This could be the most frustrating tweet I have read in a long time:From @JohnPiper: Wives, if you watch movies with your him containing bare breasts and fondling, don't complain when he does porn by himself.
I was frustrated not by the message necessarily (I will get there in a moment) but because I felt like Piper was posting something, knowing how grossly misinterpreted it could be and how detrimental it could be...but posted it anyways.
Piper seems to tweet these 140 character messages that cause some controversy every few weeks and it would appear he is aware it is happening and continues to choose Twitter as the method of the confusing communication.
Twitter was a flutter with people who were upset and confused by his comment. I read a blog from a wife of a recovering porn addict who was beyond livid. I think John was suggesting that watching any movie with nudity is sin, suggesting a wife is participating in sin as well going the whole "Plank Eye Process" (Matthew 7:3-5). I am not certain he was suggesting women are responsible for their husbands pornography issues.
But that is my point...
I am left guessing at what he meant because it was a flippant comment made in 140 characters about a HUGELY personal and difficult struggle for millions of people, communicated in a method that leaves no push back or reply (I have never seen Piper reply to RT's but I may be mistaken on that)
It worries me when I read things like these tweets from people like John Piper who have gigantic amounts of power and influence over many young, restless and reformed men.
What do you think? Do you think John's comments were too flippant or do you agree? What are your thoughts on accountability in the things we tweet, since all of us have some degree of influence? Rant on here.
9 comments:
Great new website. Congrats on your EllePyke.com account! ;)
BTW, the irony of the picture you chose of Piper has not been lost on me friend. Very funny.
great post. part of it unfortunately goes back to people knowing their influence.
a nobody like me could make a flippant remark like that and it wouldn't be a big deal - or those who track with me actually know me a bit more and would have a better sense of the context and who i am.
when a person reaches piper-esque, near-mouthpiece of god himself levels - then he's no longer just a person and the statements are held to a higher degree and to a greater range of people who don't quite know him as a person...
i personally wouldn't tweet what i wouldn't say to someone's face, but for someone like piper i can see how it's hard to be mindful of all your fans with every public statement.
anyhow all that to say
1. what a bad statement
2. how intentional were you with using that particular photo on this post? i think it's hilarious.
Thanks ST. I always appreciate you and your posts.
Lon: Thanks for your comment. Great rule of thumb to only tweet what you would say face to face.
And yes, I sheepishly admit, when I saw that picture I could resist... ;)
So in other words.
Another reason to blame women for our failings. Nice. Way to go Piper.
Two words:
1. Un
2. Follow
Nathan: It absolutely could be taken that way. I really hope he didn't mean that.
Mike: Yes, I know, I really should. I try to follow a few people that I fundamentally don't agree with...but your right I think Piper needs to lose me as a follower!
Why would any committed follower of Christ defend watching movies with nudity in them? How is doing so pleasing to God?
Thanks for the conversation. I know that I wasn't suggesting a defense for movies with nudity. I was merely pointing out that blaming a wife or partner for someones elses bad behavior isn't productive. And with pornography and the intense struggle it posses for many marriages I would have hoped a man like Piper would have approached the topic with more clarity. My apologies if that wasn't abundantly clear in my post. Thank you for the dialogue.
Thanks for the conversation. I know that I wasn't suggesting a defense for movies with nudity. I was merely pointing out that blaming a wife or partner for someones elses bad behavior isn't productive. And with pornography and the intense struggle it posses for many marriages I would have hoped a man like Piper would have approached the topic with more clarity. My apologies if that wasn't abundantly clear in my post. Thank you for the dialogue.
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