John Piper Opens The Door To the Lion's Den

History repeating itself.

A congregation led by a Biblical pastor sees the introduction of pseudo-theological ideas. A few people instantly recognize the man-centered commercialism, but most pay no mind to what the pastor has said because the pastor is just that...the pastor.

Soon the church is put on a course that departs from it's Biblical moorings and is now powered by marketing and CEO style leadership. Any member that expresses concern about the departure from Scriptural authority is marginalized, maligned and bullied out of the church.

This church growth methodology has been championed by Rick Warren. Warren also advocates interfaith acceptance in the name of doing good works. He asked Islam's Allah for forgiveness. He encourages formal relations with Roman Catholicism. His best selling book edifies Roman Catholic mystics.

This is just the tip of Warren's mired and polluted theological, doctrinal iceberg.

Now, Pastor John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church and Desiring God ministries has invited Rick Warren to speak at the 2010 Desiring God Conference in October. This decision is polarizing Evangelicals, and rightfully so. Internet commentary from the Reformed and Liberal camps is drawing a line in cybersand.

For those people who experienced the great pain of being thrown on the tracks because the pastor was on the Purpose Driven train, this news is crushing.

Why? Because John Piper, a pastor with a tremendous reputation for his pursuit of Biblical truth and the glorification of God is validating Warren's methodologies and theology with this invitation. Methodologies and a theology that is diametrically opposed to the very theology that John Piper espouses.

Has John Piper become seduced with America's star studded pastor?

Will the congregation at Bethlehem Baptist Church dare to stand up and call their pastor into account for this error? Is someone at BBC willing to contend for the faith and resist this purpose driven endorsement?

Only time will tell.

And now, for those Christians who suffered Purpose Driven dismemberment, John Piper is opening up the door to the lion's den.

History repeating itself.