Why I Don't Read John Piper Anymore

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares his personal journey of being influenced by John Piper's teachings, particularly his Christian hedonism philosophy, during a transformative period in his life. The speaker reflects on how this approach led to frustration, guilt, and self-evaluation, as he tried to live constantly in a heightened spiritual state. Over time, he realized the value of embracing the mundane and recognizing that many daily activities can still honor God without needing to be overly spiritual. Ultimately, he concludes that the key is to be normal and trust in God's grace, finding peace in the process.

Takeaways

• 😀 John Piper was a significant influence during the speaker's transformative years in college and early seminary, particularly through his book *Don't Waste Your Life*.
• 😀 The speaker was deeply committed to the Christian hedonist philosophy from Piper, which asserts that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.
• 😀 A pivotal moment in the speaker's journey was when John Piper claimed buying a new car was a sin, which triggered a series of doubts and questions about Piper's beliefs.
• 😀 The speaker felt a constant pressure to evaluate every action through the lens of spiritual satisfaction, often feeling inadequate when not in a heightened state of worship.
• 😀 The speaker struggled with feeling spiritually insufficient, especially in everyday activities like brushing teeth or going fishing, which led to feelings of guilt and frustration.
• 😀 Reading *When I Don't Desire God* by Piper resonated with the speaker, but it also contributed to the pressure to constantly desire God and live in a spiritual euphoria.
• 😀 The speaker argues that Christian hedonism may unintentionally lean toward Gnosticism, viewing physical, routine experiences as negative or unworthy of spiritual value.
• 😀 Over time, the speaker realized that not every moment of life needs to be filled with spiritual intensity, and mundane tasks like cleaning or enjoying hobbies are valid and even purposeful.
• 😀 The speaker concluded that many activities, even those seemingly secular, can be done to the glory of God by fulfilling His general will, such as taking care of one's body or creating culture.
• 😀 Life is a balance of routine tasks and spiritual experiences, with moments of intense spiritual reflection serving to highlight the beauty of the everyday and temporal work.
• 😀 The speaker found freedom in realizing that not everything needs to be an overtly spiritual activity, and this shift in perspective led to greater peace and understanding of God's will.

Q & A

Why did the speaker stop reading John Piper's books?

The speaker stopped reading John Piper's books after he saw Piper speak in person and heard a controversial statement about buying a new car being a sin. This led him to question Piper's beliefs and eventually distance himself from his teachings.

What was the Christian hedonism approach the speaker adopted?

The Christian hedonism approach, as presented by John Piper, is the idea that 'God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.' The speaker tried to live by this philosophy, constantly evaluating whether his actions were satisfying to God.

How did the speaker's pursuit of Christian hedonism affect his spiritual life?

The pursuit of Christian hedonism led the speaker to constantly evaluate his own satisfaction in God, which caused frustration. He struggled with feelings of inadequacy and often felt like he was falling short of the spiritual ideal, leading to a cycle of self-reproach.

What was the speaker's reaction to the idea that everything could be an act of worship?

The speaker was influenced by the idea that every action could be an act of worship, which led him to overanalyze his daily life. He became frustrated when activities, such as fishing or commuting, did not feel like acts of worship if they weren't directly centered on thanking God.

What realization did the speaker come to regarding mundane activities?

The speaker realized that mundane activities, like cleaning a rabbit's cage or enjoying hobbies, don't have to be spiritually intense to be meaningful. He understood that some actions have a temporal purpose and can be done for the glory of God without needing to always be in a heightened spiritual state.

How did the speaker's perspective change regarding the distinction between sacred and secular?

The speaker came to see that there is a distinction between sacred and secular activities, not in the modern sense but in the sense that certain acts, like regular work or rest, are part of God's will and don't always have to be spiritually intense or focused on high-level worship.

What metaphor does the speaker use to explain life and spiritual experiences?

The speaker uses the metaphor of driving on a road, where most of life feels routine and focused on the task at hand. Occasionally, a beautiful view (representing a spiritual experience) appears, reminding the driver of God's glory, but then life returns to its ordinary course.

What lesson did the speaker learn about being normal in their faith?

The speaker learned that it's important to be normal and not overcomplicate one's life by constantly trying to be in a heightened spiritual state. Simple actions, like brushing teeth or engaging in personal hobbies, can still be meaningful without needing to always be connected to intense spiritual thoughts.

How did the speaker's understanding of sin and grace evolve?

The speaker's understanding of sin and grace evolved as he realized that God's grace covers sin and that his own self-evaluation and attempts to perform penance were unnecessary. He now looks to Christ for justification rather than policing his actions.

What impact did the speaker's journey have on his mental health?

The speaker experienced bouts of depression during his spiritual journey, partly due to his unrealistic expectations of receiving constant guidance from God. He felt abandoned at times when he wasn't receiving clear answers about life decisions, but eventually came to understand that God had given him the resources to make good choices without needing explicit directions.