Posted on 05/17/2008 6:30:09 PM PDT by e.Shubee
John F. MacArthur is no ordinary evangelical. I think that there is something special about him because of the unusual excellence of his book The Gospel According to Jesus. I consider that book to be the finest exposition on the gospel ever written.
The most surprising thing about John MacArthur is his wide acceptance, given that he believes in the true gospel and takes a strong stand on the historic Protestant understanding of Roman Catholicism. Consider his protestant message, Unmasking the Pope and the Catholic System, delivered shortly after the death of Pope John Paul II, and see if you can either respect or refute his statements.
http://www.bereanbeacon.org/audio_video/UnmaskingThePope.mp3
I appreciate you posting the transcript - I would rather read than listen to a recording.
There is much in that message I agree with, primarily on what I see as the MAIN issue with regards to the RCC:
“And the question came up, is the Pope in heaven? And you hear all these people say, “Yes, yes, yes.” People have asked me, “Is the Pope in heaven?” And my answer is, “Is the Pope Catholic?” Isn’t that the answer? I think he is, I think the Pope is Catholic. Does he believe Catholic theology? Yes. He is the guardian of Catholic theology. Do you get to heaven by works, by Mary, by Penance, by Baptism, by confession, by Rosary? No. This is another gospel. This is not the true gospel.”
I do not agree with MacArthur (and others) who claim that anti-Christ is the same as “the man of sin” in 2 Thess 2:3. John’s description of anti-Christ is specific: “He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” and “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
Not every false teacher is anti-Christ, per the apostle John, who is the only NT writer to use this term.
A false church in league with a government - this looks more like “the beast” and has appeared in human history more than once.
...And Protestants call the Pope the anti-Christ and the Catholic Church the "great whore."
You're right we do have free speech and if "preachers" like John MacArthur and Jeremiah Wright can fill their dens of iniquity with ignorant followers who rejoice in their bigotry, then good for them.
That transcript is one ginormous steaming pantload of hate.
Ping to read later
I want to add my voice that I think the Catholic Church has done much good in the earth and produce such souls as Mother Theresa.
...and ignore those who are lacking love for other children of God
Alex, I wasn’t trying to sneak one by, but if I was I’m glad you didn’t fall into my clever ploy. I still think that non-Catholic Christians add to the number of “anti” Catholic threads more than Catholic Christians add to the number of “anti” non-Catholic Christian threads.
Freegards
However, if you want to complain about me or the Religion Forum guidelines, do it here.
And as always, discuss the issues all you want, but do not "make it personal."
“And the question came up, is the Pope in heaven? And you hear all these people say, “Yes, yes, yes.” People have asked me, “Is the Pope in heaven?” And my answer is, “Is the Pope Catholic?” Isn’t that the answer? I think he is, I think the Pope is Catholic. Does he believe Catholic theology? Yes. He is the guardian of Catholic theology. Do you get to heaven by works, by Mary, by Penance, by Baptism, by confession, by Rosary? No. This is another gospel. This is not the true gospel.”
Matt 22: 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Entry into heaven is not based on what a person believes or how they think about God. It's how they live their life according to their religion.
Last time I checked, Catholics keep the two great commandments set forth by the Lord in the passage I quoted. To me, this trumps anything Paul wrote in Romans or anywhere else.
MacArthur has nothing I want. He is not a Christian in my estimation based on what his mind has twisted and his tongue spews as 'his truth';. If I believed in an anti-Christ, he would be my nominee. A false prophet at the very least.
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Yes. My statement was intended to be absurd.
“Entry into heaven is not based on what a person believes or how they think about God. It’s how they live their life according to their religion.”
If that is your view, it is you that has not Christ. For Christ tells us in His explanation of parable of the sower: “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”
To believe in Him (the Biblical Christ) is to be saved. The apostle John wrote his gospel for this reason: “he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.”
Acts 16 records Paul and the jailer: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved.
Jesus, in John chapter 3: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Believe on Christ and be saved. Believe not and be condemned.
Works proceed FROM new birth, not causing new birth.
You think MacArthur is not in Christ because he disagrees with the RCC? It’s impossible for anyone to know if another truly keeps the “two commandments” that upon which hand the whole law and prophets - for man cannot judge the heart of man. He gets some things wrong (IMO) but twists Scripture far less than the RCC has throughout history.
MacArthur calls confession 'false gospel'. The LORD said for eternal life, keep the commandments! The commandments DEFINE sin. Regular self-examination, praying to the Lord for help and changing your life will make you a better Christian.
MacArthur, to me, is breaking the spirit of the 5th commandment -- he's murdering people's faith in Jesus Christ.
With God, all things are possible. With John MacArthur, you probably will end up with the goats.
My point was Catholic doctrine and dogma support the two great commandments at every turn -- especially charity to the neighbor.
MacArthur preaches to hate how the neighbor THINKS ABOUT GOD! He is saying HATE YOUR NEIGHBOR! This indeed is from hell.
I actually didn’t do this particular transcription.
Initially I though I would have to transcribe the MP3, but I was able to find that one with google by searching for a phrase from the MP3.
phew... Thanks!
***The Catholic Caucus has placed this thread on ignore. If you are Catholic, be aware that this thread contains slanders about the Catholic Church. In the interest of not rewarding anti-Catholic bigots or engaging the invincibly ignorant in futile debate, we ask that you do not respond to any of the lies about the Catholic Church contained herein.***
I’m actually an Evangelical/Protestant, but I won’t be offended it the Catholics choose to ignore this thread.
(The reasons being obvious and understandable)
Sorry, Dave - NOBODY is in Christ without knowing it. Never have been, never will be. There are those who fear man and are unwilling to be known as His - He does not have kind words for this behavior.
I’m not here to defend MacArthur - he’s not my shepherd. We are commanded to confess our sins (to men, if we sin against men, to God - ALL of them) - but this is for reconciliation of relationship, not being made into a new creation. Christ died once for the ungodly, taking the sins of the world upon Him at Calvary so that all who believe on Him will have eternal life - rather than eternal death.
The past, present, and future tense of “salvation” do not all speak of the new birth Jesus mentioned. A man is born again - and inherits Heaven. He has been saved for eternity, is being saved from this present age and his own flesh, and will be saved by the power of God in the coming judgments to be poured out on the world.
What’s not possible with God is for unbelievers to be saved.
The topic is the salvation of Catholics. Catholics who practice repentance, reformation and regeneration are saved. Their process doesn't matter a wit.
MacArthur preaches 'Eternal Security' based on some 'new birth' which consists of nothing more than shouting 'I believe in Je-sus' and going on their merry, hateful ways. Sorry, the good Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist with inherit heaven before these misguided 'goats'.
Ignore the Lord at your own peril. Christ's merit on the cross will not save you. Repentance and changing your own life will. It takes WORK, not lip service.
Ping.
I'm not Catholic, but my mother-in-law, who passed away several years ago is. She went to the Latin mass all her life and was probably the most pious and spiritual soul I have ever met. I suspect she was a contemplative (we never spoke directly about it) -- which has led me to study the lives and teachings of Catholic saints such as Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. I've had mystical/spiritual experiences myself for over 25 years and find it wonderful the Catholic religion recognizes these souls in the way they do.
Mary, my MIL, was persecuted for a good portion of her life for her beliefs. She had to go 'underground' to attend Latin mass for many years (she passed almost a year exactly before the pope made it permissible). She had a less than supportive husband who hated Catholics. She knew and lived with spiritual suffering. Her faith kept her going to the end. When she found out her cancer was terminal, she decided she wanted to come home to the Lord and be with her sons. She passed a week later.
I lurk but rarely post on the religion forum anymore because it really does nothing for me spiritually. I saw the title to this thread and was really flabbergasted. I opened it and saw it was sourced from John MacArthur and wasn't surprised. The man is spiritually insane. He projects onto the Catholic Church every thing he is.
I decided to post here for a few reasons: 1) in memory of mom and what she went through, and 2) to drive a stake through the heart of this militant 'Christian' hatred. It's rotten fruit to the core.
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