Comments on: John Piper’s Prophetic Warning http://ceruleansanctum.com/2010/07/john-pipers-prophetic-warning.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Tue, 22 May 2012 03:53:34 +0000 hourly 1 By: Dan Edelenhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2010/07/john-pipers-prophetic-warning.html#comment-47740 Dan Edelen Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:36:43 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=2124#comment-47740 Larry, Some "words" come from observation, some from intuition, and some from God alone. God can, and does, use all three. Larry,

Some “words” come from observation, some from intuition, and some from God alone. God can, and does, use all three.

]]> By: Larry F.http://ceruleansanctum.com/2010/07/john-pipers-prophetic-warning.html#comment-47738 Larry F. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:35:45 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=2124#comment-47738 "You can get it without any claim to special divine authority". That's called discernment. As he points out, all the cautions he mentions here can be arrived at by watching the goings on in the movement he's analyzing. “You can get it without any claim to special divine authority”.

That’s called discernment. As he points out, all the cautions he mentions here can be arrived at by watching the goings on in the movement he’s analyzing.

]]> By: Jeremyhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2010/07/john-pipers-prophetic-warning.html#comment-47737 Jeremy Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:10:09 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=2124#comment-47737 I find John Piper's words here to be very true and they can not be said or stressed enough. However, from the reverse angle I was raised in a Charismatic family and my parents are Charismatic pastors. Growing up, the large majority of conversations, books read, and gurus followed placed an unhealthy emphasis on the experiatial. I would describe most charismatics as fideists in most resects with very little focus on critical rationalism or intellect whatsoever. I am not talking about some back woods evangelical charismatics either. I am describing ministers and lay people at the heart of the movements and leadership. As I attended an undergrad theological school and press toward seminary I have been warned many a time that I would lose my faith. I have found heavy anti-intellectualism in the charismatic circle. At one point I rebelled against this anti-intellectualism and became a so focused on the intellect that the Bible became solely an academic book and theology a philosophy. It is true that the place to be and the arena God wants us is balanced in the middle in moderation. This is the healthiest position to be in as a Christian regardless of who rejects you. I love Don's illustration above as well because it rings so true. To lean too far one way we become Pharisaic legalists and the other way we become hippy epicureans. May we find the balance by the grace of God I find John Piper’s words here to be very true and they can not be said or stressed enough. However, from the reverse angle I was raised in a Charismatic family and my parents are Charismatic pastors. Growing up, the large majority of conversations, books read, and gurus followed placed an unhealthy emphasis on the experiatial. I would describe most charismatics as fideists in most resects with very little focus on critical rationalism or intellect whatsoever. I am not talking about some back woods evangelical charismatics either. I am describing ministers and lay people at the heart of the movements and leadership.

As I attended an undergrad theological school and press toward seminary I have been warned many a time that I would lose my faith. I have found heavy anti-intellectualism in the charismatic circle. At one point I rebelled against this anti-intellectualism and became a so focused on the intellect that the Bible became solely an academic book and theology a philosophy.

It is true that the place to be and the arena God wants us is balanced in the middle in moderation. This is the healthiest position to be in as a Christian regardless of who rejects you. I love Don’s illustration above as well because it rings so true. To lean too far one way we become Pharisaic legalists and the other way we become hippy epicureans. May we find the balance by the grace of God

]]>