In his book, When I Don’t Desire God, Dr John Piper quotes Dallas Willard regarding Scripture memorization:

Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our mind with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization.

OK, so far I’d think that everyone who claimed to be a serious Christian would be in agreement.

Whoa! Wait a second. You’re over-generalizing, Brendt.

Over on Emergent No*, the leading blog in extending its middle finger to Galatians 6:1, this quote is noted and then followed by nearly 1500 words explaining how Willard is just shy of being the anti-Christ largely because he likes or is liked by people of dubious theology. The conclusion of this entry is that Piper has used poor judgment and a lack of discernment, because the less-informed will think that one brief quotation is a wholesale endorsement by Piper of everything that Willard has ever said or written.

This is wrong in so many ways.

First, it’s a flat-out denial that God is capable of using Willard for anything good. I covered the ludicrous nature of such thinking here. Frankly, I’m getting more than a little weary of people who claim to serve an impotent God.

Second, there’s the whole “baby with the bathwater / everything is black and white / there is no middle ground” mentality. Talked about that one here.

Third, and possibly most dangerous, is the inference that must be drawn. If Piper’s citation of Willard may confuse some into thinking that Willard is 100% OK, the only way that this idea can be reached is if the reader takes every word from the pen of Piper as being perfect. Luke praised the Bereans for examining Scripture to check what Paul was saying. I’m sure that Dr Piper would have the same attitude, but apparently there are those who hold him to an even higher standard than the guy who wrote about 2/3 of the New Testament.

HT to iMonk for pointing this out and to Ochuk for an even more in-depth analysis.

* UPDATE: The blog has disappeared, but one of its contributors was kind enough to provide me with an archived link.