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Terrorism, Justice, and Loving Our Enemies (By Dr. John Piper)

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by bb_baptist, Sep 15, 2001.

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  1. bb_baptist

    bb_baptist New Member

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    Someone asked me after our Tuesday prayer service in response to the terrorist attack, "Can we pray for justice, and yet love our enemy at the same time?" The answer is yes.


    But let's start with or own guilt. Christians know that if God dealt with us only according to justice, we would perish under his condemnation. We are guilty of treason against God in our sinful pride and rebellion. We deserve only judgment. Justice alone would condemn us to everlasting torment.


    But God does not deal with us only in terms of justice. Without compromising his justice he "justifies the ungodly" (Romans 4:5). That sounds unjust. And it would be if it were not for what God did in the life and death of Jesus Christ. The mercy of God moved him to send the Son of God to bear the wrath of God so as to vindicate the justice of God when he justifies sinners who have faith in Jesus. So we have our very life because of mercy and justice (Romans 3:25-26). They met in the cross.


    So we are not quick to demand justice unmingled with mercy. Jesus demands, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:44-45). And, of course Jesus modeled this for us as a perfect man. "While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10). And even as he died for his enemies he prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).


    So the resounding command of the apostles is, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse... Never pay back evil for evil to anyone... Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. 'But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink'" (Romans 12:14-20). When we live this way we magnify the glory of God's mercy and the all-satisfying Treasure that he is to our souls. We show that because of his supreme value to us, we do not need the feeling of personal vengeance in order to be content.


    But it does not compromise this truth to say that God should also be glorified as the one who governs the world and delegates some of his authority to civil states. Therefore some of God's divine rights as God are given to governments for the purposes of restraining evil and maintaining social order under just laws. This is what Paul means when he writes, "There is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God... [This authority is] a minister of God to you for good... it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil" (Romans 13:1-4).


    God wills that human justice hold sway among governments, and between citizens and civil authority. He does not prescribe that governments always turn the other cheek. The government "does not bear the sword for nothing." Police have the God-given right to use force to restrain evil and bring law-breakers to justice. And legitimate states have the God-given right to restrain life-threatening aggression and bring criminals to justice. If these truths are known, this God-ordained exercise of divine prerogative would glorify the justice of God who mercifully ordains that the flood of sin and misery be restrained in the earth.


    Therefore, we will magnify the mercy of God by praying for our enemies to be saved and reconciled to God. At the personal level we will be willing to suffer for their everlasting good, and we will give them food and drink. We will put away malicious hatred and private vengeance. But at the public level we will also magnify the justice of God by praying and working for justice to be done on the earth, if necessary through wise and measured force from God-ordained authority.

    (c) 2001 Bethlehem Baptist Church
    By Dr. John Piper - Desiring God Ministries
    September 13, 2001

    For more information on Desiring God Ministries, Visit http://www.desiringGOD.org
     
    #1 bb_baptist, Sep 15, 2001
  2. preacher

    preacher New Member

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    Good article, but I have a problem. I went to the web site provided by the link, & read
    Dr. Pipers biography. He tells a quick history of his life, including his "education". NO WHERE that I saw was one mention of when, or even IF he came to know our Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. That bothers me.
     
    #2 preacher, Sep 15, 2001
  3. Forever settled in heaven

    Forever settled in heaven New Member

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    how then shd a Palestinian Baptist, for instance, pray for justice, who has suffered so much over the last 50 yrs?

    the current conflict seems to have roots in the Palestinian problem rather than in some quirk of Islam in Afghanistan.

    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by webmaster:

    God wills that human justice hold sway among governments, and between citizens and civil authority. He does not prescribe that governments always turn the other cheek. The government "does not bear the sword for nothing." Police have the God-given right to use force to restrain evil and bring law-breakers to justice. And legitimate states have the God-given right to restrain life-threatening aggression and bring criminals to justice. If these truths are known, this God-ordained exercise of divine prerogative would glorify the justice of God who mercifully ordains that the flood of sin and misery be restrained in the earth.

    <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
     
    #3 Forever settled in heaven, Sep 16, 2001
  4. Ed

    Ed New Member

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    One thing that also concerns me is that it is seldom brought up that there must be a distinction between those executing judgment and those being judged. Without genuine repentance, how do we know that we are not to be judged? The Bible teaches us to take care of ourselves, take care of our enemy and then the governing authority can be instruments of God's wrath. For a detailed explanation, go to http://www.exchangedlife.com/Sermons/topical/against_evil.shtml
     
    #4 Ed, Sep 17, 2001
  5. Chris Temple

    Chris Temple New Member

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    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by preacher:
    Good article, but I have a problem. I went to the web site provided by the link, & read
    Dr. Pipers biography. He tells a quick history of his life, including his "education". NO WHERE that I saw was one mention of when, or even IF he came to know our Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. That bothers me.    <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


    you're kidding - right? :confused:
     
    #5 Chris Temple, Sep 17, 2001
  6. preacher

    preacher New Member

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    No, not kidding. I saw lots of degrees, & where he's wrote lots of books, but it just seems strange to me there's no mention of Christ as his personal Saviour, unless I missed it somewhere. I hace that problem with anyone who is selling something that is supposed to be christian based.
     
    #6 preacher, Sep 17, 2001
  7. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    Scripture says by their fruit you will know them, not by a written date on a web page. You should read a few of his books, spend a little time listening to his messages. While I am not in full agreement with Piper on all things, to question the man's devotion and love of God is unconscionable for anyone who has read anything by him. I highly recommend the sermon on teh site entitled, "Doing Missions when Dying is Gain." It will give you a little of his heart for missions.
     
    #7 Pastor Larry, Sep 18, 2001
  8. Chris Temple

    Chris Temple New Member

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    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by preacher:
    No, not kidding. I saw lots of degrees, & where he's wrote lots of books, but it just seems strange to me there's no mention of Christ as his personal Saviour, unless I missed it somewhere. I hace that problem with anyone who is selling something that is supposed to be christian based.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    Before you wrongly go judging John Piper, of all people, examine his voluminous sermons and writings on his website :rolleyes:

    Oh Yes, Piper has an entire section of writings on Christ.

    Writings on Jesus Christ

    Boasting only in the cross

    Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ

    Jesus is Precious - 7 Sermons

    Jesus Christ is the Son of God

    And many, many more.
     
    #8 Chris Temple, Sep 18, 2001
  9. preacher

    preacher New Member

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    Points well taken, & I'm not judging the man.
    I don't know him & never heard of him till this post. What I'm trying to get across is that the website is the first contact I've had with him. I was just noticing that when he gave a summary of his life, he left out what sould have been the MOST important event, that being accepting Christ as his Saviour. He may be one of the finest christians living & I truly hope he is.
    I will read some of his wrtitngs, and again
    I wasn't trying to make out the man IS lost,
    just something that might be an oversight that he might want to correct.
    [​IMG]

    [ September 18, 2001: Message edited by: preacher ]
     
    #9 preacher, Sep 18, 2001
  10. John Wells

    John Wells New Member

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    webmaster,

    My pastor's sermon this last Sunday was on target with your article. Paraphrasing, he said, "we get how we are to relate when wronged on an interpersonal basis from Romans 12, and the authority ordained by God on governments to deal with evil and wrongdoing from Romans 13." His sermon was excellent!

    We should be praying for President Bush and all our leaders to be in ernest prayer for guidance from God. I am so thankful that in this situation we have a president who begins every day in prayer. If it turns out that vengence and bloodshed results at the hand of our military, as called on by our government, then perhaps that will be part of God's plan and will. God can exact His wrath through instruments of people just like He can heal through doctors when it's His will to do so.
     
    #10 John Wells, Sep 18, 2001
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