Seeing as the rest of you have a sense of humor, you will probably enjoy this video featuring the irenic Arminian, Roger Olson, rocking out with some of our Calvinist friends at a local seeker church. This group calls itself "45:12", which apparently means "four 5-pointers and one 2-pointer." But some have hinted that the name might be a cryptic reference to Isaiah 45:12, sneaked in by Piper in an attempt to subliminally influence Olson toward meticulous sovereignty. Olson mentioned to me in a private conversation that he was aware of this plot, and was planning to write 3 books, published by 5 different publishers, in response. Piper will not be named explicitly in any of the books, but will rather be referred to as "a leading Baptist proponent of the Young, Restless, Reformed movement who has authored many books and pastors a big church in Minneapolis, whose name you would recognize . . ."
Piper says he knows that the group is controversial, but he is committed to reaching out to seekers. "I know some will say this is compromise, but I say, uh, 45:12 is all about sharing great contemporary music with the whole world - even seeker sensitive, um, for lack of a better word - false shepherds - who masquerade as Gospel preaching Evangelicals. But, as Roger would say, we have to keep the doors of the [finger quotes] big tent wide open for whatever heresy wants to call itself Evangelical."
Disclaimer #1: This is only a joke. None of this actually happened.
Disclaimer #2: Don't get too excited, Spurgeon has not been resurrected (yet).
Disclaimer #3: No, John MacArthur has not become charismatic (yet).
Disclaimer #4: No theologians were harmed in the making of this motion picture.
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
Other Disclaimers
This is not an endorsement of rock music, "Christian" rock music, Roger Olson's theology, the "arminocalvinist" spectrum, infant baptism, men wearing wigs, contextualized Christianity, secular Christmas music, men's jewelry, bandanas, mega churches, or smoke machines. I do, however, endorse disco balls and sequin covered guitars.
Also, just to reassure his critics, Piper's antics in this video are not taken from actual footage.
Hey, Jonathan Edwards wore a wig when he preached (or so I've heard).
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I couldn't include Edwards in the group - he would have looked too much like he already looks (or should I say looked? He probably doesn't look too good at the moment, wig or not.)
ReplyDelete"Also, just to reassure his critics, Piper's antics in this video are not taken from actual footage."
ReplyDeleteThanks for reassuring me; the way he throws his hands around, and ducks and weaves on stage, the footage could very well have been stolen from the "Don't Waste Your Life" conference and set to music.
I figured since I was poking fun at Roger Olson, with whom I disagree in many ways, I would also poke fun at John Piper, with whom I mostly agree. This way it doesn't seem like I'm ganging up on Olson by putting him on stage with 4 of the greatest Calvinist authors in history!
ReplyDelete