John Piper and Jerusalem
Posted
November 10, 2006 
Comments(18)
Comments(18)
This summer two worlds collided. Two elements of my life up to this point which have had a significant impact on my life came precariously close to damaging one another.
As I was listening to John Piper on the subject of worship, I heard him say that he has never been to the Promised Land and I thought, “Oh that’s a bummer, I hope he gets to go sometime, he would love it.” But then my dreams were crushed when he stated that he had no desire to go to the holy land. WHAT!! John Piper, a man and preacher I admire, doesn’t want to go to the best place on earth! Some of you may think that I’m speaking gibberish, but I have provided the evidence for you to hear yourself. Simply click the ‘play’ arrow on the audio player below.[audio:Piper - No Jeru.mp3]
I understand what he is saying. We don’t centralize our worship in a place, but on a person, Jesus Christ. But Israel can be used for enhancement of our knowledge of the Scriptures and understanding of the people and culture of the Bible.
Don’t tell Manorama… He’ll NEVER go to IBEX now!
Okay, I guess that’s just one more way that Piper is more Spiritually mature than I am. I really want to go to Israel! But it’s not so much the tourism thing. I don’t really know how to explain it. I guess you explained it in the last sentence of your post. I want to understand the Bible better, and I want to understand more of Christ’s time on earth by seeing where He was. I want to be a (very late)eyewitness to the scene where He lived His life. I want to see the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It’s like a blind man saying he doesn’t want to see. He just has no idea. His ideas are clearly misconceptions (assuming he goes with a good program and not a religious tour).
Now that last comment might have been a little strong. But its an interesting point.
Like this post.
I think a certain someone who commented above (numero shalosh) might be a little biased, seeing as he gets to live there. But of course, micah james, you’re right again.
Remember, even our most beloved/respected teachers are not infallible! It would be scary to agree with everything another fallen (yet being sanctified) human says.
I miss Jerusalem.
Ooohh, what a shame, I was actually starting to like Piper….. I even just had an offer to be his bodyguard at the Resolved conference…….
I think I’m just the opposite…. I’ve never been and I CAN’T WAIT to go (Fall 07!)…..
But even the best of us can make really ignorant statements, I guess. Why, just the other day, I heard someone say that they didn’t like In-N-Out….. and then I heard someone else say that they didn’t like coffee….. such blasphemy that proceeds from ignorant Christians……
It’s not a sin to not want to go to Israel. Spirituality is not based on whether or not you desire to go to the Holy Land. One who goes or wants to go is not more spiritual than one who has not gone or one who desires not to go. I have no desire to go to India. Does that mean that I am any less spiritual because I don’t want to go even when there are so many people who need to hear the gospel in India? No, it just means that God has not laid that on my heart right now. Maybe God hasn’t laid the desire to go to Israel on John Piper’s heart. Maybe He never will. As long as he is open to what God wants and is willing to be used by Him whereever He leads then that is all that matters. If God never lays the desire to go to Israel on his heart then that is fine. You had a great time in Israel and that was something that God allowed you to experience. He had a purpose for you going there. There are many Christians who will never get to experience Israel and that is fine and there are many Christians who don’t have the desire to experience Israel and that is fine. It doesn’t make them any less saved by grace. Plus who are we to decide how spiritual another Christian is anyway. We are called to love, not judge or compare.
Note: some of this comment is in response to what you said and some is in response to what others commented.
I apologize if what I wrote implied that a person who goes to Israel is more spiritual. That idea is profoundly unbiblical. I simply was making the statement that it is such a great opportunity to go to the land of Israel in order to learn more out the people and land of the Bible, not to gain a greater spiritual status.
You’re forgiven.
I didn’t think that is what you were trying to get at, but in reading others comments that is how I felt like responding. Sorry for being controversial. (not really, cause sometimes I like thinking outside the mold) 
Have a superdiduper day! (if that’s not a word, it totally is now) 
I do think that it is a sin for someone who teaches the Bible for a living to have no desire to see the places where it happened if he knows that it will increase his understanding of the Word, his ability to teach his people better, and his desire to know God more. Perhaps Piper doesn’t realize that, but if not, someone should tell him.
[...] Sad: My friend Micah has posted a audio clip in which John Piper says (in 1993) that he has no desire to visit Israel. I’m not afraid to wrestle in the meta. [...]
Was this comment made by Piper really said in 1993? If so that was over 12 years ago. Maybe he has changed his mind or maybe by now he has actually been to Israel. Why would it be a sin for someone to not want to go to Israel? Where in the Bible does it say that one needs to go to Israel? I understand what Todd is saying that a preacher should desire to learn as much as he can about God, but all we need to know about God we can learn in the Bible. That is why God gave it to us. So I guess I am lost as to why someone would consider it a sin for someone to have no desire to go to Israel?
PS – This is Christie’s roommate. Just felt like adding info to the conversation.
I corrected my blog to read 1999. I’m suggesting that it is a sin to not want to do something which will increase one’s understanding of the Word, one’s ability to teach his people better, and one’s desire to know God more. Going to Israel is not the only thing that that applies to (reading your Bible is another), but it is one of them.
“All we need to know we can learn in the Bible” – but going to Israel will help you to understand the Bible better. Why are we (that’s collective, in reference to our modern American Christian culture, I’m not pointing any individual fingers here) so arrogant to assume that we can understand a 2,000-3,000 year old book without understanding the world in which it was written? It was not written in America, it was not written to Americans, and much of it is tied to the culture in which it was written. I’m not suggesting that you need to go to Israel to understand the statement that “God is love,” but I am suggesting that large parts of the Bible are better understood in the places where they happened and were written. Most people don’t even understand that because they don’t read those parts of the Bible. But those parts of the Bible help you to understand God better. I’m not saying that God will hold accountable anyone living in the 15th century for not going to Israel, but for an American Bible teacher with sufficient funds and opportunity, I think it’s a different story.
BTW, I don’t think Micah’s point, or mine either, is about one man. It’s about a principle. So whether Piper has gone since he made that statement doesn’t change the fact that the statement was made and is worthy of comment. Micah’s plea, and mine, would be to our readers (which certainly does not include Dr. Piper) to not have the same mistaken notion.
Admittedly, the strength of some of the passion in my comments comes from the fact that there are very few people whom I respect more than John Piper.
wow. great discussion here. thanks guys… I did hear this sermon before I went to Israel, but I am convinced now, that it certainly did help my understanding of the Bible by seeing the land in which it was written…. thanks micah and todd
I just found that John Piper gave this lecture in April 2002.
we will go there, with the king, when he comes back on the mount of olives. What a day
Hey Micah,
I agree with everything you said! Honestly, I’m not sure where to draw the line in how we discuss this. I must admit, I’ve heard some of the people here at TMC (specifically, a friend of mine giving a tour around campus to visitors) say that Israel “colors in” the Bible. That, to me, puts up a red flag. I think Piper would agree with me here. The Holy Spirit does that, not Israel. On the other hand, I’m going to IBEX next semester and–really–I can’t wait! I think it will help me learn the Bible (in seeing where these people walked and lived and acted), and I think it will impact my faith as well.
I don’t know how to discuss it, and I haven’t fully thought it through (if that is actually possible). Anyway, good post!
I’d be curious to hear Todd’s clarification of this. By the way, my IBEX journaling blog is http://www.ibex-and-me.blogspot.com, just in case you need proof that I’m excited. Israel is an awesome place to go!