John Piper at Wheaton

John Piper spoke in chapel today.  Here are the sermon notes that I took. 

Calvinism and the Providence of God

The Desiring God blog has posted some of John Frame’s book on the question of God’s sovereignty over sin.  Is it consistent for the Calvinist to say that God “permits” sin?   I don’t think that the soft determinist has this option available.  
Frame’s answer to this question sounds identical to the traditional Arminian view.   Traditional Arminians believe that God has ordained (i.e. [...]

Proverbs 16:33 on Providence

Is there such a thing as random occurances?  Proverbs 16:33 indicates that there isn’t.  
 The lot is cast into the lap,
       but its every decision is from the LORD.
In this passage, even something as random as lots (or dice) is under the control of YHWH.   There is no such thing as an accident.  God’s providence is watching over [...]

A Working Definition of Providence

Everything that happens in this world is planned by God.   Nothing happens to us that God doesn’t cause or allow.  

God’s Providence and Open Theism

Lately I’ve been posting quite a bit about problems with the Calvinist view of God’s providence.  Today I thought that I bring up some problems with the other extreme view of God’s providence.   While some folks want to make God out to be the author of evil by making God to be cosmic puppetmaster (i.e. determinism), others try to [...]

John Piper and Calvinist Inconsistencies 2

Awhile back I posted on John Piper’s comments concerning the bridge collapsing.  Piper mentioned that he will be preaching on the question of why God “permits” evil.  I objected that determinism doesn’t allow the Calvinist to use the language of permission consistently.  The Calvinist must speak of God causing evil; however, such language seems pastorally impotent. 
 I sent [...]

Rob on God’s Sovereignty

Rob emailed me this comment about my recent posts on God’s sovereignty and the problem of evil. He had some trouble posting so I asked him if it was alright, if I just posted his thoughts.

Revelation 9 and the Permission of God

God is sovereign. The Bible clearly teaches that He is in control of everything. But what does that control mean? Does it mean that God is a grand puppetmaster or the computer programmer of the universe as determinism teaches? I don’t think so.
God is not the cause of evil. Rather [...]

John Piper and Calvinist Inconsistencies

Does anyone else find it ironic when Calvinists start using the language of permission when explaining evil?
Listen to this recent John Piper’s statement.   He writes that one of the goals of his new preaching series is “to drive home that evil is not accident and that all the evil God permits is by design for [...]

Who is the “You”?

Welcome to the exegetical circus.  Unbelievable.   Beware.  There are a lot of twists and turns on the 2 Peter 3:9 roller coaster.  Check it out.  It’s amazing how someone can take a text and make it say the exact opposite of the author’s intent.