Fear the One Who Can Kill the Soul
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John MacArthur'due south Damning Doctrine
"By covetousness they volition exploit y'all . . . ." (ii Peter 2:three). For a few examples of MacArthur'due south income, in 2006 MacArthur fabricated $160,363 with $13,828 in benefits from his "Grace To You" ministry, and also in 2006 MacArthur made an additional $123,785 with $25,757 in benefits from "The Chief's College." In 2022 MacArthur made $402,444 from "Grace To You," and $92,985 with $10,295 in benefits from "The Master's College." These figures do non include whatever additional income he might receive from his church. For proof of these figures, see page five in 2006 IRS Class 990 for "Grace To You" and folio 5 in the 2006 IRS Form 990 for "The Master's College" and page 7 in the 2022 IRS Form 990 for "Grace To You," and the last page in the 2022 IRS Class 990 for "The Main's College."
John F. MacArthur is the pastor teacher of Grace Customs Church, Sun Valley, California. He is ane of the well-nigh popular Bible expositors and Bible conference speakers in the state, and serves as president of The Master's College and Seminary. Heard daily on the national radio plan, Grace to You, MacArthur is the best-selling author of such books as The MacArthur Study Bible, The Gospel According To Jesus, and Faith Works. (back inside dust jacket of MacArthur'south book, Successful Christian Parenting, copyright 1998).
To many (Matthew seven:13), John MacArthur is a champion of the religion whose vocalisation is correcting many of the ills of Christianity. To a few (Matthew 7:14; Luke 13:23-24), he is a wolf in sheep's clothing (Matthew seven:fifteen) whose "Master" is the Master of deception (Revelation 12:nine).
MacArthur's very popularity should be enough for whatsoever discerning Christian to exist wary. But, deplorable to say, most people do not sympathize the context and warning Christ gave in Luke half dozen:26, nor the present reality of capacity three and 4 of 2 Timothy (specially 3:1-5 and 4:3). Plus, MacArthur's advent of proclaiming much truth as well creates for the minds of men a delusion that is ever so stiff. Nonetheless, he has taught and does teach damning doctrine.
I. Damning Doctrine on Christ
In 2007, speaking in the context of denying the deity of Christ, MacArthur wrote,
My conservancy and yours depends on a true understanding of Christ and who He is. A false christ is a damning charade (1 John 4:fifteen; 5:i, five, 10-12, twenty; 2 John 7-11). The doctrine of Christ is no mere academic or secondary truth. (p. 115, The Truth War, copyright 2007, Thomas Nelson; see too MacArthur'south statement in The MacArthur Report Bible, in the footnote for 1 John 2:22-23)
MacArthur claims his conservancy "and yours depends on a true agreement of Christ," and a "false christ is a damning deception." MacArthur still teaches a false christ to this solar day (e.g. run across MacWars). All the same, for years MacArthur taught what he now admits was non "a true understanding of Christ" (come across below), simply he believes this false christ that he taught was not "rank heresy."
This study was originally written in 1995. MacArthur has since (1999) changed this teaching about Christ (Reexamining the Eternal Sonship of Christ). In his recantation (hard re-create on file), MacArthur speaks of Augustine (a Catholic) as if he was a man of God, and MacArthur says that his mistake is not "rank heresy." Nevertheless, as already noted, elsewhere he says, a "false christ is a damning deception" (bold added). Evidently, according to MacArthur, "rank heresy" and "damning deception" are not the same.
In his commentary on Hebrews MacArthur wrote,
Jesus is Son in resurrection as as (sic) well as in birth. It is His human title, and we should never get trapped in the heretical idea that Jesus Christ is eternally subservient to God. He became Son for our sake - (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Hebrews, copyright 1983 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, p. 29, bold added, italics in original)
Being always the Son of God (Hebrews 13:8), Christ has e'er been subservient to God (John 5:19, 30; 6:57; i Corinthians xi:3; 15:27-28), as Jesus Himself said, "My Begetter is greater than I" (John fourteen:28). God does not change (Malachi 3:6). Nonetheless, MacArthur chosen Christ'due south eternal Sonship and subservience a "heretical thought."
We have left the below section on MacArthur's false christ intact, so that people tin can see what MacArthur claims is not "rank heresy." Also, nosotros accept kept the warning live, because this false teaching is nevertheless being sold (ii Corinthians 2:17) via MacArthur's commentary on Hebrews and his written report Bible (The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 744). Since this imitation didactics is all the same out there, nosotros thought it best to keep it in our report. The following is left as it was originally written.
In Ephesians four:12, Paul gives the reason God gave the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. They were given for the edifice up of the body of Christ, so "that nosotros should no longer be tossed to and fro . . . past the trickery of men" (Ephesians 4:14). I doctrine mentioned in this context is the "knowledge of the Son of God" (Ephesians iv:13). In his "cunning craftiness" (Ephesians 4:xiv), MacArthur perverts this knowledge.
In fact, equally difficult as it is to accept (specially by those who have been under his education), MacArthur deceitfully preaches another Jesus (ii Corinthians 11:4). In MacArthur's Bible study guide, The Superiority of Christ (Hebrews one-2) on page 52 and post-obit he says,
Did y'all know that when 2 Samuel was written, Jesus Christ was not the Son of God? Why? The title Son refers to Jesus Christ in His incarnation. Christ did not become the Son until He was begotten into time.
In his commentary on Hebrews he says, speaking of Christ,
He was ever God, simply He became the Son. He had not ever had the title of Son. That is His incarnation title. Eternally He is God, but simply from His incarnation has He been Son. (p. 27-28)
And, "Christ was not Son until His incarnation." ("not" is emphasized in the original, p.28) MacArthur has good sounding arguments for his statements above (he even has an official newspaper on this subject entitled "The Sonship of Christ" dated November thirteen, 1991 that is very deceptive), just the fact remains that Jesus Christ has always been the Son of God. When speaking of whether Christ was the Son of God from all eternity or not, we are speaking of His very nature, i.due east. WHO HE IS. He has always been the Son of God (Hebrews 13:8).
It should be noted that hundreds of years earlier the incarnation the Psalmist warned the kings of his solar day to "Kiss the Son, lest He be aroused and you lot perish . . . " (Psalm two:12). Proverbs 30:4 also speaks of God and His Son hundreds of years earlier the incarnation with no prophetic reference to the incarnation ("What is His name, and what is His Son'due south name, if y'all know?").
Also, Hebrews seven:3 speaks of the Son of God in consummate opposition to the incarnation. Speaking of Melchizedek, it proclaims,
Without male parent, without female parent, without genealogy, having neither get-go of days nor end of life, but fabricated like the Son of God, . . . .
In the incarnation, Jesus had a "begetter" (Joseph), a "mother" (Mary), a "genealogy" (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38), "kickoff of days" (Luke 1:31), and "end of life" (Luke 23:46). When speaking of the Son of God in Hebrews 7:3, the Lord clearly points to the fact that Christ was the Son of God before the incarnation. The Son of God did non become the Son of God (as MacArthur deceitfully teaches). The Son of God has always been the Son of God. And, it is THIS Son of God who saves (Acts iv:12)! The Son of God of MacArthur is an impostor. The Jesus of MacArthur became the Son of God at the incarnation. As MacArthur puts information technology in his official paper mentioned in a higher place, ". . . the terms 'Begetter' and 'Son' would have no significance before the incarnation." (p. v). Such a argument is a mendacious denial of the Begetter and the Son, i.eastward. a denial of their very nature and person every bit the Begetter and the Son (1 John 2:22-23).
This is some other Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4,15). This Jesus cannot save your soul, because He is not the Christ of Scripture.
The Jehovah's Witnesses change the definition of who Christ is, and the Mormons alter the definition of who Christ is. MacArthur has washed the same matter, but much more deceitfully. He refuses to recant on this didactics (many take confronted him on information technology). Those who do not love the Truth (i.due east. Jesus, John xiv:half dozen) think it is no large bargain to teach erroneously about the Son of God. What could be a more than of import subject, but WHO IS CHRIST?! MacArthur does just equally the Scripture says men like him would do.
But there were besides fake prophets among the people, even as there volition be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, . . . . (two Peter 2:1)
2. Damning Suicide
As so many (e.g. Stanley, Smith, Hayford, Catholicism, McGee, Graham) MacArthur believes a person tin can kill themselves and still stop up in heaven. As stated in his commodity entitled "Can 1 who commits suicide be saved?" (hard copy on file).
Suicide is a grave sin equivalent to murder (Exodus 20:xiii; 21:23), simply information technology can exist forgiven like any other sin. And Scripture says clearly that those redeemed by God have been forgiven for all their sins--by, present, and hereafter (Colossians two:13-fourteen). Paul says in Romans 8:38-39 that nix can split the states from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
And then if a truthful Christian would commit suicide in a time of extreme weakness, he or she would be received into heaven (Jude 24).
This goes straight against Matthew 24:13; John fifteen:1-6; Romans 11:22; 1 Corinthians fifteen:2; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews iii:half dozen, 14; 12:25; and ane John five:four. Committing suicide is non enduring to the cease (Matthew 24:thirteen). Information technology is non abiding in Christ (John 15:1-6). It is not standing in His goodness (Romans xi:22). It is non holding fast the word (i Corinthians 15:two). It is definitely being moved away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23). It is not holding fast the conviction and the rejoicing of the promise business firm to the finish (Hebrews 3:half dozen). Information technology is not belongings the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end (Hebrews 3:14). It is refusing and turning away from Him who speaks from sky (Hebrews 12:25). And, it is not overcoming the world (ane John 5:4), just rather being overcome past the world and the devil (ane Peter 5:8; ane John 5:18).
MacArthur'southward instruction on suicide opens broad the door of expiry and Hades (Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15) to those in despair. This is certainly a subversive lie (2 Peter 2:1).
MacArthur's 2nd to last sentence reads:
And so though it may exist possible for a true laic to commit suicide, nosotros believe that is an unusual occurrence.
One unusual belief in this doctrine will result in one long eternity in hell! [Come across too MacArthur's statement nearly God & Hell.]
III. Damning Fundamentals
MacArthur believes that there are sure doctrines in Scripture, as opposed to other doctrines in Scripture, that are the deciding factor in determining whether a person is a false teacher or not, or in the religion or non. In his books, Reckless Faith (copyright 1994), and Truth Matters (copyright 2004), speaking of verses similar Galatians one:8-9; ane John 4:1; 2 John 9-11, he writes,
They instruct usa how to deal with faux teachers who take gone astray with regard to the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. (Reckless Faith, p. 107; Truth Matters, p. 84)
MacArthur speaks of "fundamental" doctrines. Scripture proclaims,
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear the states. Past this nosotros know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6)
And,
He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you practise not hear, because you are non of God. (John 8:47)
However, MacArthur holds onto his own pedagogy (i.e. the traditions of men, Colossians 2:8) and asserts,
All who call themselves Christian should agree that there is a body of doctrine that is non-negotiable. The articles of religion that make upwardly this constitutional trunk of truth are the very essence of "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude iii). These are the real fundamentals of the faith. They are doctrines so indispensable to true Christianity that we ought to break fellowship with those who profess Christianity but who deny them (2 Cor. half-dozen:14-17). (ibid., p. 106-107; p. 83-84)
Yous volition search in vain to discover such teaching in the Word of God. In fact, just the opposite is taught. Paul says to Timothy, "no other doctrine" (1 Timothy 1:3). That is, any doctrine that is contrary to any Scripture! Jesus put it this mode, (making no distinction),
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Male parent volition love him, and We will come up to him and make Our home with him. He who does non honey Me does non keep My words (John 14:23-24).
In 1 Timothy 6:3, Paul says the standard is "wholesome words," "the words of our Lord Jesus Christ," and "the doctrine which accords with godliness," not some man-made list of "essentials" or "fundamentals"! This false teaching of "the fundamentals of the organized religion" falls by MacArthur's own hand in these same books on page 115 (Reckless Faith) and 91 (Truth Matters).
It is not my purpose hither to attempt to give an exhaustive list of key doctrines. To do so would be beyond the scope of this book, and certainly across my own abilities as a theologian. As Witsius has written: "To point out the articles necessary to salvation, and precisely make up one's mind their number, is a task, if non utterly impossible, at least extremely difficult."
So, on the one hand MacArthur says there are doctrines that are so essential "we ought to break fellowship with those who profess Christianity just who deny them." Yet, when called to give what all of these important "fundamentals" are, he cannot tell usa!
In improver to this folly, MacArthur farther declares that it doesn't thing if we know what they all are, even though they are "necessary for salvation." In quoting Witsius, in the context of the above quote (i.due east. speaking of "articles necessary to salvation") he writes,
Information technology is of no keen importance, besides, to the church at large, to know quite correctly the precise number of fundamental articles. (Reckless Religion, p. 115, Truth Matters, p. 91)
So, these articles are "necessary for salvation" and so important nosotros "ought to break fellowship with those who . . . deny them," yet we cannot know what all of them are, nor does it matter! This is a classic example of hypocritical stupidity, especially when MacArthur continues on in his reckless organized religion and states,
Nothing is more than desperately needed in the church right now than a new move to reemphasize the central manufactures of the faith. (Reckless Faith, p. 117, Truth Matters, p. 93)
In other words, there is a desperate need to emphasize "fundamental articles," some of which, we practice not know what they are, nor practice we know how many they be of what we do not know.
Also, in the midst of all this folly, MacArthur writes likewise,
We must also call back that serious fault tin can be extremely subtle. (Reckless Faith, p. 117, Truth Matters, p. 93)
Indeed information technology can be! And so, all who follow this deceit are sitting ducks for subtle mistake. Since there are fundamental manufactures that be, but they (MacArthur and company) do not know what they are, serious error tin can easily be taught in regards to an unknown primal article. Existence that they do not know information technology is a primal article, they can easily regard it equally a "secondary" issue, not fundamental, and find themselves either believing the lie or allowing others to believe the prevarication, and thus denying a key commodity of the faith that is "necessary for salvation."
This is exactly what has happened. The near "fundamental article of the faith" is denied by this "fundamentals" lie.
What does Jesus say is "necessary" for conservancy? The answer is found in John eight:31-32.
If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall brand you free.
It is "the truth" that makes us costless (i.east. costless from sin, John 8:34-36), not some of the truth (i.e. "the fundamentals"). James put it this way,
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted give-and-take, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)
In his education on the fundamentals, MacArthur diverts people away from a zealous beloved for the truth (all of the truth), thus leading to the damnation of souls. ii Thessalonians 2:10 bears witness to this reality. There is a damning delusion that will soon come upon all those who reject to "receive the dear of the truth, that they might be saved." In this same vein, MacArthur'southward "Fundamentals" doctrine deceitfully denies the words of Christ who said,
Man shall not live by bread lone, but by every discussion that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:iv; note also Paul's words in two Corinthians x:three-iv, "every thought." For further written report, see as well www.atruechurch.info/macwars.html under Three. The Teaching of Scripture, world wide web.atruechurch.info/unity.html and world wide web.atruechurch.info/savednot.html)
Iv. Damning Fear
Psalm 111:ten and Proverbs ix:10 declare, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and Task besides proclaims, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom." In order to have wisdom, you must fear God. If you do not fearfulness God, you practise not have wisdom. If you exercise non accept wisdom, you will be destroyed! And then says the wisdom of God in Proverbs.
Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, . . . Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, . . . . For the turning abroad of the simple volition slay them, and the complacency of fools volition destroy them; (Proverbs ane:28-32).
For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who sins confronting me wrongs his ain soul; all those who hate me honey death. (Proverbs eight:35-36)
Again, in this thing also, MacArthur diverts people away from the truth onto a path that leads to hell.
The Scripture declares the fear of God to exist exactly that, fear (i.e. to exist afraid). Job, who properly feared God (Chore 1:1,8), describes his godly fright in Job 23:13-xvi.
But He is unique, and who can brand Him change? And whatsoever His soul desires, that He does. For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him. Therefore I am terrified at His presence; when I consider this, I am afraid of Him. For God made my eye weak, and the Omnipotent terrifies me.
Hebrews 12:28 says we are to serve God "with reverence and godly fear." MacArthur's "godly fearfulness" is taught in hypocrisy (Luke 12:1).
In his book, Successful Christian Parenting, on p. 78 MacArthur writes,
Therefore, in the presence of God, true wisdom trembles with a holy, good for you sense of terror and apprehension. Fear is the correct give-and-take for it.
In his volume , The Love of God (copyright 1996), on p. 11, MacArthur writes,
Yet Scripture tells u.s. repeatedly that fear of God is the very foundation of true wisdom (Job 28:28; Ps. 111:x; Prov. 1:seven; 9:10; xv:33; Mic. 6:ix). People often try to explain the sense of those verses away by saying that the "fear" chosen for is a devout sense of awe and reverence, but it does not exclude literal holy terror.
Both before and after MacArthur wrote these words in The Love of God, he himself explains away "by saying that the 'fear' called for is a devout sense of awe and reverence," and he excludes a literal holy terror.
In his commentary on Matthew (copyright 1987) in his interpretation of Matthew x:28 he speaks straight against the literal holy terror Christ commands. MacArthur writes,
Fear is used here in two senses. The kickoff has to do with fear and terror, while the second has to do with awe and veneration. (p. 221)
Then on page 222 he states,
. . . this fear is not that of terror or fright, simply of reverential awe and laurels. (The MacArthur New Attestation Commentary, Matthew 8-15)
Please annotation the verse he is commenting on. Christ says to the twelve disciples,
And practise not fright those who impale the trunk but cannot kill the soul. Only rather fright Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
Two kinds of fear? MacArthur says the contrary of the Words of Christ! Jesus' whole point is that those who can kill the trunk (i.e. men) are non the ones to fear. The One to exist afraid of is the One who can destroy both torso and soul in an eternal hell! In other words, there is far more to fright (terror, fear) when it comes to God and what He tin practice, than any man. Jesus put it like this in Luke 12:iv-5,
And I say to you lot, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the torso, and after that take no more than that they tin do. But I will show you Whom you should fear: Fright Him who, subsequently He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to y'all, fear Him!
Clearly, Jesus is talking about a fear towards God that near profoundly includes terror and fright!
MacArthur's words in his commentary were copyrighted in 1987, ix years earlier 1996 when the The Honey of God was printed. In 1997, one year after The Dearest of God came out, MacArthur produced The MacArthur Study Bible (copyright 1997). In this study Bible MacArthur writes more words that explicate away the sense of the true fear of God. In this study Bible, on folio 1771 MacArthur footnotes two Corinthians 5:xi with these words:
5:11 the terror of the Lord. This is more clearly rendered, "the fright of the Lord." It is not referring to being afraid, but to Paul'south worshipful reverence for God as his essential motivation . . . . (p. 1771)
Here again, MacArthur denies the plain text. What Paul calls "terror" (or "fear") MacArthur calls "not referring to being agape," and does the very affair he declares others wrongly do. He explains away the sense of this verse by writing that it is "not referring to being afraid," simply it is referring to "worshipful reverence." In other words, according to MacArthur, when it says "terror" or "fear" "Information technology is non referring to being afraid." Or, to put information technology in other words, "Yous can't believe what the Bible says."
Philippians 2:12 says nosotros are to work out our own salvation with "fear and trembling." In Isaiah 66:2, the Lord says, ". . . on this ane will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My give-and-take." The Psalmist writes, "My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am agape of Your judgments." (Psalm 119:120) This is godly terror! This is truthful "holy terror." This is far more than "reverential awe" or "worshipful reverence"! This is the commencement of wisdom (Proverbs 9:ten), is wisdom (Job 28:28), and "is the pedagogy of wisdom" (Proverbs 15:33).
MacArthur twists (2 Peter three:16) the fright of God into a "reverential awe" that supposedly includes some kind of "holy terror," just excludes the holy "terror" Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 5:xi, and the literal fearfulness (terror, fearfulness) that Jesus commands in Matthew ten:28 and Luke 12:4-5. What we take hither is a classic case of the warning Christ gave to his disciples.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1)
MacArthur's education on the fear of God is double-talk. He speaks of "holy terror," but then excludes truthful holy terror. Conspicuously, those who follow his teaching plant in his commentary and study Bible will be moved away from the wisdom of God (the truthful fear of God) into a faux fear of God that cannot salvage, because, in intense deceit, in that location volition be "no fearfulness of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:18).
5. Damning Forgiveness
Compounding the higher up deceit, MacArthur's teaching on forgiveness further dissuades his followers away from a Biblical fear of God. In his Bible report guide, The Beefcake Of A Church building, he states,
Matthew half-dozen:14-fifteen is not talking almost the eternal, redemptive forgiveness nosotros receive when we accept Christ as our Savior. It's talking about a parental, temporal forgiveness. It'south forgiveness related to current sin. We need to have a forgiving attitude if we want to have pure, blest fellowship with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. (p.72-73)
What does MacArthur mean by "parental, temporal forgiveness"? Commenting on this same passage in his commentary he explains, "the parental forgiveness, which keeps fellowship with the Lord rich and blessings from the Lord profuse," (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 1-7, p. 397). In other words, he teaches that Matthew half dozen:14-15 is Non speaking about "eternal, redemptive forgiveness" (i.east. the forgiveness that is unto conservancy), merely rather forgiveness that simply maintains "sweet fellowship with Him" "on a daily basis" (The Anatomy Of A Church building, p. 73).
In the verse MacArthur is addressing, Jesus says, ". . . if y'all exercise non forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." An advisable question to ask is, "If your trespasses (sins) are not forgiven, where do y'all go?" The answer? Hell! This is exactly the film Jesus paints afterwards on in Matthew as He deals with the same bailiwick affair in Matthew 18:21-35. At the terminate of this section, Jesus says,
And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Male parent besides will do to you if each of yous, from his eye, does non forgive his brother his trespasses.
That is no picture of conservancy! It is a motion-picture show of eternal torment. Note Jesus' words, "until he should pay all that was due to him." When someone is in prison, they take no way of always beingness able to learn funds to pay any debt! This is a description of hell!
Here once again, MacArthur diverts people abroad from the fearfulness of God stating that the warning Jesus gives in Matthew 6:xiv-15 (and Matthew 18:23-24, p. 73, ibid.) "is not talking about the eternal, redemptive forgiveness," merely is "talking most a parental, temporal forgiveness." Jesus' warning about forgiveness in both Matthew 6:14-15 and Matthew 18:21-35 (and Mark 11:25 26) is a serious warning! MacArthur waters it down, and opens up the gate to devastation (Matthew 7:13-14). [This same error can be plant in MacArthur's volume The Liberty And Power Of Forgiveness, copyright 1998, on page 58, 97-99-105, and 109-111, and in the MacArthur Study Bible, copyright 1997, p. 1403 and 1427].
6. Damning Psychology
MacArthur himself rightly revealed about imitation teachers,
. . . they are dangerous when they tell truth because oftentimes they cannot be distinguished from truthful teachers. The key to being a successful simulated teacher is to tell as much of the truth every bit possible. (MacArthur'due south Bible written report guide, Joy And Godliness, p. 17).
And,
The subtlety of false educational activity is that it uses the Word of God but misrepresents its education. Those who teach something explicitly and overtly anti-biblical, anti-Christ, and anti-God pose no real threat to the Christian church. Simply subtle teaching that appears to be biblical yet pulls unwary souls away from the faith is a corking danger to the church. (MacArthur's Bible written report guide, Fugitive Spiritual Counterfeiters, p. 17)
In these two quotes, MacArthur describes himself. One case of his ain "subtle educational activity that appears to be biblical" is his teaching on "self-worth" (a disguised class of "self-esteem").
Though MacArthur claims to be against psychology and its bulletin of self, he himself subtly proclaims information technology. For case, in his commentary on Ephesians on page half dozen he writes,
The only mode a person can achieve a true sense of self-worth, meaning and significance is to have a right human relationship to his Creator.
Where in all the Word of God are we always exhorted to "accomplish" a "sense of self-worth"? The answer? Nowhere! Such teaching is humanistic and self-centered.
You lot can notice this "cocky-worth" education scattered throughout MacArthur's material. For just a few examples, you lot tin can find it in the Bible study guides, Alive In Christ, p. 22-23; The Believers Life In Christ, p. 27, 36, & seventy; The Anatomy Of A Church, p. 29; and in the book, The Vanishing Conscience, p. 90.
Furthermore, in MacArthur'south daily devotional, Drawing Nigh, you tin detect more self-centered humanistic teaching as he perverts the fall of man into a self-focused "identity crisis." At the head of the page in bold print he writes (for Jan seven),
A truthful sense of identity comes from knowing that God himself personally selected yous to be His child.
So, speaking almost the fall of man (i.due east. when Adam and Eve disobeyed God) he writes,
That created within man a spiritual void and an identity crisis of unimaginable proportions.
This is what MacArthur thinks, not what God thinks. Such "identity crisis" educational activity is completely "void" from Genesis to Revelation.
More than teaching on self can be found in his Bible written report guide, Alive In Christ, where he teaches the psychological concept of self-forgiveness [Although, in his book The Freedom And Ability Of Forgiveness, copyright 1998, on folio 190, he teaches confronting self-forgiveness.]. On pages 66-67, he exhorts in bold print, "Do you lot have a problem forgiving yourself?" Then he states,
In Christ, we're all beloved sons . . . totally forgiven. Therefore, if you can't forgive yourself, you've got a God complex. . . . God has already accustomed you - so accept yourself!
And then, if God tin can accept us, we can take ourselves. Our sense of worth comes from knowing that nosotros matter to God. And if we affair to God, we should matter to ourselves . . . Self-worth and a firm self-image . . . come from a cognition of what God has done for you in Christ.
Although MacArthur has taught against selfism for quite some fourth dimension (come across the 1979 psychologically oriented "The Fulfilled Family" tape series and Bible study guide, record GC 1947, and study guide pages 73-86, or Successful Christian Parenting, p. 42), he also hypocritically teaches "self-worth", and self-centered concepts of self "significance" and "identity." His teaching sounds appealing to the human being mind, but information technology is completely outside the bounds of holy writ (ii John 9).
What is so subversive nearly this self-focused doctrine is that information technology not only flows from the well of godless humanistic credo (a Satanic spring), but the subtlety in which it operates is extremely delusive. Those who believe and follow these concepts are deceitfully diverted from a simple (2 Corinthians eleven:3) focus on Christ (Hebrews 12:two) to a focus on self. Yet, the subtlety is that they think they are focused on Christ, however they are following destructive self-focused doctrines that in reality diverts them off of a pure focus on Christ. Whether it exist a matter of "self worth," self "significance," or cocky "identity," it is all the exact opposite of Christ's exhortation to "deny" cocky.
Whoever desires to come subsequently Me, permit him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Mark 8:34)
Christ'south call in Mark 8:34-38 is a call to conservancy (note verse 36). If someone comes to Christ, but nonetheless they fail to "deny" themselves, and take up their cantankerous, and follow Him, they cannot be saved! Thus, Paul warned in Colossians 2:8,
Beware lest anyone crook you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Also, Peter warned,
. . . beware lest you lot too autumn from your ain steadfastness, beingness led away with the mistake of the wicked (ii Peter 3:17).
This subtle focus on "cocky" ("cocky-worth", etc.) is exactly that, "the error of the wicked."
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