"It horribly skews the meaning of the cross when contemporary prophets of self-esteem say that the cross is a witness to my infinite worth... The biblical perspective is that the cross is a witness to the infinite worth of God's glory, and a witness to the immensity of the sin of my pride."-John Piper
Enough said.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
5 comments:
Piper is not making a biblical statement here. He is engaging, not in humility, but in self-abasement.
Humility recognizes who we are in God's eyes and gives Him ALL the glory and credit. But it doesn't deny who we are in God's eyes...His bride, his beloved, the apple of His eye, the one to whom He has blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ.
Self-abasement goes beyond giving God all the glory and credit (which is right to do), and makes the foolish statement that we are not worth anything, even though the Creator of the universe has ascribed enormous worth to us, creating us in His image, and making us new creations, fearfully and wonderfully made.
We are not WORTHY (that is, we don't DESERVE what we have received), but God has indeed ascribed WORTH to us.
Much like my own son might not be WORTHY of my love (speaking theoretically), but I wouldn't take a trillion dollars for him, literally. He is WORTH more than that to me.
Or even an old worn brooch that Grandma gave you on her death bed, not worth a dollar to anyone but you, but you wouldn't take a million dollars for it.
To paraphrase the marriage ceremonials, "what God ascribes worth to, and treasures and holds dear, let no man abase asunder".
That's not self-esteem in the sick modern sense of the word, it's the wonder expressed by saints of all time as they say something like, "Wow! You actually value me?! What a great God you are! You know I don't deserve it."
When a Christian gets that wonder, their life will never be the same. And they won't engage in self-abasement (Col. 2:23).
Terry,
I disagree and agree. Piper's concern here is that the ENTIRE focus of the cross was summed up in OUR worth. No. It isn't. And this is not self-abasement to realize this. Yes, we ware made in His image. Yes, He has made us of far more value than angels, and birds and flowers... He even knows the number of hairs on our heads and from Him we cannot hide even our thoughts.
The focus of the cross is way more than ME, ME, ME and anyone who is quickened and believes.
Yes, He HAD to be murdered on that cross for there to be any hope for anyone. But the infinite value of it is more about God's glory and more about the witness of our total depravity, and more about God's completely undeserved abundant mercy and immeasurable grace than it is about my infinite worth.
If you really believe that this is self-abasement than you will have to accuse Spurgeon, Pink, and so many other great theologians of such.
Lisa,
I certainly agree that the "entire focus" of the cross was not our infinite worth.
Still, I know you believe in sola scriptura, so you'll understand that I have no problem with disagreeing with the most eminent theologians and preachers when they differ from Scripture.
Not one preacher/theologian in 100 has much of a grasp on the New Covenant. The "tradition" of Covenant Theology law-based teaching has made "the Word of God of none effect" regarding the New Covenant.
Most just view it as a New *Old* Covenant, not understanding the radical nature of the New Birth in changing the very nature (spirit) of a child of God.
Meanwhile, think how distasteful it would be for a new bride (or a 25-year one, like my lovely bride this June) spending close times with her husband going on and on about what an unworthy mess of a wife she is, instead of enjoying him and allowing him to greatly value her in the worth he has ascribed to her alone.
Quod non est biblicum, non est theologicum...and with that in mind, I will not dismiss doctrinally sound theologians, though the final authority absolutely rests in God's infallible Word.
I agree with you to a point, Terry. But again, you are focused on one point of the same thing, while I am focused on the other. In balance, neither point dismisses the other. In their extremes, they set each other aside and really one view cannot hold without the balance of the other.
Self-abasement is self-degradation based on feelings of guilt. That is not what Piper was expressing here.
As for humility, I like to read Philippians 2:1-17.
Christ didn't do all of this so that I could feel better about myself. He didn't lay down His life so that I would constantly heep ashes of worthlessness on myself either. No offense, but your example of your wife does not make the point at all.
The main point of this quote from Piper is not self-abasement my friend. The main point is what I have already written above.
Sincerely from the heart,
Lisa
Post a Comment