My Musings on a John Piper Interview

I listened to a John Piper interview yesterday while working out.  Increasingly, I find "real life" conversations fascinating.  This particular interview centered around Piper's recent retirement--what were his plans, did he have any regrets?

Things I took away:

*He's going to retreat for about 14 months to TN with his wife to pray and ponder what God would have him do in this next stage of his life.  Great model--seek Him first in any new stage.  Don't assume you know where God would lead you.

*He views his gifting as primarily bent toward writing as opposed to missionary work, etc.  I think I always struggle with the idea of writing as the most useful gifting.  It seems that you could invest a lot of time in writing but not be heard.  Of course, Piper has a following and that would not be the case, but all the same, I admire the high regard he has for the ministry of writing.

*He does not view his retirement work as primarily public.  Instead, he openly points out that the work he has left to do that is most essential is private, personal, work--family centered.  When the interviewer asked him about Jonathan Edwards who didn't get to finish his magnum opus, Piper responded that he didn't feel this urgency in that area.  If he wasn't able to write whatever books still were in his head, he felt that he had written enough that the kernels of ideas were already out there and that there were others who might even be able to write those books better.  Good point---do the things that no one else can do---restore your personal life, those things that cannot be done by others or replicated.

John Piper   Photo: Michael Patrick, News Sentinel

*He openly admitted to the self-doubt that followed him throughout his ministry in difficult times.  He thought of stepping down many many times, but he pointed out that mercifully, God never aligned those feelings with the events and outlying conditions, so he continued on.   A helpful reminder to check feelings with circumstance, not to be pulled by them.   Also, it's good to know that even successful and effective people wrestle with doubt.

*Throughout the interview, I got a sense that he knows that the Kingdom and not his personal legacy is the issue.  He is one piece of a continuum of godly men.

*Interesting comment that he believed that we would have knowledge of our sin in Heaven to the extent that it leads us to glorify Him more for what He delivered us out of.

*He realizes that culture is broken but does not obsess with this notion.  I think too many Christians are obsessed with the evil in our culture (which we have little control over) when their energy would be better spent on positive love and the good they can bring to their families and culture with more self-discipline and a greater thirst to serve Him in humble everyday ways.

When updating the photo on this post, I stumbled across a more recent article on Piper and a recent hospitalization.  It's worth reading his reflections on his hospital stay.  I admire the fact that he can squeeze such useful godly wisdom out of any situation.

Great quote about the choice to watch TV--which easily applies to numerous vacuous entertainment habits we have:

Give yourself to reading or listening to or thinking about things that ennoble your soul, and put it in touch with the glory that it is, and the Glory it was made for.