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Coronavirus and Christ
"This is a time when the fragile form of this world is felt. The seemingly solid foundations are shaking. The question we should be asking is, Do we have a Rock under our feet? A Rock that cannot be shaken--ever?"
--John Piper
On January 11, 2020, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) reportedly claimed its first victim in the Wuhan province of China. By March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization had declared a global pandemic. In the midst of this fear and uncertainty, it is natural to wonder what God is doing.
In Coronavirus and Christ, John Piper invites readers around the world to stand on the solid Rock, who is Jesus Christ, in whom our souls can be sustained by the sovereign God who ordains, governs, and reigns over all things to accomplish his wise and good purposes for those who trust in him. Piper offers six biblical answers to the question, What is God doing through the coronavirus?--reminding us that God is at work in this moment in history.
--John Piper
On January 11, 2020, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) reportedly claimed its first victim in the Wuhan province of China. By March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization had declared a global pandemic. In the midst of this fear and uncertainty, it is natural to wonder what God is doing.
In Coronavirus and Christ, John Piper invites readers around the world to stand on the solid Rock, who is Jesus Christ, in whom our souls can be sustained by the sovereign God who ordains, governs, and reigns over all things to accomplish his wise and good purposes for those who trust in him. Piper offers six biblical answers to the question, What is God doing through the coronavirus?--reminding us that God is at work in this moment in history.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2020
492 people are currently reading
2958 people want to read
About the author
John Piper
609 books4,586 followersJohn Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 643 reviews
April 9, 2020
This book is a fountain of wisdom. You can read it in one sitting, and find yourself singing songs of worship as you read. Beautifully relate's God's Providence with the current events. It's a free eBook on desiringGod.org, so if nothing else scroll to the end and read "A Closing Prayer"(pg 99-100). Something that stood out to me is that "we may think the coronavirus outbreak is a setback for world missions. [Piper doubts] it. God's ways often include apparent setbacks that result in great advances."(pg. 97) Also, classic Piper to write a book in like a week, like seriously? Dude's a sage.
April 9, 2020
John Piper is a trusted biblical scholar and pastor who has shared his wisdom in writing for decades. I first encountered Dr. Piper as a young man. I remember eagerly devouring his book, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist when it was originally published in 1986. Since those days, John Piper has without a doubt, shaped my Christian worldview and theological framework more than any other living writer.
Standing on the Solid Rock of Christ
In his latest work, Dr. Piper provides a well-reasoned and biblical response to the current global pandemic. The Coronavirus and Christ is not only saturated with Scripture; it is also a deeply personal book. Piper shares his battle with cancer and empathizes with anyone who is suffering during this season of sorrow.
At the heart of the book is a view of God that may not sit well with some readers. Nonetheless, the book presents the biblical vision of who God who is sovereign over everyone and everything. This God works all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph. 1:11). Piper adds, “This is not a season for sentimental views of God.” Therefore, the vision of God here is deeply helpful and satisfying.
The book concludes with a series of ways that the author sees God using the coronavirus in our world for his glory. Readers will be educated, refreshed, comforted, and challenged - in the midst of the horrible pandemic. They will, in the final analysis, be confronted with the majestic God who offers salvation through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ for anyone who turns from their sin and trusts his completed work on the cross.
The Coronavirus and Christ is a must-read book; one that will make a huge impact around the world.
Standing on the Solid Rock of Christ
In his latest work, Dr. Piper provides a well-reasoned and biblical response to the current global pandemic. The Coronavirus and Christ is not only saturated with Scripture; it is also a deeply personal book. Piper shares his battle with cancer and empathizes with anyone who is suffering during this season of sorrow.
At the heart of the book is a view of God that may not sit well with some readers. Nonetheless, the book presents the biblical vision of who God who is sovereign over everyone and everything. This God works all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph. 1:11). Piper adds, “This is not a season for sentimental views of God.” Therefore, the vision of God here is deeply helpful and satisfying.
The book concludes with a series of ways that the author sees God using the coronavirus in our world for his glory. Readers will be educated, refreshed, comforted, and challenged - in the midst of the horrible pandemic. They will, in the final analysis, be confronted with the majestic God who offers salvation through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ for anyone who turns from their sin and trusts his completed work on the cross.
The Coronavirus and Christ is a must-read book; one that will make a huge impact around the world.
April 15, 2020
First Piper book I've read in years! Never thought I would've said that my Junior year of high school! Gotta hand it to him though. He sure isn't allowing retirement to get the best of him, as evidenced by the fact that he cranked this book out in a very timely manner.
Really if you like Piper you will like this book, and if you don't, then you won't, because Piper is about the most on-brand theologian out there. Zero curve balls here. Lucky for me, my grand arc of loving reformed theology, then seeing its flaws, then resenting it, then reinvestigating it has led me to a point where I really get a lot out of good ol fashioned "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" John (Calvin) Piper!!
In this book, Piper asks the question "where is God, and what is He doing in the time of Coronavirus?" And assuming you believe that scripture is a valid place to draw answers from, I think you will find that Piper answers this question very effectively. He is eloquent and systematic in his writing, which I have always appreciated. He is extremely precise in his speech and lines of argumentation, but doesn't allow that attention to detail to cause him to become robotic. The book is also beautiful and exhortative.
Best of all, in classic Piper fashion, this book is available for absolute free. PDF or MP3. He whose treasure is in heaven doth not need royalties from publishers! https://www.desiringgod.org/books/cor...
Really if you like Piper you will like this book, and if you don't, then you won't, because Piper is about the most on-brand theologian out there. Zero curve balls here. Lucky for me, my grand arc of loving reformed theology, then seeing its flaws, then resenting it, then reinvestigating it has led me to a point where I really get a lot out of good ol fashioned "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" John (Calvin) Piper!!
In this book, Piper asks the question "where is God, and what is He doing in the time of Coronavirus?" And assuming you believe that scripture is a valid place to draw answers from, I think you will find that Piper answers this question very effectively. He is eloquent and systematic in his writing, which I have always appreciated. He is extremely precise in his speech and lines of argumentation, but doesn't allow that attention to detail to cause him to become robotic. The book is also beautiful and exhortative.
Best of all, in classic Piper fashion, this book is available for absolute free. PDF or MP3. He whose treasure is in heaven doth not need royalties from publishers! https://www.desiringgod.org/books/cor...
May 8, 2020
There is no doubt that people are wondering where God is in the midst of this pandemic. Author John Piper quickly penned a book that was an attempt to answer that question and made it available for free.
Piper's main thesis is highlighting the sovereignty of God, that is - that nothing can or will happen outside of the will of God. That God could stop the results of this virus and deliberately chooses not to do so. He speculates that the reason God would not stop it, is that the purposes of the virus outweigh any limited temporary human suffering.
As to what those reasons may be Piper offers six answers:
1. "God is giving the world in the coronavirus outbreak, as in all other calamities, a physical picture of the moral horror and spiritual ugliness of God-belittling sin." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 474-475).
2. "Some people will be infected with the coronavirus as a specific judgment from God because of their sinful attitudes and actions." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 536-537).
3. "The coronavirus is a God-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Location 567).
4. "The coronavirus is God’s thunderclap call for all of us to repent and realign our lives with the infinite worth of Christ." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 602-603).
5. "The coronavirus is God’s call to his people to overcome self-pity and fear, and with courageous joy, to do the good works of love that glorify God." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Location 695).
6. "In the coronavirus God is loosening the roots of settled Christians, all over the world, to make them free for something new and radical and to send them with the gospel of Christ to the unreached peoples of the world." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 773-775).
Boiled down, if the book is addressing the question of why the Coronavirus pandemic is afflicting our world the answer would be: The coronavirus is a tool of God to highlight the corruption of sin, to punish the wicked, to be a sign of Christ's return which should snap us away from complacency and evil behavior and encourage us to live right and teach others to do the same.
Piper admits that his viewpoint, as with all human viewpoints is limited, "The first thing to say, before trying to answer this question, is that, compared to the wisdom of God, my opinion counts for nothing. So does yours. What we think, out of our own heads, is of little significance." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 427-428). I give him credit for having the humility to admit that his understanding is not the be all end all. I have major points of disagreement with Piper most of which revolve around the nature of God. Piper states bluntly that,
"All of us are sinners. No exceptions. We all have exchanged the glory of God’s worth and beauty and greatness for things we enjoy more (Rom. 1:23; 3:23). This is a shameful dishonor to God, whether we feel it or not. We therefore are deserving of punishment. Our dishonoring of God’s glory makes us worthy objects of holy wrath. The Bible says we are “by nature children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3). Which means that God would be holy and righteous to withhold his goodness from us." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 282-285).
I have difficulty holding such a statement alongside the bible's description of Jesus' mission to the world found in one of the most famous passages in scripture. It reads:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Jesus is the ultimate representation of God to humanity. It is true that the bible has a lot to say about sin, and judgement but in Jesus we see God approaching us in a different way. He was the one that could have passed down judgement and wrath on his accusers and instead he willingly forgave them. In this above passage he overtly states that he is not interested in condemning humanity - but in restoring humanity. It is not about punishment but healing. When Jesus observes calamity in his life - he grieves and weeps. This was not how the world was suppose to be and he will make all things new.
I understand that Piper represents a different perspective than my own and that he genuinely wants to see people adopt a sense of comfort in a God who is in control. I, too, have no doubt that whatever the cause of this outbreak that God can bring something good out of it, but I do not feel the need to look for signs of the end 0r cause panic about the discipline of God in the lives of individuals. If that is the case - I see no way that we could ever know that is true. Piper suggesting otherwise makes it appear he can speak on God's behalf.
Maybe he can - and I'm just out to lunch - after all, he is the one that has spent a life time reading, studying and writing. I am just a reader. However, I do know from my reading that there is a vast array of Christian thinkers that would take quite a different approach to this topic. All I'd ask is that the title be change to better represent his view. From The Coronavirus and Christ" to "The Coronavirus and Calvinism".
Piper's main thesis is highlighting the sovereignty of God, that is - that nothing can or will happen outside of the will of God. That God could stop the results of this virus and deliberately chooses not to do so. He speculates that the reason God would not stop it, is that the purposes of the virus outweigh any limited temporary human suffering.
As to what those reasons may be Piper offers six answers:
1. "God is giving the world in the coronavirus outbreak, as in all other calamities, a physical picture of the moral horror and spiritual ugliness of God-belittling sin." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 474-475).
2. "Some people will be infected with the coronavirus as a specific judgment from God because of their sinful attitudes and actions." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 536-537).
3. "The coronavirus is a God-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Location 567).
4. "The coronavirus is God’s thunderclap call for all of us to repent and realign our lives with the infinite worth of Christ." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 602-603).
5. "The coronavirus is God’s call to his people to overcome self-pity and fear, and with courageous joy, to do the good works of love that glorify God." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Location 695).
6. "In the coronavirus God is loosening the roots of settled Christians, all over the world, to make them free for something new and radical and to send them with the gospel of Christ to the unreached peoples of the world." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 773-775).
Boiled down, if the book is addressing the question of why the Coronavirus pandemic is afflicting our world the answer would be: The coronavirus is a tool of God to highlight the corruption of sin, to punish the wicked, to be a sign of Christ's return which should snap us away from complacency and evil behavior and encourage us to live right and teach others to do the same.
Piper admits that his viewpoint, as with all human viewpoints is limited, "The first thing to say, before trying to answer this question, is that, compared to the wisdom of God, my opinion counts for nothing. So does yours. What we think, out of our own heads, is of little significance." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 427-428). I give him credit for having the humility to admit that his understanding is not the be all end all. I have major points of disagreement with Piper most of which revolve around the nature of God. Piper states bluntly that,
"All of us are sinners. No exceptions. We all have exchanged the glory of God’s worth and beauty and greatness for things we enjoy more (Rom. 1:23; 3:23). This is a shameful dishonor to God, whether we feel it or not. We therefore are deserving of punishment. Our dishonoring of God’s glory makes us worthy objects of holy wrath. The Bible says we are “by nature children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3). Which means that God would be holy and righteous to withhold his goodness from us." John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ (Kindle Locations 282-285).
I have difficulty holding such a statement alongside the bible's description of Jesus' mission to the world found in one of the most famous passages in scripture. It reads:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Jesus is the ultimate representation of God to humanity. It is true that the bible has a lot to say about sin, and judgement but in Jesus we see God approaching us in a different way. He was the one that could have passed down judgement and wrath on his accusers and instead he willingly forgave them. In this above passage he overtly states that he is not interested in condemning humanity - but in restoring humanity. It is not about punishment but healing. When Jesus observes calamity in his life - he grieves and weeps. This was not how the world was suppose to be and he will make all things new.
I understand that Piper represents a different perspective than my own and that he genuinely wants to see people adopt a sense of comfort in a God who is in control. I, too, have no doubt that whatever the cause of this outbreak that God can bring something good out of it, but I do not feel the need to look for signs of the end 0r cause panic about the discipline of God in the lives of individuals. If that is the case - I see no way that we could ever know that is true. Piper suggesting otherwise makes it appear he can speak on God's behalf.
Maybe he can - and I'm just out to lunch - after all, he is the one that has spent a life time reading, studying and writing. I am just a reader. However, I do know from my reading that there is a vast array of Christian thinkers that would take quite a different approach to this topic. All I'd ask is that the title be change to better represent his view. From The Coronavirus and Christ" to "The Coronavirus and Calvinism".
April 15, 2020
En este libro, Piper hace lo que Piper hace mejor: apuntarnos hacia la gloria de Cristo y despertar nuestros corazones a su belleza. "Coronavirus and Christ", saturado de la Palabra, nos ofrece esperanza y nos inspira a no desperdiciar esta crisis.
August 17, 2020
John Piper's god, who is provincial, capricious, and anti-intellectual, is the one I absorbed during childhood and early adulthood. It is also the one I have been intentionally unlearning and flushing out of my system, so it was difficult and troubling to read this book. Sample quotes:
"We therefore are deserving of punishment. Our dishonoring of God's glory makes us worthy objects of holy wrath...God would be holy and righteous to withhold his goodness from us."
"God uses diseases [like Covid-19] to bring particular judgments upon those who reject him."
It seems to me that some of his pet terms could be reworded; "sovereign" might become "capricious," for instance; "the elect" might be stated as "white evangelicals from suburbia who subscribe precisely to Piper's obscure, hyper-Calvinistic version of Christianity"; and "God" could become the "atrocious moral monster who creates people without their consent so that he can damn most of them to make himself and the elect look good." It is a god that has, sadly, never been exorcised from the author's mind (he seems like a nice grandfather and husband otherwise). It is also a god who, because of this book, may not be exorcised from numerous readers' imaginations and a god who may even enter someone's imagination for the first time.
Thus with this little booklet there has been another wasted opportunity for "the kingdom of justice and peace and love" to make a fresh appearance during Covid. I for one am saddened by that.
"We therefore are deserving of punishment. Our dishonoring of God's glory makes us worthy objects of holy wrath...God would be holy and righteous to withhold his goodness from us."
"God uses diseases [like Covid-19] to bring particular judgments upon those who reject him."
It seems to me that some of his pet terms could be reworded; "sovereign" might become "capricious," for instance; "the elect" might be stated as "white evangelicals from suburbia who subscribe precisely to Piper's obscure, hyper-Calvinistic version of Christianity"; and "God" could become the "atrocious moral monster who creates people without their consent so that he can damn most of them to make himself and the elect look good." It is a god that has, sadly, never been exorcised from the author's mind (he seems like a nice grandfather and husband otherwise). It is also a god who, because of this book, may not be exorcised from numerous readers' imaginations and a god who may even enter someone's imagination for the first time.
Thus with this little booklet there has been another wasted opportunity for "the kingdom of justice and peace and love" to make a fresh appearance during Covid. I for one am saddened by that.
April 13, 2020
Do yourself a favor and take a quick break from what you’re currently reading to read this book right now. Piper offers tons of Biblical wisdom (so much of the book is straight from the Bible) and insightful perspectives for what we’re facing right now. This book helped me have a shift in perspective and more reliance on God in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Highly recommend, especially right now as we’re in the midst of it all. Can download for free at desiringgod.org!
April 8, 2020
Piper is the prophet of our time, and I'm deeply grateful for his insights on this troublesome time. When things don't go the way they should, God will work them for our good.
Notes:
"Do we have a Rock under our feet?"
We don't trust in odds, we trust in God
All of us are sinners. No exceptions. We all have exchanged the glory of God's worth, and beauty, and greatness for things we enjoy more. This is a shameful dishonor to God.
Not one sparrow falls apart from the Father. Not one virus moves apart from the Father
What is God doing with the Coronavirus?
1. He's giving the world a physical picture of the moral ugliness and spiritual horror of God-belittling sin.
The pain for us is purifying, not punitive.
Physical pain is God's trumpet blast to tell us that something is dreadfully wrong in the world.
3. The Coronavirus is a wakeup call to be ready for the second coming of Christ
4. A call to realign ourselves with the infinite worth of Christ
Waking up from our suicidal preferences
Stop relying on yourself. You can't even stop death. God can raise the dead
Christ died to create good deeds in danger
5. Loosening the roots. God is dislodging complacent Christians so they will go out into the world with the gospel.
Notes:
"Do we have a Rock under our feet?"
We don't trust in odds, we trust in God
All of us are sinners. No exceptions. We all have exchanged the glory of God's worth, and beauty, and greatness for things we enjoy more. This is a shameful dishonor to God.
Not one sparrow falls apart from the Father. Not one virus moves apart from the Father
What is God doing with the Coronavirus?
1. He's giving the world a physical picture of the moral ugliness and spiritual horror of God-belittling sin.
The pain for us is purifying, not punitive.
Physical pain is God's trumpet blast to tell us that something is dreadfully wrong in the world.
3. The Coronavirus is a wakeup call to be ready for the second coming of Christ
4. A call to realign ourselves with the infinite worth of Christ
Waking up from our suicidal preferences
Stop relying on yourself. You can't even stop death. God can raise the dead
Christ died to create good deeds in danger
5. Loosening the roots. God is dislodging complacent Christians so they will go out into the world with the gospel.
May 18, 2020
Fundamentalist to the core.
1: god is perfect
2: humans sinned in Eden
3: god sends Coronavirus
4: god sends plagues for specific sins ( blasphemy & tha gays
5: god sends Coronavirus for sins in general, not being specific but tha gays
6: it’s a kind wake up call to repent
7: ( not in the book ) ironically Batshit crazy might be relevant, or armadillo blood.
Fundamentalist nonsense with dose of passive aggressive homophobia built in
1: god is perfect
2: humans sinned in Eden
3: god sends Coronavirus
4: god sends plagues for specific sins ( blasphemy & tha gays
5: god sends Coronavirus for sins in general, not being specific but tha gays
6: it’s a kind wake up call to repent
7: ( not in the book ) ironically Batshit crazy might be relevant, or armadillo blood.
Fundamentalist nonsense with dose of passive aggressive homophobia built in
April 19, 2020
Terrible theology
“The coronavirus was sent, therefore, by God. This is not a season for sentimental views of God. It is a bitter season. And God ordained it. God governs it. He will end it. No part of it is outside his sway. Life and death are in his hand.”
“What is God doing through the coronavirus?
1. God is giving the world in the coronavirus outbreak, as in all other calamities, a physical picture of the moral horror and spiritual ugliness of God-belittling sin.
2. Some people will be infected with the coronavirus as a specific judgment from God because of their sinful attitudes and actions.
3. The coronavirus is a God-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ.
4. The coronavirus is God’s thunderclap call for all of us to repent and realign our lives with the infinite worth of Christ.
5. The coronavirus is God’s call to his people to overcome self-pity and fear, and with courageous joy, to do the good works of love that glorify God.
6. In the coronavirus God is loosening the roots of settled Christians, all over the world, to make them free for something new and radical and to send them with the gospel of Christ to the unreached peoples of the world.”
“The coronavirus was sent, therefore, by God. This is not a season for sentimental views of God. It is a bitter season. And God ordained it. God governs it. He will end it. No part of it is outside his sway. Life and death are in his hand.”
“What is God doing through the coronavirus?
1. God is giving the world in the coronavirus outbreak, as in all other calamities, a physical picture of the moral horror and spiritual ugliness of God-belittling sin.
2. Some people will be infected with the coronavirus as a specific judgment from God because of their sinful attitudes and actions.
3. The coronavirus is a God-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ.
4. The coronavirus is God’s thunderclap call for all of us to repent and realign our lives with the infinite worth of Christ.
5. The coronavirus is God’s call to his people to overcome self-pity and fear, and with courageous joy, to do the good works of love that glorify God.
6. In the coronavirus God is loosening the roots of settled Christians, all over the world, to make them free for something new and radical and to send them with the gospel of Christ to the unreached peoples of the world.”
April 11, 2020
This is a theologically solid book, but I am not sure if the tone is the most helpful for this time.
I am sure it will really encourage the hard liners, but may break or snuff out the struggling.
Impressive speed of production though.
I am sure it will really encourage the hard liners, but may break or snuff out the struggling.
Impressive speed of production though.
April 14, 2020
Here are my favorite 20 quotes from the book: https://www.tgc.org/article/20-quotes...
April 10, 2020
É Piper, né? Por que digo isso? Bem, o livro é dividido em duas partes, sendo que, na primeira, há muita repetição de quase tudo que Piper escreveu em outras obras. Aqui e acolá ele insere alguma breve aplicação sobre a pandemia de coronavírus.
O livro melhora na segunda parte, onde Piper trata mais especificamente da pandemia, discorrendo sobre seis coisas que Deus está fazendo no mundo através dessa pandemia, mas nada de extraordinário. Alguns trechos são cativantes, sem sombra de dúvidas. Não obstante, penso que teria ficado melhor, mais objetivo se o livro consistisse apenas da segunda parte.
O livro melhora na segunda parte, onde Piper trata mais especificamente da pandemia, discorrendo sobre seis coisas que Deus está fazendo no mundo através dessa pandemia, mas nada de extraordinário. Alguns trechos são cativantes, sem sombra de dúvidas. Não obstante, penso que teria ficado melhor, mais objetivo se o livro consistisse apenas da segunda parte.
April 25, 2020
Full with refreshing Truth. Loved it!
April 8, 2020
Con un par de días que el desierto de la enfermedad de COVID-19 se ha hecho realidad en la vida de mi matrimonio en la República Dominicana. Llegó un pequeño "oasis" de 112 páginas (y una versión en audio ¡y gratis!) de la mano de, el prolífico autor, John Piper.
Mucha información hay en la internet sobre el virus SARS-CoV2 (su posible origen, ciclo de vida y diagnóstico), así como la enfermedad COVID-19 que produce. Sin embargo, a pesar, del mucho contenido cristiano para aliviar la ansiedad y estrés de esta enfermedad, pocos han sido completos y balanceados como el que ha escrito el autor.
El libro es corto y está en inglés, pero vale la pena esforzarse por leerlo. Presenta tres formatos disponibles en la página de Desiring God: Impreso tapa blanda (paperback, a lanzarse el 28 de abril), formato digital .mobi y .epub, y en audiolibro (narrado por él mismo).
El ya retirado del pastorado, John Piper, divide su libro en dos secciones:
a. El Dios que reina (y es soberano) sobre el coronavirus (capítulos 1-4).
b. Qué está haciendo Dios, a través del coronavirus (capítulos 6-11).
En los primeros cuatro (4) capítulos, el autor tiene como meta llevarnos a tener una esperanza fundada sobre nuestro Dios, que es la Roca donde el cristiano está parado, y no sobre la arena, donde el incrédulo se mantiene de pie, en sus palabras:
"Mi objetivo es mostrar porque Dios en Cristo es la roca en estos momentos de la historia -en esta pandemia del coronavirus- y cómo es estar de pie en su poderoso amor".
Piper apunta a que el contentamiento, "dulce contentamiento" en estos tiempos "amargos" del coronavirus, es entender que:
"La misma soberanía que puede parar el Coronavirus, pero no lo hace, es la misma soberanía que sostiene al alma en estos tiempos".
Dios es soberano, el SARS-CoV-2 no. Dios tiene la última palabra sobre la muerte, el COVID-19 no.
Finalmente, en la segunda sección, el escritor da seis respuestas, no de forma presunciosa sino sabiendo que "Dios ha hablado a través de las Escrituras Cristianas", a la pregunta ¿Qué está haciendo Dios a través del Coronavirus?
Estas seis (6) respuestas abarcan los siguientes temas:
1. Una ilustración real de lo que es el pecado para Dios.
2. Juicios de Dios para los pecadores, pero purificación para los creyentes.
3. Recordatorio de la segunda venida de Jesús.
4. Un llamado al arrepentimiento.
5. Una exhortación a las buenas obras durante la crisis.
6. Una correcta visión de lo que Dios está haciendo con las misiones.
John Piper, escribe este libro pensando que: "no estar[á] vivo para ver este libro publicado" ya que tiene un pariente infectado y, además, sufrió de bronquitis. Sin embargo él descansa en que, aunque el coronavirus puede tocar a la puerta de su cuerpo, él está "mejor de lo que merece" y "solo Dios conoce y decide si [estoy bien]".
Este Dios soberano sobre la enfermedad del coronavirus es "[nuestra] Roca, para hoy, mañana, y para la eternidad [... con Jesús].
Mucha información hay en la internet sobre el virus SARS-CoV2 (su posible origen, ciclo de vida y diagnóstico), así como la enfermedad COVID-19 que produce. Sin embargo, a pesar, del mucho contenido cristiano para aliviar la ansiedad y estrés de esta enfermedad, pocos han sido completos y balanceados como el que ha escrito el autor.
El libro es corto y está en inglés, pero vale la pena esforzarse por leerlo. Presenta tres formatos disponibles en la página de Desiring God: Impreso tapa blanda (paperback, a lanzarse el 28 de abril), formato digital .mobi y .epub, y en audiolibro (narrado por él mismo).
El ya retirado del pastorado, John Piper, divide su libro en dos secciones:
a. El Dios que reina (y es soberano) sobre el coronavirus (capítulos 1-4).
b. Qué está haciendo Dios, a través del coronavirus (capítulos 6-11).
En los primeros cuatro (4) capítulos, el autor tiene como meta llevarnos a tener una esperanza fundada sobre nuestro Dios, que es la Roca donde el cristiano está parado, y no sobre la arena, donde el incrédulo se mantiene de pie, en sus palabras:
"Mi objetivo es mostrar porque Dios en Cristo es la roca en estos momentos de la historia -en esta pandemia del coronavirus- y cómo es estar de pie en su poderoso amor".
Piper apunta a que el contentamiento, "dulce contentamiento" en estos tiempos "amargos" del coronavirus, es entender que:
"La misma soberanía que puede parar el Coronavirus, pero no lo hace, es la misma soberanía que sostiene al alma en estos tiempos".
Dios es soberano, el SARS-CoV-2 no. Dios tiene la última palabra sobre la muerte, el COVID-19 no.
Finalmente, en la segunda sección, el escritor da seis respuestas, no de forma presunciosa sino sabiendo que "Dios ha hablado a través de las Escrituras Cristianas", a la pregunta ¿Qué está haciendo Dios a través del Coronavirus?
Estas seis (6) respuestas abarcan los siguientes temas:
1. Una ilustración real de lo que es el pecado para Dios.
2. Juicios de Dios para los pecadores, pero purificación para los creyentes.
3. Recordatorio de la segunda venida de Jesús.
4. Un llamado al arrepentimiento.
5. Una exhortación a las buenas obras durante la crisis.
6. Una correcta visión de lo que Dios está haciendo con las misiones.
John Piper, escribe este libro pensando que: "no estar[á] vivo para ver este libro publicado" ya que tiene un pariente infectado y, además, sufrió de bronquitis. Sin embargo él descansa en que, aunque el coronavirus puede tocar a la puerta de su cuerpo, él está "mejor de lo que merece" y "solo Dios conoce y decide si [estoy bien]".
Este Dios soberano sobre la enfermedad del coronavirus es "[nuestra] Roca, para hoy, mañana, y para la eternidad [... con Jesús].
April 10, 2020
On this Good Friday when we especially remember the suffering of Christ on the cross, I was blessed to encounter the opportunity to read this small volume from John Piper. He reminds us of Christ, our rock, who has already born God's ultimate condemnation so that we can have eternal life. The coronavirus is shaking up the world and many wonder: Where is God? Piper gives us six answers to what God is doing in this global upheaval. Coronavirus is present due to the sin in the world and while some will be given the virus as a consequence of their own sin, God's people will gain in sanctification, and there will be new opportunities to expand the reach of the gospel. Piper specifically speaks of the "loosening of the roots" which will occur among the nations sending missionaries into new spaces and places. I listened to it on audio (it is just over 2 hours long) for free due to a partnership between Crossway Books and World Magazine. If you would like a link to listen or read the ebook, just message me and I will share.
April 14, 2020
Fantastic.
April 9, 2020
Very, very encouraging. Piper points to the Rock in this chaotic time.
June 1, 2020
A rare 5 stars.
John Piper knows about fatal disease first hand. He knows the Bible inside and out, and believes it with conviction, when it speaks of God’s sovereignty in such disease.
While Piper gives specific answers to what God may be doing in this pandemic, he first wisely does two things. First, he sets a solid foundation that God has spoken to us reliably in the Bible. He then uses Scripture throughout to back up each point. Second, he wisely avoids getting into the medical and political morass of conflicting opinions on CDC guidelines, civil restrictions, etc. This may be because he published this quite early in the lockdown, before the curve was flattened and it became controversial. Still, where he could have weighed in on the health side, he focused on his theological lane, and the result is gold. It also matters less when he wrote it (when we didn’t know much about the virus!).
Giving six possible answers to what God may be doing in this, one thing I appreciated was this. Piper does not stay silent on the possibility that this may be God’s judgment on some for their sins. This was such an obvious answer in generations past. But in our “woke” culture, most people, even in the conservative evangelical church, want to avoid actually saying it, even if they reluctantly believe it themselves when shown the verses.
But I also appreciate Piper’s balance. Some would over-react and focus only on what the culture (or the church culture) is getting wrong, but he instead delivers up a well-rounded response. It’s a warning, a pointer to Christ’s return at the end of the world, and more.
Get this book for free, here.
https://www.abwe.org/coronavirus-and-...
John Piper knows about fatal disease first hand. He knows the Bible inside and out, and believes it with conviction, when it speaks of God’s sovereignty in such disease.
While Piper gives specific answers to what God may be doing in this pandemic, he first wisely does two things. First, he sets a solid foundation that God has spoken to us reliably in the Bible. He then uses Scripture throughout to back up each point. Second, he wisely avoids getting into the medical and political morass of conflicting opinions on CDC guidelines, civil restrictions, etc. This may be because he published this quite early in the lockdown, before the curve was flattened and it became controversial. Still, where he could have weighed in on the health side, he focused on his theological lane, and the result is gold. It also matters less when he wrote it (when we didn’t know much about the virus!).
Giving six possible answers to what God may be doing in this, one thing I appreciated was this. Piper does not stay silent on the possibility that this may be God’s judgment on some for their sins. This was such an obvious answer in generations past. But in our “woke” culture, most people, even in the conservative evangelical church, want to avoid actually saying it, even if they reluctantly believe it themselves when shown the verses.
But I also appreciate Piper’s balance. Some would over-react and focus only on what the culture (or the church culture) is getting wrong, but he instead delivers up a well-rounded response. It’s a warning, a pointer to Christ’s return at the end of the world, and more.
Get this book for free, here.
https://www.abwe.org/coronavirus-and-...
May 7, 2021
A simple, much needed and straight forward message of hope. A reminder that EVERYTHING is in God's hands, and that nothing happens that He can't control.
Deeply grateful for John Piper's words.
Deeply grateful for John Piper's words.
April 10, 2020
In the midst of a global pandemic, Christians are in need of comfort and answers to help them weather the storm of Coronavirus. John Piper is a great person to write a treatment on this topic because he has big-God theology and a high view of Scripture.
This book is divided into two parts. The first section lays a foundation before he tries to make sense of Coronavirus specifically. He covers the sovereignty of God over life and death, the authority of the Bible, and the character of God. Piper wants to show that God is not just involved in the big events of history but is sovereign over people's day-to-day lives. He highlights this to show how it's a better foundation to lean on in suffering rather than playing the statistical game (odds of survival). He establishes a point of empathy by telling of his experience with prostate cancer.
The second part answers the question: "What is God doing through the Coronavirus?" Piper views the virus as a bitter providence that was sent by God. He views this in the same light as Naomi's declaration that "the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20). Piper then highlights 6 things that God is doing through Coronavirus (dedicating one chapter to each, and defending each biblically).
1. A picture of moral horror (sin).
2. Specific judgment of God (for some people, not all).
3. A god-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ.
4. Thunderclap call to repent and re-align ourselves with Christ.
5. Creating good works in danger (opportunities to serve others in love).
6. Loosening the roots of settled Christians to reach the nations.
I can relate with Piper in that we both have suffered through cancer and leaned on the sovereignty of God, his good character, and the authority of Scripture rather than putting our hope in statistics. I say that only to heartily affirm with Piper that this is a better foundation that brings true comfort and hope to the Christian through suffering. It is my same hope through Coronavirus and I hope it will be yours too.
I heartily recommend the book for Christians and hope that someone will soon write a similar book for the non-Christian audience as well.
This book is divided into two parts. The first section lays a foundation before he tries to make sense of Coronavirus specifically. He covers the sovereignty of God over life and death, the authority of the Bible, and the character of God. Piper wants to show that God is not just involved in the big events of history but is sovereign over people's day-to-day lives. He highlights this to show how it's a better foundation to lean on in suffering rather than playing the statistical game (odds of survival). He establishes a point of empathy by telling of his experience with prostate cancer.
The second part answers the question: "What is God doing through the Coronavirus?" Piper views the virus as a bitter providence that was sent by God. He views this in the same light as Naomi's declaration that "the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20). Piper then highlights 6 things that God is doing through Coronavirus (dedicating one chapter to each, and defending each biblically).
1. A picture of moral horror (sin).
2. Specific judgment of God (for some people, not all).
3. A god-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ.
4. Thunderclap call to repent and re-align ourselves with Christ.
5. Creating good works in danger (opportunities to serve others in love).
6. Loosening the roots of settled Christians to reach the nations.
I can relate with Piper in that we both have suffered through cancer and leaned on the sovereignty of God, his good character, and the authority of Scripture rather than putting our hope in statistics. I say that only to heartily affirm with Piper that this is a better foundation that brings true comfort and hope to the Christian through suffering. It is my same hope through Coronavirus and I hope it will be yours too.
I heartily recommend the book for Christians and hope that someone will soon write a similar book for the non-Christian audience as well.
April 30, 2020
John Piper, over the course of his long career, has become an increasingly polarized figure within evangelical Christianity. I’ve long enjoyed Piper in many areas (his evisceration of the Prosperity Gospel for one) while respecting, though disagreeing, with other doctrines (double predestination, in particular). Based on that theological disagreement, I didn’t expected to agree with everything Piper wrote here in Coronavirus and Christ. What I did expect and hope for was a cogent and compassionate response from a Reformed perspective.
This falls a bit short. My main issue is the lack of focus on compassion and empathy. Theologically, we know where Piper is going to go: God is sovereign. This is for His glory. And there’s nothing wrong with those statements. It’s the wrapping around it that’s got me troubled. There’s a great need to be empathetic here.
As of 4/29, there have been over 3.2 million confirmed cases and 227,000 deaths. When Piper wrote this book in late March, the numbers were around a tenth of that. This sort of escalation demands an even greater need to lead with empathy and lament. The book’s tone does not always reflect the gravitas of the current situation, maybe because Piper wrote in an entirely different situation.
Jesus didn’t stand before the tomb of Lazarus and say “God is sovereign. This is for His glory.” He wept. His focus was not on the Resurrection at the end of the age (that was Martha’s hope), but on the deeply felt loss of his friend whom he was going to raise to life that very day. This book is so rooted in a theology of celebration that it ignores, or at least downplays, the needed focus of lament.
Secondarily, while I agree that God will bring good from COVID and that God is sovereign, I’m not always in line with how Piper expresses that. His view of sovereignty is very strong. But I knew that going in, so I can’t really regard it a criticism of the book. Piper’s view of God’s sovereignty is such that he creates a distinction between what God wills (things God wants) and what God wills decisively (things God gets).
Also, to him, God not only creates beauty from ashes, but the ashes in the first place. There’s no real distinction for him between what God wills by decree (overwhelming nature and human free will) and what God allows through human free will and the fallenness of nature. I know that Coronavirus and Christ is a small book, but it behooves Piper to better explain his positions, particularly if he’s writing for an audience searching for answers.
In the end, I just didn’t feel like John Piper said anything new or particularly helpful about coronavirus, especially to those outside the Reformed tradition. It’s his already-stated and well-known general philosophies applied directly to coronavirus in specificity. To those within the Reformed tradition, there’s not much new here. To those outside it, there’s too much needing nuance and clarification. I didn’t find much novel here, virus or otherwise.
This falls a bit short. My main issue is the lack of focus on compassion and empathy. Theologically, we know where Piper is going to go: God is sovereign. This is for His glory. And there’s nothing wrong with those statements. It’s the wrapping around it that’s got me troubled. There’s a great need to be empathetic here.
As of 4/29, there have been over 3.2 million confirmed cases and 227,000 deaths. When Piper wrote this book in late March, the numbers were around a tenth of that. This sort of escalation demands an even greater need to lead with empathy and lament. The book’s tone does not always reflect the gravitas of the current situation, maybe because Piper wrote in an entirely different situation.
Jesus didn’t stand before the tomb of Lazarus and say “God is sovereign. This is for His glory.” He wept. His focus was not on the Resurrection at the end of the age (that was Martha’s hope), but on the deeply felt loss of his friend whom he was going to raise to life that very day. This book is so rooted in a theology of celebration that it ignores, or at least downplays, the needed focus of lament.
Secondarily, while I agree that God will bring good from COVID and that God is sovereign, I’m not always in line with how Piper expresses that. His view of sovereignty is very strong. But I knew that going in, so I can’t really regard it a criticism of the book. Piper’s view of God’s sovereignty is such that he creates a distinction between what God wills (things God wants) and what God wills decisively (things God gets).
Also, to him, God not only creates beauty from ashes, but the ashes in the first place. There’s no real distinction for him between what God wills by decree (overwhelming nature and human free will) and what God allows through human free will and the fallenness of nature. I know that Coronavirus and Christ is a small book, but it behooves Piper to better explain his positions, particularly if he’s writing for an audience searching for answers.
In the end, I just didn’t feel like John Piper said anything new or particularly helpful about coronavirus, especially to those outside the Reformed tradition. It’s his already-stated and well-known general philosophies applied directly to coronavirus in specificity. To those within the Reformed tradition, there’s not much new here. To those outside it, there’s too much needing nuance and clarification. I didn’t find much novel here, virus or otherwise.
May 7, 2020
I read this book a chapter a day as a kind of devotional reading. Such wisdom and insight it brings into the sovereignty of God, it brings peace and comfort into scary times and builds theological knowledge and understanding. The entire book but especially the final closing prayer is a beautiful fire blazing for the glory of the Lord, go read it.
May 9, 2020
5 stars. This is heavy on God’s character and looks to the Bible to see what it says about God and suffering. I’d recommend it to anyone who could use a dose of peace in their heart.
June 2, 2020
Yeah. Yuck. About as bad as I expected. But I actually read/skimmed this book to give it an honest 1 star review.
August 4, 2020
It is incumbent upon followers of Jesus Christ to think, feel, and act Christianly—that is, like Christ—at all times. This includes how we think, feel, and act with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic that has radically changed life’s routines for millions, if not billions, over the course of this year. In the face of this upending of normalcy, John Piper’s Coronavirus and Christ asks, “Do we have a Rock under our feet? A Rock that cannot be shaken—ever?” (page 8).
The answer comes in Part 1, “The God Who Reigns Over the Coronavirus.” Piper’s thesis is that “the same sovereignty that could stop the coronavirus, yet doesn’t, is the very sovereignty that sustains the soul in it” (pages 23, 38, 45, 50; emphasis in original). Piper is a well-known Calvinist, and this answer reflects his theological commitment to “all-pervasive sovereignty” or “meticulous sovereignty” (pages 40, 49). Piper writes:
"So when I say that God’s sovereignty means that he can do, and in fact does do, all that he decisively wills to do, I mean there is no force outside himself that can thwart or frustrate his will. When he decides for a thing to happen, it happens. Or to put it another way, everything happens because God wills it to happen" (page 39, emphasis in original).
Three pages late, Piper draws the logical conclusion from this view of sovereignty:
"The coronavirus was sent, therefore, by God. This is not a season for sentimental views of God. It is a bitter season. And God ordained it. God governs it. He will end it. No part of it is outside his sway. Life and death are in his hand (page 42).
That being the case, in Part 2, “What Is God Doing Through the Coronavirus?” Piper turns to Scripture to identify six possible answers to God’s purpose in the pandemic. They are:
1. God is giving the world in the coronavirus outbreak, as in all other calamities, a physical picture of the moral horror and ugliness of God-belittling sin (page 61, emphasis in original).
2. Some people will be infected with the coronavirus as a specific judgment form God because of their sinful attitudes and actions (page 69).
3. The coronavirus is a God-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ (page 73).
4. The coronavirus is God’s thunderclap call for all of us to repent and realign our lives with the infinite worth of Christ (page 77).
5. The coronavirus is God’s call to his people to overcome self-pity and fear, and with courageous joy, to do the good works of love that glorify God (page 87).
6. In the coronavirus God is loosening the roots of settled Christians, all over the world, to make them free for something new and radical and to send them with the gospel of Christ to the unreached peoples of the world (page 95).
I am not going to take the time to offer a detailed rebuttal of Piper’s thesis or the six possible answers outlined above. Instead, I would simply point to three lines of questions that Christian readers might ask in a critical reading of Coronavirus and Christ:
First, is Piper’s account of God’s meticulous sovereignty in fact the Bible’s own? I ask because the line of reasoning in these two sentences (quoted above) seems a non sequitur: “When he decides for a thing to happen, it happens. Or to put it another way, everything happens because God wills it to happen.” I agree that if God wills something to happen, it will happen. This doesn’t mean that everything that happens is God’s will, however.
Second, might it be better to interpret Piper’s six answers in terms of result rather than purpose? I acknowledge that the coronavirus can be the occasion for Christians to grow in Christ, manifesting as works of evangelism and compassionate service. I do not necessarily think, however, that we can confidently say that these are the reasons why God willed the coronavirus to happen.
Third, has Piper missed other lines of inquiry from Scripture? I would simply point out the way multiple ways the spread of COVID-19 has been exacerbated by bad policy decisions at all levels of government, and that the brunt of the disease has been felt by the elderly, the racial and ethnic minority, and the poor. Might thinking, feeling, and acting Christianly also entail engaging with these systemic issues?
Book Reviewed
John Piper, Coronavirus and Christ (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020).
P.S. If you liked my review, please click “Helpful” on my Amazon review page.
The answer comes in Part 1, “The God Who Reigns Over the Coronavirus.” Piper’s thesis is that “the same sovereignty that could stop the coronavirus, yet doesn’t, is the very sovereignty that sustains the soul in it” (pages 23, 38, 45, 50; emphasis in original). Piper is a well-known Calvinist, and this answer reflects his theological commitment to “all-pervasive sovereignty” or “meticulous sovereignty” (pages 40, 49). Piper writes:
"So when I say that God’s sovereignty means that he can do, and in fact does do, all that he decisively wills to do, I mean there is no force outside himself that can thwart or frustrate his will. When he decides for a thing to happen, it happens. Or to put it another way, everything happens because God wills it to happen" (page 39, emphasis in original).
Three pages late, Piper draws the logical conclusion from this view of sovereignty:
"The coronavirus was sent, therefore, by God. This is not a season for sentimental views of God. It is a bitter season. And God ordained it. God governs it. He will end it. No part of it is outside his sway. Life and death are in his hand (page 42).
That being the case, in Part 2, “What Is God Doing Through the Coronavirus?” Piper turns to Scripture to identify six possible answers to God’s purpose in the pandemic. They are:
1. God is giving the world in the coronavirus outbreak, as in all other calamities, a physical picture of the moral horror and ugliness of God-belittling sin (page 61, emphasis in original).
2. Some people will be infected with the coronavirus as a specific judgment form God because of their sinful attitudes and actions (page 69).
3. The coronavirus is a God-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ (page 73).
4. The coronavirus is God’s thunderclap call for all of us to repent and realign our lives with the infinite worth of Christ (page 77).
5. The coronavirus is God’s call to his people to overcome self-pity and fear, and with courageous joy, to do the good works of love that glorify God (page 87).
6. In the coronavirus God is loosening the roots of settled Christians, all over the world, to make them free for something new and radical and to send them with the gospel of Christ to the unreached peoples of the world (page 95).
I am not going to take the time to offer a detailed rebuttal of Piper’s thesis or the six possible answers outlined above. Instead, I would simply point to three lines of questions that Christian readers might ask in a critical reading of Coronavirus and Christ:
First, is Piper’s account of God’s meticulous sovereignty in fact the Bible’s own? I ask because the line of reasoning in these two sentences (quoted above) seems a non sequitur: “When he decides for a thing to happen, it happens. Or to put it another way, everything happens because God wills it to happen.” I agree that if God wills something to happen, it will happen. This doesn’t mean that everything that happens is God’s will, however.
Second, might it be better to interpret Piper’s six answers in terms of result rather than purpose? I acknowledge that the coronavirus can be the occasion for Christians to grow in Christ, manifesting as works of evangelism and compassionate service. I do not necessarily think, however, that we can confidently say that these are the reasons why God willed the coronavirus to happen.
Third, has Piper missed other lines of inquiry from Scripture? I would simply point out the way multiple ways the spread of COVID-19 has been exacerbated by bad policy decisions at all levels of government, and that the brunt of the disease has been felt by the elderly, the racial and ethnic minority, and the poor. Might thinking, feeling, and acting Christianly also entail engaging with these systemic issues?
Book Reviewed
John Piper, Coronavirus and Christ (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020).
P.S. If you liked my review, please click “Helpful” on my Amazon review page.
April 12, 2020
This very readable, short, substantive book answers two big questions: Who is God? and What is He doing through the Coronavirus pandemic? We have been able to ignore questions like this for at least a century since the last pandemic. With pervasive and devastating impacts of COVID-19, we benefit if we pause to investigate these questions seriously.
The first question requires us to grapple with what we really believe about the reality of God’s sovereignty. The answer, if you will accept what God says about Himself in the Bible, is that “Neither Satan nor sickness nor sinful man is sovereign. Only God is. And he is good—and wise and sovereign...if we try to rescue God from his sovereignty over suffering, we sacrifice his sovereignty to turn all things for good...
“The coronavirus was sent, therefore, by God. This is not a season for sentimental views of God. It is a bitter season. And God ordained it. God governs it. He will end it. No part of it is outside his sway. Life and death are in his hand...The very sovereignty that rules in sickness is the sovereignty that sustains in loss. The very sovereignty that takes life is the sovereignty that conquered death and brings believers home to heaven and Christ.”
The second question requires us to search His word and apply it to ourselves. Rather than speculate about the “signs of the times” or the sins of others, we can see a half-dozen specific reasons that God would bring the coronavirus. We are summoned to acknowledge how they further His eternal plans while being totally consistent with all aspects of His character, including His goodness, justice, grace, mercy, and love. And we are challenged to examine ourselves and live accordingly.
This book will help you work through these weighty matters with reasoning and support anchored firmly in the truth of God’s word. As with the majority of Piper’s books, electronic versions (and for the first time, an audio book) are free at desiringgod.org.
The first question requires us to grapple with what we really believe about the reality of God’s sovereignty. The answer, if you will accept what God says about Himself in the Bible, is that “Neither Satan nor sickness nor sinful man is sovereign. Only God is. And he is good—and wise and sovereign...if we try to rescue God from his sovereignty over suffering, we sacrifice his sovereignty to turn all things for good...
“The coronavirus was sent, therefore, by God. This is not a season for sentimental views of God. It is a bitter season. And God ordained it. God governs it. He will end it. No part of it is outside his sway. Life and death are in his hand...The very sovereignty that rules in sickness is the sovereignty that sustains in loss. The very sovereignty that takes life is the sovereignty that conquered death and brings believers home to heaven and Christ.”
The second question requires us to search His word and apply it to ourselves. Rather than speculate about the “signs of the times” or the sins of others, we can see a half-dozen specific reasons that God would bring the coronavirus. We are summoned to acknowledge how they further His eternal plans while being totally consistent with all aspects of His character, including His goodness, justice, grace, mercy, and love. And we are challenged to examine ourselves and live accordingly.
This book will help you work through these weighty matters with reasoning and support anchored firmly in the truth of God’s word. As with the majority of Piper’s books, electronic versions (and for the first time, an audio book) are free at desiringgod.org.
April 12, 2020
In this very timely, Bible-saturated yet succinct volume, John Piper’s wise pastoral heart and masterful application of the ancient truths of God’s word to a sick and dying postmodern world once again come to the fore. He shows us how to see the glory of God and the goodness of God and the sweetness of God’s sovereignty in and through the coronavirus, he helps us understand some of the billion things God is doing through this current situation - which is not outside of His control and plan - and he helps us focus on the call of Christ presented to us in the coronavirus; a call to repent and believe in Him, a call to stay awake because we do not know the day or hour when He will return, and a call to love and serve and pray for others during this significant time of suffering. Finally, a reminder of God’s ability to use the coronavirus to serve his global mission, and a pastoral prayer, offer much needed perspective and give voice to those who may not not always know how to pray as we ought during this global pandemic.
In short, I highly recommend this book to all believers seeking to think biblically through the COVID-19 pandemic, and to those looking to find comfort, peace, wisdom and joy in God in the midst of it.
In short, I highly recommend this book to all believers seeking to think biblically through the COVID-19 pandemic, and to those looking to find comfort, peace, wisdom and joy in God in the midst of it.
April 10, 2020
"And mark this: the sweetness of God's word is not lost in this historic moment of bitter providence"
Super great read for the world we find ourselves in right now, especially for being free! If you're interested in checking it out you can find it here: https://www.desiringgod.org/books/cor...
You can also listen to it on Spotify or probably on other podcast mediums as well!
Super great read for the world we find ourselves in right now, especially for being free! If you're interested in checking it out you can find it here: https://www.desiringgod.org/books/cor...
You can also listen to it on Spotify or probably on other podcast mediums as well!
April 16, 2020
I am truly amazed by this little book. While I may not have agreed with every page I was comforted by many and challenged by many more. One thing I love about JP is his willingness to remove himself and his own interpretation from topics and try to just present the Bible.
Very, very well Biblically supported approach to difficult topics, so much so that the scripture index in the back of a book this short was more than 8 pages!
Very impressed and would absolutely recommend.
Very, very well Biblically supported approach to difficult topics, so much so that the scripture index in the back of a book this short was more than 8 pages!
Very impressed and would absolutely recommend.
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