Below is a wonderful post by Justin Taylor recounting the call of God on Dr. John Piper to move into pastoral ministry. It's a tremendous story and I encourage you to read it.
My favorite quote from the post is when Piper shares his concern for his new ministry at Bethlehem Baptist Church, which was, “Not so much that I will fail—as the world counts failure—but that I might succeed in my own strength and wisdom and so fail as God counts failure.” I cannot think of a better definition of success, and failure, in ministry.
I'm so thankful for Dr. Piper's ministry. As a new christian, I remembering wrestling with Dr. Piper's Calvinistic teachings (the first book I read about the Christian faith was Desiring God). At the time I could not accept that God had chosen me while apparently not choosing so many close friends and relatives in my life. I wanted desperately, like so many today, to make God in my image and I refused to except what I believed was Piper's distorted interpretation of God's Word. I prayed that God would change the hearts of those I loved so that they too would choose to live for Jesus. Do you recognize the irony of that prayer? I pleaded with God to change the hearts of my loved ones, even as I struggled with the biblical doctrine of election.
Thank you Lord for calling Dr. Piper into ministry and for keeping him standing firm upon your Word has he proclaims your sovereignty. By your grace, he has impacted the lives of so many and I pray that his ministry continues to glorify you for years to come.
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