What is God doing through the coronavirus? John Piper offers six biblical answers to that question, showing us that God is at work in this moment in history.
[Edit: The Kindle book normally retails at USD3.29 on Amazon US but is currently offered free through Crossway]
2 Thou shalt not eat kebabs
3 Thou shalt keep thy social distance
4 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours stockpile of n95 masks and hand sanitisers….
Social distancing super important now that Pell is out…
@RetroMetro: Regardless of whether he was or wasn't an abuser himself, how many degenerate priests did Pell protect? That alone is worthy of his incarceration and punishment.
That alone is worthy of his incarceration and punishment.
And that is likely why the High Court unanimously acquitted him. Sounds like the jury didn't care at all if he did the crime or not.
Thou shall not share the blood of thy holy Jesus Christ
Thou shalt not be an opportunistic prick and write crap for self gain at this time.
Have you read or listened to any of his stuff? Give it a try and see if you think he's doing it for self gain.
for the good of the cult
i see what you did there ;)
This is absolute load of rubbish
John Piper’s fifty-plus books receive a steady royalty stream from ongoing sales. Piper assigns the copyrights of his books to a charitable foundation so that he doesn’t receive the money personally.
In this short video, Piper explains where the royalties go and how they are managed to guard against the love of money (Hebrews 13:5) and channel them back into ongoing ministry. It is, after all, more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35).
Is it his own foundation/ tax write-off?
Look at the evidence before making a statement like that. John Piper releases all of his books free (the ebook versions). It's quite easy to deduce that he doesn't write for self-gain, but to help people worldwide!
Money is the only gain? Praise, power, fame… He might even do it for the right reasons, not to say he isn't brainwashed (mind you everyone's brain is.. We all subscribe to working 5 days a week because we're told that's normal, for example)
He is living comfortably enough to take "a year off" to write a book. I tried to find his actual residence to show you but couldn't.
Past a certain point I'd give 100% of my earnings too. Because what the hell else am i going to do with it?
You tell me to dig deeper, fair enough, but also fair is I tell you to do the same
@justtoreply: Thanks for your reasonable and rational reply, justtoreply. John Piper could be releasing a free book for the other reasons you have listed. Based on listening to his podcasts and talks and reading his books, I think that is probably not the case here. He is quite ready to admit that some things in his life he has done for the wrong reasons. He's a very honest, humble guy overall. No-one can prove Piper is releasing a book for all the right reasons, but examining the evidence of this author's life and teaching, I think most people would err to the side of suggesting that this book is part of how he wants to honour God and serve/love others, rather than it being for personal gain.
@WalletFullOfMoths: Thanks for a rational response too. Good to know that even though we're on opposite sides of the religion coin we can still get along
well then in that case this isn't a bargain and should be removed
@organamisms: Or better, moved to the "Long Running Deals" section. It's quite obvious from the votes that a lot of people appreciate the free book offer, even if it upsets others. I'm just thankful that OzBargain is tolerant, unlike some people seem to be on this forum. :)
Gives book away free
People complain about "self gain" whatever that is.
lol
Thou shalt not run wet markets selling disease ridden animals for human consumption
There's definitely some rules like this in Leviticus somewhere.
The difficulties of good hygiene before the invention of modern soap/bleach etc is why the Law of Moses had rules like 'don't eat pork or prawns'.
I thought the whole pork thing was because pigs contribute less than a sheep which you can eat and get wool from or a cow which you can milk, eat, maybe plough your fields and use as leather so it was based on utility. I do understand that in China where you don’t have the space for allowing cattle and sheep to roam that pigs might be more optimum because of this and you can feed them waste.
Why did I click on this thread?
Now I've wasted 5 mins AND run out of negs for the day…
Surely he (or she) can simply make it go away?
Read the book and find out?
This goes back to the age old question, "why does God allow suffering". There's probably lots of reasons why God allows coronavirus to occur, for example using this as a wake up call, using this as opportunity for people to show love to each other, to grow personally through the experience. And yes, it could be as a result of our sinful ways as God gives us free will, but that then entails leaving us to deal with the consequences of our actions as we can't have it both ways. I don't think anyone can say for certain.
What I do know is that the bible promises "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28) and therefore I continue trusting that God has a plan mapped out that sustains me during these dark times.
I'd encourage you to read God's word and to find out for yourself that maybe God is alot more compassionate and personal than you might have given him credit for ;)
or maybe he doesn't exist
@CacheHunter: Maybe, but unless you have actually gone to the effort of objectively evaluating the evidence, you've reached that conclusion based on blind faith or wishful thinking. Simply wishing that The Flying Spaghetti Monster doesn't exist doesn't make it true.
@CacheHunter: ooooh let's get into a link war of you posting online "evidence" that Jesus was brought back to life and I post counter "evidence" that it's bullshit.
that would be fun.
Sure, I can't prove The Flying Spaghetti Monster did beyond all reasonable doubt, but certainly that it's far more likely than not. Says I, and some guy on a pedestal with fabulous clothes and a fashionable hat.
@b2dz: Jesus probably got super wasted at the last supper and everyone thought he died. After two days he recovered from his hangover.
@Mr Haj: Just googled "jesus" and "weed".
"Jesus 'healed using cannabis'"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/06/science.religi…
@CacheHunter: Can you explain why almost all the depictions of Jesus is that he is very white?
I thought he'd be a bit darker skinned or maybe his mum got it on with a Roman soldier.
@Zaxxon: @Zaxxon: Are you going to gamble your eternal soul on "maybe"? Eid al-Fitr is coming up on the 23-24 May. "Maybe" spend 15 minutes thinking why they call it "Eid".
@Zaxxon: A Jewish man died to save us from a sin passed down from an apple eating rib lady. Yep, thought about it for 15 mins.. still ridiculous.
@knackers: Speaking of that lady, who did her children marry? There were no other humans other than her and her husband.
@So lo: lol Funny you mention that, as an inquisitive young child (aged 8 or so) I asked my priest uncle(who teaches at the Vatican now) that very same question. His response was, "not all stories in the bible are factual"… and he also added, "the devil will haunt those who ask too many questions."
His initial response contradicted his second response, so off I went and picked all the stories in the bible that sounded implausible. There wasn't much left to hold on to. By age 12-14 I concluded that it was a fear based religion: fear of the devil, fear of hell, fear of god's retribution. I'm so glad I shed the silliness early in life.
@Zaxxon: gamble your external soul
What? Shouldn't that be eternal soul? People still believe in having a soul?
Where's your proof for this, outside of ancient religious ramblings??
@RetroMetro: I think it is up to people claiming such ridiculous ideas to put up proof!
It's an ancient concept, without any possible proof. Good storytelling to get people to believe - to save their "soul".
And a good income earner for churches in earlier unenlightened times. And still is attractive to the "believers". But don't tell me it's true😂
Watched a program on early heart surgery other day. Surgeons in London received death threats for tampering with the "heart" as they believed it had some mysterious qualities!! We know different.
@INFIDEL: Well its not quite proof souls dont exist. I do realise it gets tricky when people have different opinions on what is what. But lets say there was some mysterious qualities to the heart that we don't know about. We operate surgery but that didn't tell us about these qualities to the heart. There is no way to prove or disprove this! I think people would call this faith.
@RetroMetro: The heart…
The heart is the locus of spiritual being, and represents the "central wisdom of feeling as opposed to the head-wisdom of reason". It is compassion and understanding, life-giving and complex. It is a symbol for love. Often known as the seat of emotions, the heart is synonymous with affection.
We know different.
a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.
Certainly not so poetic😉
Yes it faith over scientific facts.
Which ever side you are on, we're certain in our case.
@INFIDEL: Yes we know physically what the heart does. Good Job! But other people may think about it more spiritually. Ok so im not one of those people who believe the heart has some mysterious qualities. But what im getting from your replies is that we find out the physical properties and thats done. Other people think more than physical.
@RetroMetro: I'm not knocking the poetic & beautiful beliefs people have. I listen to them with fascination on my travels, never challenging their comforting beliefs. I grew up with them.
It is that desire for more than the pure banal physical world which is so attractive. A teaching of Buddha is often quoted as "Life is suffering." We don't want suffering for ourselves & loved ones.
Trained in clinical hypnosis long ago, I had women asking for regression to past lives. As a person who considers there is enough in our current lives to explain why we are who we are - I refused.
Many search for meaning beyond the physical & provable world. I tend to suggest meaning & beauty can be found in the present. But then I'm a curious Infidel - a non-believer.
@INFIDEL: "never challenging their comforting beliefs" you just said souls don't exist that counts as challenging peoples' beliefs. I honestly don't think the physical world is so beautiful. Look at all the bad stuff that happens and is going around. The world is an ugly place. This is one of the major reasons why many want to leave this world and pursue something outside of the physical boundaries.
@RetroMetro: Here, you are challenging me to prove souls don't exist😉
So a very different situation to quietly listening to people with strong heartfelt beliefs. Often while they are dying.
That's bleak! I think you need to change your perceptions of the world.
My field of ecology was developed by religious people who marvelled at "God's work". They said the beauty they observed proved the existence of God. But you can't see that? 🌄
That's sad, even for a non-believer!
@RetroMetro: This is a logical fallacy. The burden of proof lies with the person making the claim, "souls exist", not with the person who disputes the claim, to prove the opposite is the case.
@Zaxxon: @Zaxxon: There're about 6000 more gods human being believe. May be there are 5999 other versions of how the 'eternal soul' should be, are you aware that you are gambling all those 5999 possibilities as well? And I may only be gambling one more than you, however I won't gamble this precious life in wasting my life in all those nonsense for sure.
And you'll be 100% sorry when you find out he does exist
@b2dz: Whats ridiculous? The fact that you people can't tolerate other people's beliefs and opinions? Quite laughable.
@RetroMetro: You'll be sorry when you find out the The Flying Spaghetti Monster does exist.
Just expressing my opinion.
Why did the jews murder jesus?
Becuase he went outside in the fresh air after the political class told him he couldn't?
@b2dz: If Jesus ate a kebab and no howler monkeys were around to snitch on him, would he still catch a virus?
plot twist: Jesus was also a Jew
Yeah I'm sure those young kids dying of it led a life full of sin.
They say the good die young so must have been axxholes /s
If this is God's work, I wonder what he's telling us by the fact it has forced all the churches and other places of worship to close?
"Pack it up, guys - we're done here"
That's an interesting point that you raise and IMO only confirmed what I have suspected for a long time, namely that the human institution known as 'Church' is more subject to that other human institution known as 'government' than it is to God. On the other hand I read about a guy in the U.S. last week that got himself and other arrested fro holding a Church service against government orders.
Welcome to 2000 years ago, I'm sure there are plenty of people who love to throw them all to the lions (or their modern equivalent), if there were enough lions left…..
@EightImmortals: Welcome to the fact that faith and religion are totally different things.
Religion is man made bullshit
Faith I have no issue with.. Believe in anyone you like.
@EightImmortals: @EightImmortals: The fact they closed the pool of healing due to covid19 says a lot I guess.
Interestingly, the period of greatest growth in church history was in the early days under Roman persecution, which dispersed believers to the furthest corners of the known world thereby spreading the gospel. We here in the West have grown complacent with the comforts of religion, it's all about being comfortable and what God can do for me, and "feeling good". In a way I kind of agree, as a Christian, when people have real issues with the structures and rules and regulations of organised religion, or what I would describe as "Churchianity". I could go on about this, but suffice to say that God can bring good out of any circumstance, even (or especially) religious persecution.
or his just sitting back and enjoying the show with his popcorn
This goes back to the age old question, "why does God allow suffering"
for example using this as a wake up call, using this as opportunity for people to show love to each other
God has poured acid over many people and melted their faces off in agony and raped so many people to death, but he only does it because he wants to teach me a lesson to love dogs and appreciate animals. What a cool guy he is to think of me. It makes me feel so nice thinking what kind of kinky torture tactics he is working on right now in order to teach me things. Best teacher ever; 10/10 would learn again.
Is it God who does those things? Or are you referring to the evil actions of human agency?
@inasero: It is god, in collusion with Satan, which directed its earthly agents to do those horrible things. And the funny thing is that you cannot prove otherwise, nor can I the contrary.
@alvian: If I were to steal your car or randomly assault you, by your logic would you then argue I can't be held personally accountable because "God in collusion with Satan" made me do it? Sorry but your argument is just ridiculous
@inasero: Under our current legal system you are accountable. But additional to that, you (or I) can claim that your god told/directed/controlled you to steal my car and to assault me, and neither you nor I can prove or refute this claim. You can actually use this excuse as your legal defence, by proving that you genuinely believed you were acting under an external/imagined influence, a.k.a. suffering from a mental illness, when you committed the offence.
@alvian: I'm not interested in talking about individuals with mental illness, or legal tactics here. We're talking about every day individuals who clearly know (or should know) how to differentiate between whats right and wrong
@inasero: I am not interested in talking about individuals with or without mental illness, and we were not talking about every day individuals. We were talking about a god which committed those evil acts against humankind through its earthly agents. You were the one who started individualising the discussion by your ridiculous example of RANDOMLY assaulting me and stealing my car, and now you are trying to steer the discussion even farther away from your original question "Is it God who does those things?"
![[eBook, Audiobook] Free - Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper @ Crossway](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/56/529656.jpg?h=b35b125f)
