Think, by John Piper

John Piper uses two main texts to discuss the topic of thinking.  They are from Proverbs 2 and 2 Timothy 2. According to these two texts, insight and understanding are what we should be seeking and what God desires to make known to us. 

Piper puts forth the premise that many people feel that the Holy Spirit being the source of all life and truth means that we do not have to do the important work of thinking, just rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal knowledge to us.

But through Pipers good exegesis we will find that the power of thinking is actually an act of bringing honor and glory to God by using His word and His creation to come to understand who He is and to learn how to love Him and His people.

Piper acknowledges that there are many other books on the market by good theologians that do a good job of discussing “Thinking.”  So, why does he write his book?  He wanted to put together a shorter treatise on thinking that would examine it from a very Biblical orientation by looking at several main texts.

In Piper’s own words, “The aim of this book is to encourage serious, faithful, humble thinking that leads to the true knowledge of God, which leads to loving him, which overflows in loving others.”

As you will read you will be challenged to realize that “thinking is indispensable on the path to passion for God.”  But also reminded that “thinking, without prayer, without the Holy Spirit, without obedience, without love will puff up and destroy (I Cor. 8:1).”

In Chapter three Piper will expound that “Reading is Thinking”.  We don’t just read a text and move on, but we need to read a text and then ponder it, delve into it, ask ourselves what the writer really wanted us to hear and understand and then seek the Holy Spirit on how to apply what we learn to our lives.  Reading is active not passive.  Reading is work.  Thinking is work.

Throughout the rest of the book Piper will examine and expound on the topics of Relativism, the difference between subjective and pragmatic thinking, arguments for and against intellectualism and anti-intellectualism.

For me Chapter nine was one of the most enlightening chapters.  The challenged Piper set forth was that often intellect is pitted against feelings and emotions.  For me a very feeling  / emotion oriented person that caused me to pause and think through, do I frown on intellectuals because they go against my emotions, or should I be encouraged by them because they do the hard work of actually “Thinking”?

Piper will leave you encouraged that it is hard work to “Think”, but it is essential work if we are to understand and know God and love Him completely and then in turn love people as well.

This is a short quick read, but one that you will ponder for long periods as it challenges you to confront whether or not you are sloppy in your thinking and thus sloppy in your walk with Christ, or are you careful and reflective in your reading / thinking and thus coming to Know God in a way that brings Him Honor and Glory.

Enjoy!