John Piper Exposed: Another Essentials Lie Believer

 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4, KJV)

And...I found it. John Piper believes in the essentials lie, which makes the case clearer that John Piper is a false teacher.

In the Affirmation of Faith of the Desiring God ministry, it says the following:

15.1 We do not believe that all things in this affirmation of faith are of equal weight, some being more essential, some less. We do not believe that every part of this affirmation must be believed in order for one to be saved.

In Matthew 4:4 and related, Jesus says LIVE and EVERY. John Piper denies this Truth.

John Piper and Christian Hedonism

 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8, ESV)

This one surprised me so much, that I had to talk about it.  Now, I know of many names of people who have been exposed as false teachers, Billy Graham, R. C. Sproul, John Hagee, J. Vernon McGee, Franklin Graham, Charles Surgeon, Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, John MacArthur, and others who are Calvinists, American Baptists, etc. (Click here to check that one out).

Now, as for John Piper, as I've said, this one surprised me.  Maybe it shouldn't, but I don't know.  Anyway, I looked at his Wikipedia article, and it led me to a doctrine called "Christian Hedonism", which appears to be an oxymoron.

Anyway, upon reading that article, which says that in developing the doctrine, John Piper was influenced by Ayan Rand, the author of Atlas Shrugged, and a stanch defender of individualism.

Is this not setting your mind on the flesh?  Mind you, this is not the same as taking care of yourself, as it is written:

“For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,” (Ephesians 5:29, ESV)

However, what John Piper is advocating in Christian Hedonism can be summed up in his quote attributed to him in the Christian Hedonism Wikipedia article:

The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed, and if you abandon the pursuit of your own joy, you cannot love man or please God.

This appears very foreign to me (John 10:5).  What about the motivation of fear?

“By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6, ESV)

Update on my Previous Post on Online Christian Forums

 When providing a link concerning John MacArthur on a previous post (not the one I'm talking about now), I came across a Scripture verse about not digging up evil.  I don't know the citation as of now, but that's why I unpublished the post about online Christian forums.  Yes, there are multiple denominations represented online, which makes for virtually guaranteed heresy, but again, I'm trying to be more careful.

Let me repeat some Scripture verses that guide my carefulness (ESV is used for more clarity):

“desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” (1 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1, ESV)

References to other False Teachers

 To identify by name each and every false teacher that is in my memory would be exhausting, for there are many.  However, to aid in the identification of false teachers, here is a link to not only the references to false teachers, but also how to identify them, via Darwin Fish of A True Church:

https://atruechurch.info/falseteachershome.html

Luis Palau, Yet Another Cookie Cutter False Teacher

 I first heard of Luis Palau when I volunteered at KRBW 90.5FM, an affiliate of American Family Radio (a false ministry, they have their "War on Christmas" like many others, thus promoting the false holiday, again, like many others).  So, again, in the spirit of "prove all things" (I Thessalonians 5:21), I examine Luis Palau.

It's the same old story.  First, according to his Wikipedia article, he had a close association with Billy Graham, another false teacher (Mr. Graham denied Christ on Hour of Power, another false ministry, by saying there are multiple roads to God), against I Timothy 5:22.  Second, his "strong appeal to young people" seems to fit Luke 6:26, concerning false prophets being well received.

Now, this one I cannot explicitly pin on Mr. Palau himself, since he is dead.  His ministry, Palau.org, asks people for money, against 2 Corinthians 2:17.  I cannot say whether Mr. Palau also practiced peddling the Word of God for profit, but it appears likely.

Also, like with Max Lucado, I see no mention of WHY you need to be saved on Palau.org.  They say "Salvation is within reach", citing Romans 10:13:

“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Romans 10:13, ESV)

But again, where's the mention of Hell or the fear of God? (Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5) Where's the mention of repentance? (see Luke 13:2-5) 

Luis Palau is just another cookie-cutter false teacher that must be fleed from:

“A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:5, ESV)

Update on the Examination of David Jeremiah (and Bonus Exposure of Max Lucado)

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV)

All I needed to do was see David Jeremiah's page "Becoming a Christian" to find out that David Jeremiah is likely a false teacher.

He repeats the same evangelistic notion of a "relationship" with God, not that Christians don't have a relationship with God (believers are considered sons of God, says John 1:12, Romans 8:14, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:6, etc.), but that the relationship is emphasized more than WHY we need a relationship.  Just look at Romans 1:18 to 3:20 to see how sinful humanity is and why we need a savior.

Looking through "Becoming a Christian", while it does reference sin and repentance, the implied penalty for sin it cites is "separation from God".  Seriously?  No mention of eternal fire?  Not even the word "Hell"?  Where's the FEAR?  Is it not written:

“By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6, ESV)

If anyone wishes to examine a ministry, check out what they say about how to become a believer.  If it doesn't imply that the need for a savior is because of eternal fire in Hell, then they're likely a false teacher diluting the Truth.

Bonus Exposure:  I looked at the Wikipedia article on Max Lucado.  It is said that he considers LGBTQ individuals and families to be children of God.  For the most part, the Bible calls this a lie, because if they were God's children, they would love Christ:

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.” (John 8:42, ESV)

And what does it mean to love Jesus?  Jesus says it outright:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, ESV)

According to Scripture, LGBT individuals (The Q I'm not sure of) do not love Jesus because they reject His Word, which prohibits homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22, etc.) and effeminacy (I Corinthians 6:9).  This, they do not display the characteristics of a child of God.

Also, the same Wikipedia article mentions Mr. Lucado being called the "Best Preacher In America" by Reader's Digest.  Yeah, this fits perfectly with the following Scripture:

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26, ESV)

Update on the Examination of Francis Chan, and on Protestantism

 I saw the Wikipedia article for Francis Chan's "Crazy Love".  It says that the book was well received.  In Mr. Chan's article, it says that "Crazy Love" was a New York Times bestseller.  This appears to fit the following Scripture:

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26, KJV

On a side note, it would be inefficient to examine every single Protestant pastor.  Sure, there may be plenty of individual doctrines that are heretical.  However, what would examine and expose them all, at the very least, is the fact that, if true, Protestantism is false.  In addition, their adherence to the false holidays of Christmas and Easter would also cover it as well.  Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this (Proverbs 6:23)