1:25.
ReplyDeleteI like the discussion as well. I think God allows or "gives" us what we want at times, not because it's right, but because we want it, because our hearts are hard (even if we think otherwise). Did you ever get what you prayed for just to find out that you really shouldn't have had it? It reminds me of Matthew 19:8 and Mark 10:5. I think God allows/gives things because He knows what we need, which is not the sin, although we do need it to realize in deepest depth and pain that we do not need it. Hope I'm making sense.
Blessings!
Hi Petra, you made perfect sense, until the last sentence, lol...but I think that is because I have a slight headache and need to come back to this again later. :)
DeleteI agree that the struggle is not ours, it is something that we need to release and find true forgiveness for. As long as we still strive, or excuse, or continue to ignore it, we are still avoiding the Lord. When we truly admit our faults, our brokenness, and our deep need for Jesus, His help, His forgiveness, His cleansing, and can find our true rest IN HIM, He does it, not we. :)
Just listened to a sermon on "that rest" (mentioned in the book of Hebrews), and will attempt to post (on Bible Treasures) that audio clip...or you may have to find it by going to the link, we'll see what happens. It is an excellent sermon delivered by a pastor that Leslie Wolf had recommended...
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