The theme of this book by John Piper is “making God supreme in missions.” This book addresses the current need for missions in the twenty-first century and provides a strong theological basis for missions. The introductory chapter addresses the new change in missions as Christianity has shifted from a North American and European prominence to other countries. This “southern” shift reveals an urgent need for missions in North America than ever before. Piper urges against a prosperity gospel in this introduction and urges the biblical purpose of suffering as an antidote. His notion that the Old Testament is a come-and-see religion and that the New Testament shifts to a go-and-tell emphasis is significant for churches today.
“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is.” With these words (35), Piper spends precious words revealing a God-centered form of missions. As a Christian hedonist (which is not a contradiction), Piper takes His cue from a previous work he has published entitled The Pleasures of God (39-40). He unfolds a theological basis for missions that is centered on the fact that God’s ultimate goal is to uphold and display the glory of His name (41). Piper shares many biblical texts that point to this truth. He extends his thesis from another book Desiring God (namely that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him) to missions. Missions happens when we reflect God’s glory by enjoying Him and sharing His name(56-57). A person who enjoys God will be willing to share Him with others.
The book takes this important truth (which from a Christian hedonist makes complete sense), and applies it to every discipline in the Christian life. Therefore, God is supreme in missions through prayer. Piper emphasizes that God is a warrior, life is war, and prayer is wartime walkie-talkie used to communicate with headquarters (69). One should not use prayer as a domestic intercom. Therefore, Christ is glorified in the mission of the church when He is heard and known (85).
Piper reveals that suffering is appointed by God for His servants. He establishes the biblical basis and gives very good reasons for the suffering of His servants (109-122) because “what obedience will not achieve, persecution will.” He connects the dots between suffering, weakness, and mission by stating that through loss and suffering, joyfully accepted by God’s servants will make God supreme in missions (122).
Piper addresses the question: “Is Christ the only way?” and makes a sound and strong argument from scripture for a “yes” answer. He reasons that an eternal conscience torment (Piper’s definition for hell) proves that Christ is the only way (138-144).
The hermeneutical foundation for this book is extremely strong and well done. Piper uses Scripture to interpret Scripture. When he does refer to historical analysis, it is mostly with examples from the Puritan fathers or Jonathan Edwards. However, on the whole, this would be considered a God-centered hermeneutic of Scripture.
I have enjoyed learning from this author and theologian. While Piper is a reformed theologian, his writing has been informative. However, Piper only briefly addresses the logical question that comes to the reader of a book like this: “What about the people who have never heard the gospel?” Chapter Four (The Supremacy of Christ as the Conscience Focus of All Saving Faith) seems to be his answer to that question. He explains his answer (150) and eventually uses a story William Carey used to answer this age-old question (154). The fact that he prods through other logical steps to this answer: “Apart from a knowledge of Him, none who has the physical ability to know Him will be saved” (155) – even this statement comes with a caveat. His answer seems to point to timing as the main reason why people did not hear the Gospel. He explains in detail the “times of ignorance” (151-152) and gives an answer to this entire problem is “God’s ways are not our ways.” While he admits that God used Israel in the Old Testament as the witness to the world, Piper does not explain why God allows the “hardening” of hearts in Israel which prevents the gospel from being accepted – except to say that this “hardening” allows the Gentiles to come to repentance. Piper returns to this problem again when he refers to Romans 10:13 (164-165), and refers to the confession of Jesus as Lord as the Old Testament hope. In order for people to come to God, it will take more than natural revelation. Before Christ, faith was focused on the mercy of God (although animal sacrifices were used.) Since a promised sin-bearer was prophesied in the Old Testament, people had to wait “in hope” for that salvation. Once Christ came, His name was the only name which should be declared among the nations and His name was the only way for salvation (169).
Despite the long explanation, Chapter Four is also useful because Piper spends many pages showing the Biblical basis for this explanation to the question about saving faith. He reveals the move from Israel to Christ as the center of that faith. He shows how a change in shift from the Jews to the Gentiles allows the world to hear about Jesus Christ. Using many verses from both the Old and New Testaments, Piper makes his point clear – Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
Piper gives good insight for the biblical basis for evangelism to all “people groups,” and not necessary geographic regions in chapter five. This chapter is a good read and also gives extensive explanation for every use of the phrase “Panta ta Ethne” in the New Testament as well as its counterpart in the Old Testament.
I have read other books by John Piper. Ten years ago, I read The Pleasures of God, which revolutionized my ideas about how God loves me as His child. It was hard to believe that God could enjoy and worship Himself. Yet, Piper challenged me and even converted me to his thinking. This reviewer has since read Desiring God, Don’t Waste Your Life, Future Grace, Brothers We Are Not Professionals, The Supremacy of God in Preaching, and finally Let the Nations Be Glad! This book complements many of other books by the author.
If one believes that missions is accomplished best through human methods and strategies, then this book will place the emphasis back on God where it belongs. While there are many books about church planting that describe human methods, strategies, and approaches, this book places the effort of mission back on God’s shoulders. The church should rely on God for missions. We are called to be His instruments in spreading the gospel and in planting churches.
Overall, this book is an excellent resource which should be read by every pastor and church planter. I especially liked the “Afterword” in which Tom Steller writes a chapter and provides the biblical justification from 3 John for mission work. This put the words of John Piper in the rest of the book into one final challenge to the reader. This chapter would be useful in preaching about the need for missions to a congregation.
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