Sharing God's Vision

I wanted to share this thought with you from John Piper. Isn't it true that when sharing any vision in the Bible, we must let people know the Word is valuable and pertinent to their lives instead of just saying, "Do it because the Bible says so!"

"Third, experience has taught me that there are two ways to commend a vision of manhood and womanhood. One way has to do with rational argumentation concerning factual evidences. For example, an evangelical Christian wants to know, Does the Bible really teach this vision of manhood and womanhood? So one way of commending the vision is by patient, detailed, careful exegetical argumentation. But there is another way to commend the vision. A person also wants to know, Is the vision beautiful and satisfying and fulfilling? Can I live with it? This is not a bad question. Commending Biblical truth involves more than saying, “Do it because the Bible says so.” That sort of commendation may result in a kind of obedience that is so begrudging and so empty of delight and hearty affirmation that the Lord is not pleased with it at all.

So there is a second task needed in winning people over to a vision of manhood and womanhood. Not only must there be thorough exegesis, there must also be a portrayal of the vision that satisfies the heart as well as the head. Or to put it another way: we must commend the beauty as well as the truth of the vision. We must show that something is not only right but also good. It is not only valid but also valuable, not only accurate but also admirable."

Piper, J. (1991). A vision of biblical complementarity: Manhood and womanhood defined according to the Bible. In J. Piper & W. Gruden (Eds.), Recovering biblical manhood and womanhood. (pp. 25-55). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.