http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/160893545.html
Letter of the Day (July 2): The Rev. John Piper
- Updated: July 1, 2012 - 8:40 PM
The Revs. John Piper, above, and Leith Anderson, evangelical leaders in Minnesota, are taking a measured stance on the state’s marriage amendment issue.
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Laurie Higgins of the Illinois Family Institute has taken it on herself to interpret the Rev. John Piper's sermon on the Minnesota marriage amendment ("Pastor showed way to clarity on amendment," June 26). She concludes that although Piper did not direct his parishioners to vote for the amendment, his sermon was tantamount to calling for a positive vote.
Higgins' commentary disturbed me greatly. Was she actually present for the sermon? She doesn't say so.
Also, why is she speaking for the pastor when he would be perfectly capable of answering for himself if he had been mischaracterized by the Star Tribune report in question ("Key pastors opt out of marriage fight," June 21).
Higgins' article strikes me as yet another out-of-state attempt to influence Minnesotans' vote on the amendment.
WILLIAM O. BEEMAN, MINNEAPOLIS
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1 comment:
I'm trying to figure out why you are greatly disturbed at Laurie Higgins article and where/how she misquotes John Piper.
What does it matter if Higgins was present for the sermon? She states in the article that she listened to it online. http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/let-marriage-be-held-in-honor-thinking-biblically-about-so-called-same-sex-marriage What she heard is exactly what Bethlehem Baptist Church attenders heard.
Have you listened to the sermon or read the transcript? I was there to hear it live and I assure you Higgins' reaction to the Star Tribune article was exactly my own and that of everyone else who has taken the time to hear it.
Where does Higgins misquote Piper? A large portion of Higgins' article consists of direct quotes form Piper's sermon transcript.
And Piper did respond to the Tribune article the very day it was published: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/what-the-star-tribune-got-right-and-wrong
As a University of MN alum I am disheartened that one of its distinguished professors seems either unwilling or incapable of engaging in honest dialogue on this issue.
The truly unfortunate attempt at influencing the marriage amendment vote was not Higgins' article, but the Tribune's transparent attempt to discourage MN evangelicals from engaging the issue by mis-reporting Piper's clear sermon in support of the amendment as exactly the opposite.
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