Fri 27 May 2005
My friend the iMonk has excised part of a critical essay of John Piper by theologian Steve Brown in one of his recent blogs: The Spiral of Despair in Christian Hedonism: Steve Brown’s Take on John Piper. I hold Piper in very high regard. In fact, I consider him to be a hero of mine. However, I do have some concerns regarding Piper’s ministry. I will blog on those later. But Dr. Brown’s critique is no critique at all. It is trite, populist and pandering.
His okra analogy is mildly amusing. I feel the same way about Asparagus. God does not demand that we muster up a liking for a food that we preferrentially dislike. But to somehow equate food preferences to the holy God of the universe who is in fact objectively and Truthfully glorious and beautiful. And Piper’s assertion that God demands our love and worship is not a stretch at all. Seems more like Christianity 101.
It is ironic that Dr. Brown calls Christian Hedonism (CH) “too religious”. Experientially, for me and many people I know, CH has been the antidote to religion. Religion is doing the right things because you are obligated to do them. CH recognizes that a heart inclined towards God does not have to be compelled to obey, it will obey because it is a delight to do so. This is the only real power for holy living.
Dr. Brown writes, “God never demanded that I love Him or enjoy Him the way He loved me and, it had become apparent, enjoyed being with me. ” This is the Jesus is cool school of theology. He is also holy and righteous and beautiful and just and kind and merciful and gracious and loving. He makes incredible demands of us. He also met those demands with His blood. Surely Dr. Brown is not suggesting that God does not command us to love Him. What is the first great command? So is he is making an argument of degrees? I am not so sure that scripture makes such fine distinctions.
The essence of Brown’s criticism is that we cannot control our emotions. Therefore the demand for love cannot include an emotional element. And yet, throughout scripture, God calls us to emote: rejoice, delight, fear, have compassion, and, of course, love. Like salvation itself, joy and delight is a gift from God. If we obey without it, we must repent of our half-hearted obedience. If he grants it to us, to Him be all honor glory and praise.,
Steve
May 27th, 2005 at 4:25 pm
Steve: The critique is that if Christianity is centered on the LAW, i.e. “Delight yourself (law) in the Lord,” then we are going to eventually be in certain despair.
Piper simply hasn’t ever answered the basic Lutheran critique: Is he confusing Law and Gospel?
I’ve heard Piper say it a hundred times: If you don’t delight in the Lord, then repent of your dead heartedness.
Where does Piper explain how this Command-repent cycle eventually brings us to Joy and true Delight?
I’ve been reading Piper since 1980 and this is the same critique that’s been raised by all his critiques.
BTW- For Brown, “too religious” is an inside joke with his regulars.
Good post.
Your friend,
Michael “fuzz brain” Spencer