The Marriage of John MacArthur and Mark Driscoll

Sometimes I read a book because I want to learn. At other times, I read for personal inspiration. I read this book because I was ticked off! I really was.

In a five day time frame I heard three people mock, deride, and slam John MacArthur and his new book called, The Truth War. In each case I asked a simple question. I followed up their rant about how bad the book is with a very fair inquiry.

“Have you read it?”

Guess what. In each case the answer was the same, “No. But I have heard it is bad.”

This left me with no other option. I went out that night, bought it off the shelf at a local store, and read it.

So, why are people mad enough to criticize a book they have not read? Why would three people I like and respect bash this book?

Let me give you the bird’s eye view of the topic. The book is an exposition of the brief Epistle of Jude, the diminutive twenty-five verse book of the Bible tucked right before the Book of Revelation. MacArthur’s premise is that false teachers have been around the church through history, and they are still present today. He is looking at the “attack” on truth and seeking to uncover those he believes are false teachers.

Most Christians would affirm his basic premise and agree that we need to beware of false teaching in every generation. The rub and resistance come, I believe, for two reasons. First, MacArthur has a very harsh tone in the book and comes off a bit judgmental…but I felt that was intentional. He is dealing with a tough topic that few want to address today.

The bigger issue seems to be the target of his book. He is pointing a big finger at the Emergent Church Movement and a number of leaders that he mentions by name. His criticisms are strong. His are accusations harsh. He gives names of those he disagrees with. In some cases I strongly disagreed with who he put on his "hit list." In other cases, I found myself resonating with his concern…realizing that I have asked some of the same questions and had some of the same concerns.

Though it might seem like a strange juxtaposition, I was reminded of a section of another book I read recently called, Confessions of a Reformission Rev, by Mark Driscoll. He raises some of the same concerns about the Emergent Movement. On page 21, in an effort to distinguish between the emerging church and the emergent movement, he writes: “The emergent church is part of the Emerging Church Movement but does not embrace the dominant ideology of the movement. Rather, the emergent church is the latest version of liberalism. The only difference is that the old liberalism accommodated modernity and the new liberalism accommodates postmodernity.”

For a few years I have heard people in the Emergent Church Movement declare that they want to "begin a conversation". After reading MacArthur’s book as well as Driscoll’s, I would say there is a conversation in progress. I think it is an interesting and important one. Let’s keep talking.

--- Kevin Harney

Comments

[Steve J]

My struggle with the comment about wanting to start a conversation is that, in true postmodern fashion, they just want a conversation, no solutions. I join a conversation to solve a problem. They want to just keep talking ad infinitum. Starting a conversation is fine. But why the reluctance to let the conversation go somewhere and often useful, tangible solutions to theological and ministerial dilemmas?

[Steve Cuss]

Steve J,

as a member of the "emerging generation" I would sadly confess that we enjoy the conversation because it's easier to talk and deconstruct than it is to build, make your best effort and let the next generation critique and improve on what you've done. That said, I am seeing much to be thankful for in our generation - we have many who are in the trenches doing their best, but the ongoing "conversation and deconstruction" has gotten stale with this emerging guy

[Steve Cuss]

Oh, and I meant to say to John MacArthur: you can't preach the love of Christ with a clenched fist. The very title of your radio show has become an indictment of your approach to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Grace to us indeed. All I hear from you now days is condemnation and anger.

[AnotherVoice]

Would John McArthur have been less judgemental if he had suggested that the false teachers justimmasculate themselves?