“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:1-12
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.”
Luke 11:43
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:33-37
You can read the full Pastor Emeritus Covenant here.
I have serious objections to a man taking on the title of “Pastor Emeritus.” I don’t think it is scriptural. I also have serious objections to men making covenants with other men, whether it be membership covenants or Pastor Emeritus Covenants. I don’t think it is scriptural.
If you viewed the video above you will undoubtedly notice the blatant self-promotion evidenced by Pastor Emeritus Piper. It sickens me. I guess since a Baptist cannot be the Pope, Pastor Emeritus is the next best thing!
And if any man is going to take on the title of “Pastor Emeritus” surely John Piper is not the man. He has, on numerous occasions, demonstrated a serious lack of discernment.
Piper went out of his way to befriend Mark Driscoll. A great post on this subject can be seen here.
John Piper, fully aware of the sexual abuse scandal and conspiracy to cover it up involving C.J. Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries, accepted an invitation to preach at Mahaney’s run-away church plant in Louisville, KY. Piper makes no mention of the abused, instead choosing to strongly defend his pal C.J. Mahaney. How’s that for discernment?
Carl Trueman questions the “niceness” that is rotting the heart of the Christian church in America. Could he have men like John Piper in mind?
“A proud man loveth honorable names and titles; as the Pharisees to be called Rabbi, Matthew xxiii. And yet they have so much wit as to pretend, that it is but to promote their service for the common good, and not that they are so weak to care for empty names; or else that they were forced to it, by somebody’s kindness, without their seeking, and against their wills.”
-Richard Baxter, “The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, Volume I, A Christian Directory”
For more from Baxter see my blog article: “The Signs of Pride by Richard Baxter.”
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