Let the Nations Be Glad! summary

The Heart of Missions

In Let the Nations Be Glad! by John Piper, we are encouraged to see the heart of missions as the gladness of the nations in the greatness of God. Piper argues that the ultimate goal of the church is to bring glory to God by making His greatness known to all nations. He emphasizes that missions exist because worship does not, and that the chief end of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God.

Piper starts by establishing God as the supreme source of joy and satisfaction, and that the nations are glad when they find their joy in Him. He asserts that the joy of the nations in God is the fuel and goal of all missionary work, and that the chief end of God is His own glory, not the happiness of the nations per se. This perspective, he argues, is the only way to avoid the pitfalls of cultural imperialism and the dangers of a man-centered gospel.

The Irrepressible Call of Missions

Building on this foundation, Piper then explores the call to missions as being rooted in the irrepressible joy that comes from knowing and worshiping God. He contends that the motivation for missions is not guilt or obligation, but rather the overflow of joy in God that cannot be contained. He delves into the lives of famous missionaries like William Carey and Adoniram Judson, showing how their passion for the glory of God drove them to bring the gospel to unreached peoples, often at great personal cost.

He also stresses that the call to missions is not limited to a select few, but extends to every Christian. He argues that every believer has a role to play in the Great Commission, whether it's through praying, giving, or going. Piper encourages his readers to take the call to missions seriously, reminding us that the joy of the nations in God is at stake.

The Urgency of Missions

Piper then turns his attention to the urgency of missions. He contends that the unreached peoples of the world are in a desperate situation, being cut off from the joy of knowing God. He draws attention to the fact that millions are dying every year without ever hearing the gospel, and that we cannot afford to be complacent in the face of such a dire need.

He challenges us to rethink our priorities and to align them with God's global purpose. He urges us to see the urgency of the task and to respond with radical obedience. He also addresses the issue of suffering in missions, arguing that the joy of God's glory is worth any cost, and that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Let the Nations Be Glad! is a passionate and persuasive call to see the joy of the nations in God as the goal of missions. Piper's book challenges us to examine our hearts and motivations, and to align them with God's global purpose. He reminds us that the joy of the nations in God is at stake, and that we all have a role to play in making it known. The book is a stirring reminder that missions exist because worship does not, and that the chief end of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God.