Is Lamenting a Sin? A Response to John Piper

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Mar 9, 2026

They wrestle with how rigid theology affects real people, especially around war, suffering, and Christian nationalist rhetoric. They challenge the claim that criticizing God is always wrong by pointing to biblical laments and Gethsemane. Conversation also touches on naming the fallen, education, cultural rhetoric like "woke," and a call for slow theology that honors human agency.

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ANECDOTE

Personal Reaction To War Shows Theology Has Real Consequences

Mike Erre recounts responses to the Iran conflict and Christian nationalist rhetoric to illustrate how bad theology impacts policy and human lives.
He cites friends with family in Tehran and public religious rhetoric used to justify war.

INSIGHT

Piper's Rigid Definition Of Lament Causes Tension

John Piper argues it's always sinful to feel, think, or say critical things about God, defining lament narrowly as noncritical perplexity or pain.
Mike Erre and Tim Stafford counter that biblical laments (Job, Jeremiah, Lamentations) include raw protest and legal-like accusations that the text records without rebuke.

INSIGHT

Claiming All Events Are God's Will Flattens Agency

Piper's view that everything that happens is God's will leads to the claim that criticizing outcomes equals criticizing God.
Hosts challenge that view by pointing to human agency, evil actors, and governing 'powers' that cause real harm.

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