Piper, shells, and Love that transcends culture.

Sometime one moment changes everything. Piper at one day in 2000. That sermon recked me in the best of ways. I still have the journal I wrote in that night - Will not bore you with the details but here are some highlights -

“heard piper today - cried over the nations and I don’t know why - overwhelming - undone.” 

“I think I have been repurposed” 

“will fight the rest of my life - may I never sacrifice speaking what God tells me to say on the alter of being liked” 

“I can’t die with shells in my hands!” 

“oh God this changes everything.”

“I have never been normal - always the outlier always the black sheep - at lest that remain the same.”

Found a video (link below) on Piper’s shells illustration and the guy is right - It may be the single most influincal illustration of my generation. Here is why I say that: 

I personally have seen this sermon transcended culture. I have seen It’s infunace reaching far beyond the English speaking world. When I first heard it I was like the tin man. It broke me only to replace my heart with the nations. Four years later I was siting in a Turkish man livingroom. Still sleepy from the flight and a little weary in a culture so different from my own. At the time, I knew only three word of Turkish and they were bathroom and pay bill. He did not know much English and our seasoned interpitor was off running an errand. We sat in silence smiling and nodding, Over and over. If people could transform into emotions I would become an awkward turtle in the moment. Scanning the room I saw a “one day” video. Walking over I pulled it out A little relieved to see something familiar - behind me I heard him say

“Piper?”

Turning I said “Piper?!”

He laughed “Piper!” 

I smiled “yep, Piper!” 

He said “shells” and gestured like he was stabbed in the heart.

I was silent for a moment then slowly returned the same gesture “shells”. I would soon find out he was training to be a pastor because of that sermon. He would soon find out because of that sermon I was in Turkey to help him reach his goal. In the moment, We just hugged, laughed and repeating the same two words till they became to us a prayer. 

Some things transcend cultures the gospel and good preaching are such things. They can 

Build bridges to worlds where brotherly love and friendship may be found without an interpitor.  Along the way making it possible for an unsure homesick missionaries to feel the warmth of home on the other side of the world. 

As a Footnote - when the interpreter returned she did not know what to think. Both of us were red eyed from crying and oddly enough laughing.(I don’t really know why the laughing everything was just funny). We were watching the sermon like it was a movie. We both had popcorn and large drinks. We would stop it at our favorite spots and act out how it made us feel and how the Lord dealt with us. I showed him where I was sitting - He did the best Piper impression I have ever seen (by a Turkish man). 

I think it goes without saying but I will anyway.  Don’t let our fan boy ways confuse you. Piper was just a means of our joy rolling up to glory in Jesus. Piper was more like an usher. He showed us to our seats. We were their to see Jesus and Jesus was the one on display, He alone took center stage and we beheld his glory. Put another way, Piper’s sermon was the catalyst for my friendship but Jesus was the glue. He was our friend in common. He was the one we both knew. How else could a middle aged Turkish national and a 23 year old American ever find common ground but at the cross. While Piper was great and all.  It was the gospel fire burning in both our hearts that warmed our friendship. I think Piper would agree. 

Conclusion 
Below is a video about pipers sermon at One Day. It’s a little slow in pace and long on exposition. The narrator is a bit needlessly exaggerated BUT a good video none the less. It is produced by southern seminary so bit of a sly advertising. Also if your looking for a seminary southern (SBTS) is ok but southeastern (SEBTS) is better .. yea my Alma mater. 

Why John Piper’s shells illustration transformed a generation

"Imago Dei" value statement, theological definition or both?

Imago Dei is latin for "image of God" . The conept that deals with the creation of humanity. The image of God has an illusive definition. Theologians are not in consensus on what is meant by the term. The term has its roots in Genesis 1:27, "God created mankind in his own image.." In way of a workable definition not much is clear from the scriptural evidence. What is clear is the the irreducible value of human life resulting form the statement. Below is a definition baced on the evidance and its profound implications for human life.

I. As far as definitions Go
1.) The image of God is not the physical external form of humanity. Humans do not look like God in that way.

2.) The imago Dei is a condition of man's creation. It is a characteristic of what is to be human, Image bearing goes deeper than mere form, and touches on the ontological essence of humanity. Thus to be human and to be in the image of God. The two can't be divided. Human equals image bearer.

3.) image of God implies that humans are not like the rest of creation. The image of God reveals the uniqueness of humanity in comparison to rest of creation.

4.) Image of God implies that humans are like God. This aspect of our humanness means we image God in some way or capacity. Thus, Human experience is an experience of image bearing. Yet if we Take the discution out of the realm of facts and place it in the realm of value the consept blossoms. In God's image to the degrees God has value is the degree humanity has value. God of the bible is transcendent, above all human measures of glory, honor, and worth. He is transcendent value. It follows, humanity has intrinsic value because we are made in the image of transcendent value.

II. More than an idea, a way of feeling about others
It may be that the imago dei was revealed not for our theological reflection but our ethical direction. The moral implications of the imago Dei are apparent in the fact that God is transcendent in value therefor to be made in his image mean the value of human life is:
(a) intrinsically located in our humanness thus cannot be changed in any way.
(b) individually applied for each person bears God's image in our common humanity
(c) universally mandated for all people without exception. Event human has the right to be treated in keeping with the value they possess. Almost naturally we assumed such a value of ourselves yet selfishly withhold the same assessment of others. Jesus assumes the imago dei standard of value in the golden rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

I have value because I am made in the image of God
Other people have value because they are made in the image of God
I should treat others with the dignity and self-respect, I have as a image bearer of God.

The golden rule is not grounded in a standered of self-love, or in aselfish impulse or enlighten self-interest but a dignity that rise from seeing oneself as an image bearer of God. At this point, we can begin to see the concept of the imago dei as more than a theological idea, but a way of feeling about others rooted in an objective value. Here is another example.

We can also deduce a standered of value for neighbor love from the Imago Dei. Assuming the proposition that humans are to love God in keeping with his transcendent value, then humans must love other humans, as each is an image bearer and expression of God.

Every human is my neighbor
Humanity has intrinsically valuable, just as I am valuable
I should love my neighbor in keeping with their intrinsic value.

Neighbor love has a standard of value rooted in the imago dei. A standard marked out by God's  transcendent value and made concreat by our assessment of ourselves as image bearers. When we like the Good Samaritan, see someone in need we should see a being of untold value, worthy of respect and dignity on the grounds that they are human like us, made in God's image like us.