Book Review: Let the Nations Be Glad (John Piper)

It has been five years since I first read Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper, when it was assigned reading for an internship I did as a mobilizer for a missionary agency. Piper’s book played a significant role in my decision to move overseas. In the book, Piper lays out a biblically thorough, theologically sound, and pragmatically applicable vision for missions as a necessary element of the Christian life.

John Piper clearly states the purpose of this book early on: “My passion is to see people, churches, mission agencies, and social ministries become God-centred, Christ-exalting, Spirit-powered, Bible-saturated, missions-mobilizing, soul-winning and justice-pursuing.” He lays out his argument here that “missions is not the ultimate goal of the church, worship is.” He demonstrates this throughout several compelling chapters, including many biblical references and historical anecdotes.

The book consists of four parts. Part 1 discusses the purpose of missions as worship, the power of missions as prayer, and the price of missions as suffering. The author challenges the church to reframe the goal of missions away from numbers and towards God’s glory. He argues that the power of missions is not found merely in better strategies but in men and women getting on their knees and pleading with the Lord of the harvest. Piper also soberly acknowledges that missions require sacrifice, citing sources of missionaries and martyrs who have suffered for the surpassing worth of the gospel.

Part 2 discusses the necessity and nature of missions, all stemming from the theology of man’s fallenness and sin. Because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and because the wages of sin is death, everyone who has not been saved will be justly condemned by God. How then shall people be saved? Piper answers with his theology of salvation. Christ alone saves. The nature of missions requires that people preach the good news of salvation in Christ so that they can be saved from their just condemnation and worship God forever.

Parts 3 and 4 offer practical application and context for missions in the world today. Piper uses Jonathan Edwards as a guide to discuss the motivation for missions. He argues that Christian missionaries should be fueled by a passion for God and a compassion for people. He cautions missionaries who, in an attempt to contextualize the gospel to a specific setting, might be tempted to change its message. While it is important to present the gospel to all ethnic groups with an understanding and appreciation for their unique culture, Piper rightly exhorts missionaries to preach the true gospel.

Let the Nations Be Glad is a helpful book for all Christians seeking to develop an understanding of what missiology is and how it should be executed. Those at The Paradox Church should read this book if they want to know why they should care about missions and how they can become involved in God’s mission for the Church.