Uncategorized Murray McLellan on 15 Mar 2008 12:59 pm
Leadership and doctrinal purity
John Piper was asked the following at the recent resurgence conference.
“But how should we regard these errors [Wesleyanism and Arminianism] in relationship to the teaching office of the church and other institutions?”
Here is what Piper answered:
“Here’s my rule of thumb: the more responsible a person is to shape the thoughts of others about God, the less Arminianism should be tolerated. Therefore church members should not be excommunicated for this view but elders and pastors and seminary and college teachers should be expected to hold the more fully biblical view of grace.”
on 16 Mar 2008 at 7:17 am 1.Julie Cortens said …
From the teachers perspective I guess it is all about grace. From my perspective, I personally could not sit under the teaching of anyone with any degree of Arminianism in his teaching.
on 16 Mar 2008 at 7:28 am 2.Murray said …
This is exactly Piper’s point. To be a “member” of a local church, one must believe the gospel - no more; no less. Christ places those for whom He died into His body through a work of the Spirit. However, the greater the influence a person carries, the greater the responsibility and the greater doctrinal precision is necessary. Thus, those in leadership must be those who are faithful stewards of the truth and joyfully embrace and proclaim that salvation is of the Lord!
I thought this question may arise following the reading of the 5 articles by Buff Powers on the church.