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Yes, the church has cheapened people's understanding of grace, a bunch, where it has. I haven't generally had much to do with the churches that have done this most, but grew up very aware of them. I remember someone compaining at how harsh Bonhoeffer's The_Cost_of_Discipleship was and shaking my head, inside.

Yes, we should catch at least glimpses of how deep the fall and the Lord's salvation both are, and how much the Father and Son have been grieved and suffered for each. We should understand that more and more. But I've seen people dwell on sin and try to feel bad about it and grit their teeth in trying to repent and seem to never get beyond it. There are so many kinds of sin, of omission as well as comission that we just can't keep track of them all and it all can get overwhelming and hopeless. (But if we confess what sins we understand, God is faithful to let his singlar act of forgiveness apply and to cleanse us, eventually, from all unrighteousness.)

We do need to get on with grasping what He has saved us to. Maybe Mr. Sheldon expounds upon that in other messages. I have heard Mr. MacArthur though, maintain a tone that even I would call harsh (to me) and I've missed his tenderness at times. Godly sorrow works repentence and then we should get on with the love, joy, peace and subsequent patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness, and of course sound mindedness, abiding in Christ and adjusting and allowing ourselves to be continuously transformed as we go.
And as we speak the truth, we should speak the truth in love, as Jesus did and does.

I'm concerned that the very people who are preached to so much about the problems could stand to open their hearts more about the solution (as well being concerned about those who ignore the problem and would falsely claim the solution).

I understand that someone's "counterpoint" can be kind of antagonistic. Plese don't let it be.

The First book I read after I became a Christian was Bonhoeffer's The_Cost_of_Discipleship ...also the Normal Christian life by Nee

It seems to me that the "feel good" Christianity ..as I call it the "rodney king " school of theology..has compromised the message.

Many people become Christians because they want their carnal life problems solved..They could never give the testimony of a Bonhoeffer or Nee (no matter how you feel about their doctrine)

We are told God allows the Wheat and Tares to grow together untill the end..that is true in the churches too.

As for Mac Arthur being "harsh" ..I do not ~think~ his is a ministry aimed at making radio conversions with phony sinners prayers..He is about doing what the church is to do..equip the saints

He is straight foreward ..that is hard to hear in a feel good church

He is a solid teacher..IMHO