Piper: Bad Times are Good for Missions

Filed under: I Never Thought About It From That Perspective
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This was encouraging to me as we seek to raise funds for the New City Church Project-Calgary during these tough economic times when folks are nervous about the economy.

John Piper proposes the thesis that the worst of all times is the best of all times for missions.

Thinking & praying on Lamentations 3, he says his thesis needs to be tested:

1. During an economic downturn we are more dependent on God. That is the most fertile soil for creating missionaries.
2. During an economic downturn unreached people around the world do not expect you to come, but to look out for yourself. So they may more likely see your risk as love rather than exploitation.
3. During an economic downturn those who need Christ around the world may be less secure in earthly things and more ready to hear about eternal life.
4. During an economic downturn people at home may be wakened to the brevity of life and the fragility of material things, and so may become more generous not less. And when they give under these circumstances, it will make Christ look all the more like the all-satisfying Treasure that he is.

As we look at the amount of money we need to raise to do church planting in the most expensive city in which to live in Canada, it seems like a daunting task.

All the more glory for God when He provides during these times. Join us in praying to this end.

Piper on Job in Austin

Filed under: "You've Gotta Check This Out"
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John Piper will be in Austin October 17-18 speaking on "Job: When the Righteous Suffer." I think this will be cool for two reasons: (1) John Piper has had a big influence on my thinking. We both have a great admiration for Jonathan Edwards. (2) Hill Country Bible Church is hosting the event and that is the church where I became a Christian.

Here's a description:

The book of Job asks the earnest question we all ask: “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

Afflicted with disease, stripped of his wealth, and asked to confess to evil, Job reaches through his cloud of suffering and strains to touch his God.

As we ponder Job's misery, do we also see the threads of God's mercy in it?

We will all face suffering at some point in our lives; it is inescapable. But what makes calamity endurable is not that God shares our shock, but that through every flame of pain and flood of fear, his sovereign goodness sustains us and turns it all for our good.

For you who suffer, for you who will suffer, and for you who walk alongside those who suffer, we invite you to this conference to see and savor the One who suffered in our place, and who promises never to leave or forsake us.

I think we're in. Who's interested in going?

Click here for more info.