Posted on 10/24/2005 9:10:02 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past
It continues to perplex my why so many have trouble with this man. I have yet to read anything bad from his pen.
I might know the answer to my question, but I don't want to color your answer. Who are you referring to when you say "so many have trouble with this man"?
"Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other “sins” are invented nonsense." -- Robert A. Heinlein
Does 'others' include oneself?
Yes.
Invented by whom?
I have a question. As a Baptist, many of my fellow Baptists claim to believe in a "penal substitution atonement." They also claim to be what is called here Armimian or Calmanian. But, Arminianism claims that Jesus' death was for all mankind and unlimited in nature.
How is it possible for both to be true? Jesus' sacrifice was punitive and substitutionary and it was also universal and unlimited. I just don't understand how both can be true.
Colin.
Rent-seeking men...priests who cash in on guilt.
John MacArthur.
I think for some folks that is true, but I know really solid guys who stick their noses high in the air when you mention MacArthur. When you ask why, they will always prevaricate and say something to the effect of "I don't want to speak ill of a brother in Christ, but I dislike his work" and refuse to elaborate.
I know he puts the smackdown on charismatics, but these guys aren't charismatic.
Oh. Well that's one perspective. But if they "cash in on guilt" you must ask, Where did the guilt come from in the first place?
Let me refer you back to this:
What Does God Think About Your Sin?
If you refuse to see your sin as God does, you cannot escape His eternal judgment. If you want to deny your guilt or hide your own sinfulness, you'll never discover the cure for sin. And if you try to justify your sin, you'll forfeit the justification of God. Until you understand how offensive your sin is before God, you can never know Him.
Sin is abominable to God-He hates it (cf. Deuteronomy 12:31). Sin is contrary to His nature (Isaiah 6:3; 1 John 1:5). It stains the soul and degrades humanity's nobility. Scripture calls sin "filthiness" (Proverbs 30:12; Ezekiel 24:13; James 1:21) and likens it to a putrefying corpse-sinners are the tombs that contain stench and foulness (Matthew 23:27). The ultimate penalty-death-is the consequence of sin (Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Romans 6:3). The human race is in bad shape.
Precisely what Jesus said to do ........
John 20:22 - the Lord "breathes" on the apostles, and then gives them the power to forgive and retain sins. The only other moment in Scripture where God breathes on man is in Gen. 2:7, when the Lord "breathes" divine life into man. When this happens, a significant transformation takes place.
John 20:23 - Jesus says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.
Matt. 9:8 - this verse shows that God has given the authority to forgive sins to "men."
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.
Which sin (or invented nonsense) do you think does not hurt others?
I am not familiar with your "penal substitution atonement" term, although I think I know what you mean. I also do not know the term Calmanian. I do know the term Arminian. Usually the great debate is between Arminian and Calvinists, or those who believe we choose God (free will) versus those who believe God chooses us (predestination). Then there are those who believe both are true at the same time.
As for Jesus' sacrifice being punitive and substitutionary and also universal and unlimited, you cannot omit the call to repentance and faith. It is a universal call, but Christ's righteousness is imputed only to those who repent and believe in the gospel. To the Calvinist, even that is a gift from God. I believe both see the call to repentance and faith as a universal call.
For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. --Eph. 2:8 NASB
That's probably not the answer you are looking for, but I'm just not sure I understand the question.
No....I knew that. LOL! I mean, who are the ones who have trouble with John MacArthur?
First, his Calvinism turns some people who are not Calvinist off.
Second, some are mad at him for not signing the Evangelicals and Catholics Together document.
Third, he has been very bold in addressing the seeker-sensitive church problem.
Fourth, he blasts Christians who get into politics. This is a point I do not agree with him on entirely. But I've decided, so what! He is so solid on the Bible and theology, and that's what I read him for. If I want an expert on politics, I refer to an expert in that field.
MacArthur is a very important voice in the world right now. He is truly devoted to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing else matters compared to that. And our churches are in a bad way.
He is a long time student of theology and he can get on that topic and sometimes put some people off. That's a shame. He is unique in that he sees his ministry audience very broadly. He has his own church, speaks on the radio to average joes around the world, he supports a college, and he is a shepherd's shepherd (he ministers a lot to other pastors). Overall, I think he is brilliant. Although I think he might suffer from a common problem of fame, that is, too many adoring fans. I think, therefore, his critics provide an important role for him -- oddly. It forces him to constantly examine himself and his own teachings. It's a role I doubt those around him can provide, because he is just so much more gifted than the average person. The temptation is to just praise praise praise, and so I think he needs the detractors, even if their motives are bad.
TRANSLATION: He's a heretic Calvinist!
(I am the lone voice crying in the wilderness, but I am making progress...)
I know a lot of charismatics really despise MacArthur because he is a very vocal cessasionist. I don't really agree with him on that point either, but I consider it to be of no consequence.
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