Those living authors / theologians who have most shaped my thinking are: John Piper, D.A. Carson, J.I. Packer, and R.C. Sproul.

John Piper has been the pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 30 years. He relentlessly produces Biblically-saturated and God-exalting books and articles. I deeply appreciate him and believe he is a gift to the people of God.

On another level I consider John to be a friend. Through the years we have spent time together and I have asked him numerous questions. He has preached at ECBC and led a pastor’s conference at our church.  The church he pastors, like ECBC, is a sponsoring church (“Hub Church”) for Campus Outreach. We also serve together on the board for the Gospel Coalition. (Which means we are part of a group of approximately forty men who spend three days together annually in Chicago.)

So his announcement this weekend regarding taking a leave of absence from May 1 to December 31 was incredibly news worthy (and personally disconcerting).  During this period he will cease from all writing and public ministry. This is what he wrote in part on the website www.desiringGod.com dated 3.28.10:  

“I see species of pride in my soul that, while they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me from ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with Noel (his wife of forty-one years) and others who are dear to me. How do I apologize to you, not for a specific deed, but for ongoing character flaws, and their effects on everybody? I’ll say it now, and no doubt will say it again, I am sorry. Since I don’t have just one deed to point to, I simply ask for a spirit of forgiveness; and I give you as much assurance as I can that I am not making peace, but war, with my own sins.”

I have several thoughts regarding John’s statement:

1. It would have been easier (infinitely easier) to simply say “I have been at this ministry for thirty years and am tired. I need to step away and be physically refreshed and emotionally renewed by the Lord and hopefully to come back for 5-8 years of God-honoring ministry.” And that statement would have been true. In fact, earlier in the statement he said he needed a “reality check from the Holy Spirit”. He could have stopped with that statement regarding a “reality check” but he did not. And I am thankful because there are several lessons to learn from the statement. 

2. John’s incredible honesty should serve as a stark reminder that a general confession of sin will not deal with root issues that plague us, negatively impact those around us, and potentially harm the generations to come. In other words this statement from a man I enormously respect is like a flaming spear thrust at my own feet.  

3. We often classify sins as “front page” / ministry disqualifying sins and other failings as  “respectable sins” (to borrow a quote from a recent book by Jerry Bridges). The respectable sins are sins that can be tolerated because we are all sinners and we all struggle with sin and therefore we shrug our shoulders and say “my temper/arrogance/pride/unforgiveness/gossip… is no big sin”. And admittedly they are not on the same level as sexual abuse or murder. So we can wink at them and allow these common day issues to worm their way into the core of our being. But sin that is tolerated and not abhorred can destroy and bring deep sorrow to ourselves and those we love. So I am thankful for a man who is grappling with a respectable sin and cries out against the damage that it brings. As John says “I give you as much assurance as I can that I am not making peace, but war, with my own sins.” May that sentiment be the cry of my heart.    

4. I ask myself “Do I hate sin? Do I understand that I must kill sin or sin will drink down the joy and freedom that Christ purchased for me on the Cross?” As a beloved child of God whose acceptance and position is eternally determined by the embracive grace of the living God, do I grapple with these words of Jesus “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you loose one of your members than that your whole body to be thrown into hell.”–Matthew 5:29 (ESV)

    

5. Do I seek honesty, correction and input from my God sanctioned authorities (i.e. Sara and the elders)? Do I have friends who have the freedom to say hard things to me? Who is shepherding my soul? Are there people who know me well enough to raise warning flags? Or to use our Homeland Security Advisory System: Do I have circles of friends who will raise an alarm code “yellow” (elevated) or “orange” (high) before an issue approaches the “red” (severe)? 

6. I often say we are one dumb decision away from blowing it. But am I keenly aware that peacefully coexisting with marginal behavioral flaws can deaden my effectiveness and cause others to stumble?

May God give all of us the desire to be Cross saturated, grace filled, sin hating, hymn singing followers of the one who said “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”. (Matthew 11:30)