Do You Agree?
Currently, I am reading John McArthur's THE TRUTH WAR. He makes the following statement...
Much of the visible church nowadays seems to think Christians are supposed to be at play rather than at war. The idea of actually fighting for doctrinal truth is the furtherst thing from most churchgoers' thoughts. Contemporary Christians are determined to get the world to LIKE them - and of course in the process they also want to have as much fun as possible. They are so obsessed with making the church seem "cool" to unbelievers that they can't be bothered with questions about whether another person's doctrine is soudn or not. In a climate like that, the thought of even identifying someone else's teaching (much less "contending earnestly" for the faith) is a distasteful and dangerously countercultural suggestion. Christians have bought into the notion that almost nothing is more "uncool" in the word's eyes than when someone shows a sincere concern about the danger of heresy. After all, the world simply doesn't take spiritual truth that seriousy, so they cannot fathom why anyone would.
Do you agree with McArthur...?
PS - More from THE TRUTH WAR is to come...
3 comments:
Brian, just found your blog.
I think McArthur is right. Nothing is less popular then being contending for right doctrine. I am grieved at the lack of discernment in the body of Christ.
However, I also think that our "contending" should done with careful reseach before it becomes public (blogs, books, etc). Heresy hunters often tend to paint their their targets with broad brushes and fail to do their homework in their fight for the truth once delieverd to the saints.
Great post, Brian
Brian,
I too agree with MacArthur. We are to please God rather than man, and it seems we are more prone to please our neighbors.
That is not to say we are not to love our neighbors.
I agree with Sam above too.
Tim A. Blankenship
Brian, I believe MacArthur hits the nail on the head. Not only does much of the church believe we should be playing, but it has been my experience that attempts to be doctrinally sound are seen as narrow-minded, fundamentalist, and judgmental. Most who see doctrine this way also behave in a manner that suggests they see "Church" as a club where new carpet and paint is what is needed to attract people.
I'm not sure if it is Christians who think this way, or unregenerate church members.
Jesse Barnhart
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