Book Review

Let The Nations Be Glad
The Supremacy of God in Missions
John Piper ; Inter-Varsity Press, 2003, 255p
 

Review by Ray Hoekzema

I have previously reviewed half-a-dozen of Piper’s books. This volume is perhaps more study-focused than most of his books which generally have a devotional overtone. Yet, it does not take anything away from the rich vocabulary that we have come to expect from this author.

Piper’s passion to see people, Churches, mission agencies and social ministries become God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-powered, Bible-saturated, missions-mobilising, soul-winning and justice-pursuing, has expanded from an earlier version of the book, making the vision clearer. He loves to hear and echo what John Stott has once sounded: “The highest of missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission, nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing but rather zeal – burning and passionate zeal – for the glory of Jesus Christ…..” The Apostle John applies this Christ-exalting passion to all missionaries when he says, “They have gone out for the sake of the name.”

Piper and his comrade and friend for over twenty-five years, Tom Steller who wrote an afterword, want to give their lives to creating, sending, and sustaining world Christians who live and die “for the sake of the name.” When it comes to catching the passion for himself, Piper defers to that great, church-wakening, missionary-advancing book Operation World written by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk. From the Westminster Shorter Catechism we learn that Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. Piper says that the chief end of God is to glorify God and enjoy His glory forever. This is the whole thrust of this book, which I'm more than happy to commend.

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