John Piper, the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, is also a renowned speaker and author. And that’s the problem. Or it might be, he says.
A little over a week ago Mr. Piper announced he’d be taking an eight month break from “public productivity”, which he defined as “No book-writing. No sermon preparation. No preaching. No blogging. No Twitter. No articles. No reports. No papers. And no speaking engagements—with a very few exceptions…”
He hasn’t been caught in adultery or embezzlement or some other ministry-ending scandal. He explained the reason for his break in his usual articulate way, giving us all plenty to apply to our own lives if we choose:
I see several species of pride in my soul that, even though they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with Noël and others who are dear to me. Noël and I are rock solid in our commitment to each other, and there is no whiff of unfaithfulness on either side. But, as I told the elders, “rock solid” is not always an emotionally satisfying metaphor, especially to a woman. A rock is not the best image of a woman’s tender companion.
In other words, the precious garden of my home needs tending. I want to say to Noël that she is precious to me. And I believe that at this point in our 41-year pilgrimage together the best way to say it is by stepping back for a season from virtually all public commitments.
…You could view this as a kind of fasting from public ministry. One of the goals in this kind of fasting is to discern levels of addiction… What will happen in my soul and in my marriage when…there will be no “prideful sipping from the poisonous cup of international fame and notoriety”?
Kristie Wooten says:
Praise God for that level of discernment!
[email protected] says:
Even with a ministry small in numbers, this speaks to me and convicts me, and it furthers my longing to know what it really means to be single-minded.
Jesus is the King of Downward Mobility, and it makes me love Piper more to see him follow Christ’s lead.
Thanks for the news.
dawn says:
discern levels of addiction…seems you can only do that when you try to step away.
pretty challenging, and I commend him for his investment in his wife and marriage and private life.
Jill Foley says:
what a great example to us all.
Melinda says:
Love it! Wow! Hopefully we can learn a lesson from this. To tend to something BEFORE it withers. Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Kat @ Inspired To Action says:
Wow. Very cool…
misty says:
Wow. Awesome!
John says:
WTG, Mr. Piper! It take a lot to notice our own character flaws and the do something about it.
Thanks for sharing, Shaun.
Cheers!
Brad Ruggles says:
I give him credit for recognizing the need for renewal in his life and marriage. That last line in the quote is pretty powerful… “What will happen in my soul and in my marriage when…there will be no ‘prideful sipping from the poisonous cup of international fame and notoriety’?” Wow.
Kelly @ Love Well says:
Living in Minneapolis and having many wonderful friends in leadership at Piper’s church, I knew about this already. But it continues to leave me with a deep sense of awe. I am intensely grateful for that kind of integrity from a man who’s ministry is so public. (Noel Piper, on her blog, said John’s explanation read like a love letter to her. I agree.)
It’s humbling to see that level of humility.
Amber says:
Convicting and inspiring!
Jenny says:
ok, but here is my question… everyone is praising Piper for this and i agree, it takes guts. But… i have seen so many cases where “restriction” becomes as much of a dysfunction as “addiction”… at some level, once he returns to ministry, if he hasn’t learned to manage and balance all of this… will he not just fall back into the same trap he is in now of being over-committed and non-responsive at home?
i admire him for taking this step… my heart just hurts for him in the following year when undoubtedly, he will return to ministry. What about Noel then?
balance and pastoral leadership are not mutually exclusive…
Sheryl says:
I applaud with reserve. I think it’s wonderful that Piper can do this. I think it’s a living love letter to his wife and his family. I’m so glad he can do this. My one observation is that most of don’t have the economic luxury of making such a move. I think this decision is examplary. We just need to realize we all may not be able to do this in the exact same way, but we can make significant changes to tend our gardens well.
shayne Welch says:
I did the same thing in February. All I am is one singer on a praise team with lots of talented musicians and even more talented singers.
But the Tuesday night practices, and then the “extra” worship events where we just had to be there, plus Sunday services, plus Wednesday nights…church began to be a job. The praise team became more important to me than my family. I actually resented my husband’s righteous anger at all of the time I was spending away from home.
I mean didn’t he know I am CALLED? That I am doing GOD’S WORK???
I never, ever want that to happen again. I don’t know when I’ll sing again…all I know is, right now, I want God to break my heart for my family before He breaks it for anyone else.
Peace John Piper…I pray you rest well and return changed and renewed and even wiser than before.
Kris says:
Shayne-
I felt the need to do this exact same thing just this week, just replace praise team with food and fellowship ministry. I am feeling a bit of guilt but also a large relief to tend to my mother and wife role. Taking a little bit of time to reflect on how this is a ministry as well. Does it get easier to step back and scale down?
-Kris
Kaitlyn says:
Taking a vacation from work, after such a long time….is a good thing. He needs it, his wife needs it.
But its what people do. And I guess I’m still trying to wrap my head around why this is so “inspiring”
Professors take “sabbaticals” No one praises them.
No one says “oh, professor so-n-so took a sabbatical….how brave of him….It’s made me revaluate my life.
I just don’t get it. I really don’t
Becky says:
My husband is a full-time worship pastor and the last 3 churches we have been at have offered a sabbatical every 7 years. In this case, not just a “vacation,” but to do something ministry-related that would also be refreshing. He plans on taking 3 months this summer and admits that 20+ years of ministry involves some “wear and tear.” I’m thankful for churches who look out for their shepards in this way.
Yeni Diziler says:
Thank you very much for your Shaun post…
Liz Reeves says:
As the wife of a perpetually Type A, workaholic sort of husband, I read Mr. Piper’s letter to the public as one of the most romantic & loving things he could ever do for his wife & his marriage. While my sweet Larry was in full time ministry, it was very hard for him to take time away to focus on US. And when we did, the final day or so of our time away was often spent getting his mind back in gear to jump back into work…which ate away at the private time we had taken to get away from it all. I pray that Mr. & Mrs. Piper find a refreshing, renewing time together and are able to tend the garden they’ve planted with beautiful, blossoming results!
Lisa says:
I am so pleased to see this done before it is some public scandal that the media capitalizes on and blows out of proportion. I so appreciate his committment to his wife and am grateful he has the financial resources to do this- although I think even if he didnt, it sounds like it needs to be done.
Sarah says:
When you preach that family comes before work (even ministry), it becomes really, really important that you put your family before work (even ministry). I applaud John Piper and I applaud anyone willing to make a radical move for the sake of their family.
jd says:
Beautiful living example!
stacikristine says:
I have always loved John Piper’s books. It is such an incredible testimony to hear him backing up what he teaches about, by being in tune with the Spirit’s promptings to take time out to focus on his home ministry.
Hirsch Chizever says:
I love you, John.
A grateful brother,
– Hirsch