John Piper. Coronavirus and Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, April 28th 2020. 112 pp.
5 out of 5
Free: PDF and other format at Desiring God
Purchase: Amazon
According to the Bible what are the possible things God is doing with the Coronavirus? In this book by pastor and theologian John Piper the author looks at the issue from a Gospel driven perspective. Piper is nuanced in the beginning to say that no doubt readers will know more about what will happen with the virus situation than the book is able to capture at the moment he wrote this book; instead Piper is going to focus on God’s work in crisis and also look at the issue of death and suffering from an eternal perspective. I am grateful that Piper wrote this book.
After some brief words about the Coronavirus the main portion of the book consists of eleven chapters grouped into two parts. Part 1 stresses the sovereignty of God and this has five chapters. Part two consists of the remaining six chapters and it consider the reasons of what God is doing with the virus.
I thought the book’s lay out was well organized. The discussion about God’s sovereignty is very important because some people who believe in God easily would want to get God off the hook of causing this virus. Yet Scripture is clear God is in control and all powerful. As ironic as it might seem to some the sovereignty of God that is behind the virus is also the source of Christian comfort and means of handling this crisis. If you have read any of Piper’s book you know he has a high view of God and is about glorifying and enjoying God as Scripture presents Him. I love the way he handles the Scripture and how he draws out the sweetness of God from them. Piper has no interest of sentimental and shallow view of God that falsely comfort. For that I appreciate him, his ministry and this book. The truth found in this book is also applicable to other trials in life.
Reblogged this on The Culture Alternative and commented:
This should be a part of your collection. Thanks SlimJim!
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Thanks for the review! Looks like a good read about the virus pandemic WITHOUT the conspiracy rabbit holes that some believers are disseminating.
Yeah there’s some conspiracy stuff out there that’s too deep in the rabbit hole. Our brother Bruce has written about some documentary that came out that even Christians are sharing. How’s your step these day’s haven’t asked you lately…
I see YouTube pulled Piper’s book and then restored it:
https://www.faithwire.com/2020/05/18/youtube-restores-john-pipers-coronavirus-and-christ-audiobook-after-initially-removing-it/
Funny you should ask about steps! Just came in from cleaning up and mowing the backyard. Adding that to my morning walk puts me at 10.2K. My average lately is about 7K per day. How are your steps doing?
Definitely going to check this out Jim
Awesome! How are you doing brother, doing a lot of ministry and seminary online at home? How’s your wife’s sister?
Doing well. Doing almost everything from home these days as are most people.
Wife’s sister is doing OK but still has issues
Thank you, Jim, for recommending this book! With a perfect rating, I will find time to read this. GOD bless!
I’m glad John Piper has made this available for free in various electronic format! Have you heard or read anything from John Piper before?
Yes, Jim! I’ve heard his name in one of the posts and probably his name was mentioned by either Lutzer, McArthur, Swindoll, Stanley, or Sala. Piper was familiar, I just can’t connect/associate his on what until now. Thank you for these free and timely resource, Jim. I’ll go over the salient topics/chapters.
Excellent. Thank you.
The book has received a lot of negative feed back from the world. Piper must be doing something right
I pray God uses this
I enjoyed this!
[…] 1, Get to know your neighbor. I think 2020 is a year that shows us the limitation of Globalism, that all you need is a virus to put the wrench in the system. Maybe a good from that is we look at our community and those around us. Sadly for most Americans we don’t know our neighbors. This is a good time to greet our neighbors when we see them and ask them “Hey, how are you really doing?” You have an elderly neighbor? Consider if you can help with groceries. If you have young children have them draw something for their refrigerator. Is there a neighbor who lives alone? Knock on the door and say “how are you?” Ask them if there’s anything they need. 2. Grow closer to your family. Parents and siblings no longer live with you? Call them more. Video chat with them more frequently than usual. If you have kids at home, talk to them, not just teaching them but ask them questions. Some (not all) of the factors of our social issues today is tied to broken families. We might not be able to save the world but we have the responsibilities of what’s before us: our families. There’s few things we do in life that seems to have a good lasting impact; but there’s many things we mess up that has a lasting negative impact. So don’t think of just 2020, think of the impact beyond 2020. Also never underestimate the influence of a good example. 3. Minister to those whom you do know have the virus. Pray for them, but also consider practical help. Our church members have known coworkers and family members with the virus and even those who passed away. It seems this virus can really be draining for those who have it. Offer to drop off light food and easy liquid; ring the door bell and you don’t have to stay! Also ministering doesn’t mean you play doctor and educate what you think they don’t know, chances are the person already have consultation with someone with an MD. You can regularly check on them to show you care and what a gift phones are for a time like this! 4. Frequent small business. Its easy to order things on Amazon, its convenient. But as many small business risk closing for good it might be a small gesture that goes a long way. For some this is risky but there’s ways of mitigating that risk with curbside pick ups, etc. 5. Consider ordering from ethnic food venue. No this is not Marxist. Statistically small businesses that are most affected right now are African American owned. Think about how small is the profit margins for restaurants. Asian restaurants are also hit hard. I’m not talking about racism against Chinese, Chinese people culturally themselves are more concern for sickness than some social groups, where even before the virus you see the normal use of masks, etc. There’s many Asian restaurants that’s been closed before the US even thought about quarantine. Think about how people would travel around the world to try cultural cuisine; here in the US the cultural cuisine comes to us! 6. Say something encouraging and positive on social media. It doesn’t have to always be a negative critique; and yes there’s a place for good criticism. 7. Private message people to see how they are doing. Yes its okay if they disagree with you but asking how are they are not mutually exclusive. 8. Volunteer at a Food bank. With unemployment and rising food cost those who are poor and on fix income will be effected and the need for food banks increases. This is a tangible way to help. Again risky I know, but better that if you do get sick you got sick doing good than doing something else. 9. Start up a zoom book discussion group/Bible study. Church’s traditional small groups are effected; yet people are at home more, why not redeem the time? Besides Bible study you can also discuss a relevant helpful book chapter by chapter each week. One of the things I love about history is reading of what do people read about as they go through difficult historical moments. I was surprised how during the Cuban Missile Crisis when the danger of the world about to end in a nuclear war President Kennedy was reading a book called Guns of August about World War One which kept him going. I love church history of how believers were facing oppositions yet were motivated by passages in the Bible. Wondering about a free book you can go over that’s relevant for this year? Check out our Free PDF and Review: Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper. […]
Pray for John Piper, his church is in the middle of everything in Minneapolis