John Piper writes books quicker than I can read them. But I still try! I thoroughly enjoyed one of his recent books: Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God. Here’s part of the official blurb from the publisher, Crossway: “We often pit thinking and feeling against each other, especially when it comes to the Christian experience. Glorifying God with our minds and hearts, however, is not either-or, but both-and. Focusing on the life of the mind will help you to know God better, love him more, and care for the world.”
Here’s a promo video for the book:
In Think Piper has two biblical texts that form the main point of the book. 2 Timothy 2:7 – “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (ESV) and Proverbs 2:3-6 – “…if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (ESV)
Piper’s point is that thinking is a good gift from God. When we think, God in his grace, gives understanding. Ultimately, thinking is not an end in itself, but it is to serve our love for God.
Think provides a good polemic against anti-intellectualism. I think that this would be helpful content for some of my pentecostal friends to hear who sometimes value subjective experience more than deliberate applied thinking. In my circles, however, it wouldn’t take too long to convince people of the dangers of anti-intellectualism.
The other thing that Piper argues against in this book is dry academic spirituality. I need to hear this, as do my peers. The danger for Reformed Evangelicals is the danger of letting knowledge puff up. His chapter on 1 Corinthians 8:1-11 encourages the reader to embrace the knowledge that leads to love.
The following is from Piper’s conclusion:
A Plea to Those Who Don’t Love to Think:
- Be Thankful for Thinkers
- Respect Those Who Serve Youth with Thinking
- Pray for the Vulnerable Thinkers
- Avoid Wrongheaded Thinking
- Read Youth Bible with Joy
A Plea to Those Who Love to Think:
- Think Consciously for the Glory of Christ
- Become Like Children
- Enjoy the Word of God Like Gold and Honey
- Think for the Sake of Love
Browse whole book at Crossway | Amazon | Book Depository US | Book Depository UK
I heard him give a lecture on the supremacy of God in the life of the mind a long time ago, and he said that key to a good mind is scripure/poetry memorisation. He said he’d make it a rule that at a seminary no one could graduate without having memorised several psalms, isaiah 53, the sermon on the mount, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
i think scripture memory is rad.
i did it lots as a late teen, early twenties.
stopped.
now started again using a sweet program
http://www.fighterverses.com/
He said he’d make it a rule that at a seminary no one could graduate without having memorised several psalms, isaiah 53, the sermon on the mount, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
wouldn’t work at mtc – remember the uproar when we were giving a bible reading plan during 1st year??!?
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i hope mission is going well
What does it mean by “Read Youth Bible with Joy”?
I presume its adopting child like qualities, like hearing something for the first time and taking it with joy which leads into the next point about children, “become like children”. Not too sure though? Am I on the right path?
haha – i don’t have the book in front of me, but i’m pretty sure it’s a typo!!!
sorry – it should say “Your” not “youth”
nice try though… sounds good!!
hope you’re well mate.
Good ol’ typos’! I should have picked it up… More embarrassing for me haha!