Ask Pastor John The Apostasy of Impatience
7 snips
Dec 1, 2025 The discussion delves into the complexities of patience in the Christian life. It explores whether losing patience can ever be permissible and distinguishes between two Greek concepts: long-suffering and endurance. Listeners learn about the various contexts that test patience, and when losing it may become spiritually critical. The speaker emphasizes that expressing weary cries to God can signify endurance rather than sin. This nuanced conversation offers insights into navigating relationships and forgiveness.
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Two Kinds Of Patience In Scripture
- The New Testament uses two different Greek words for patience: macrothumia (long-suffering) and hupomone (endurance).
- John Piper shows these words map to at least six distinct tests of patience with different moral import.
Impatience Isn’t Uniformly Sinful
- Whether impatience is sinful depends on which test of patience is failing.
- Piper argues some failures (forsaking faith, ceasing good, refusing forgiveness) threaten the soul, while others may not.
Refuse Retribution; Return Good For Evil
- Avoid returning hurt for hurt; patience requires returning good for evil and entrusting vengeance to God.
- Piper references Romans, 1 Peter, and others to show patient endurance under persecution and slander.
