The philosophy of Calvinism arose at the time of the Reformation, so to even begin to understand it you have to place it within its historical context. To fully understand what Calvinism is you have to look back 450 years, and read everything John Calvin wrote. You have to read his writings and then study the historical period in which they were written. You have to ask the questions: Why did Calvin write what he did? Who was he writing it to? What was his motivation? Who were his enemies? What were his politics? Etc… And then you have to take all of that, and search the Word of God to see if any of it is true or not. John Piper would say that he has indeed done all of this (and even in the original Latin, Greek and Hebrew) and as a result has voted yes for Calvinism. So be it.

If your only reason for not listening to Piper is because of his Calvinism (in relation to your supposed understanding of Calvinism), then I’d say you’re missing out. Piper is one of the most passionate preachers alive today. He has helped me to begin to see God as my number one reason for everything in life. He has given me a much greater appreciation for the deep truths of God and the Gospel. He has challenged me to dig deeper into God’s word. He has inspired me to get out and do something. He has forced me to fight for joy.