THE (too?) YOUNG, (too?) RESTLESS, and (really?) REFORMED MOVEMENT

Podcast: Download (Duration: 50:48 — 8.7MB)

Guest: Travis Allen, Director of Internet Ministry, Grace to You

“Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:6-8).

In the past decade, during the time in which the unbiblical, relativistic Emergent Church movement was gaining popularity, another movement comprised of a similar age demographic (20- and 30-somethings) was emerging as well, yet with much more sound biblical doctrine.  A book was written by an editor of Christianity Today about this latter group entitled, “Young, Restless, and Reformed” (YRR).

While the Emergent Church movement appears to be going the way of the typewriter, the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement continues to gain steam, yet not without some controversy over the way they behave and engage with the unbelieving world (e.g. drinking alcohol in bars, course language, tattoos, etc.).  Pastor John MacArthur for one has complimented the YRR movement but has also admonished them to “grow up, settle down, and keep reforming.”

Travis Allen, directory of internet ministry for Grace to You, teaches this same-age group at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA and will join us this weekend on The Christian Worldview Radio Program to inform us about the good and the questionable of the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement and what we need to do in our own lives in response.

Related Articles:
Grow Up. Settle Down. Keep Reforming.  Advice for the Young, Restless, Reformed (John MacArthur)
Grow Up Advice for YRRs, Part 2 (John MacArthur)

TCW Great Giveaway Winners Announced!

CONGRATULATIONS to our two winners, Wayne D. and Teresa S. !  You will both receive a copy of John MacArthur’s book, SLAVE.

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This Week The Christian Worldview Radio Program has two extra copies of  John MacArthur’s new book, SLAVE.  All you need to do to enter this giveaway is provide your name and email address below.  Next Friday, May 13th, we will select TWO winners for their FREE copy of the book … and then join us each week for another Great Giveaway!

Giveaway Rules: Only one entry per person. Winners will be notified by email, at which point we will ask for shipping address. This giveaway closes Friday, May 13th at noon.  Even though you may have registered for a previous giveaway you must re-register for each new giveaway as the database is cleared after the completion of each week’s prize award.

SLAVE
by John MacArthur

The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ

Throughout the Bible, followers of Jesus are commanded to submit to Him as their King. They are told to obey and follow, faithfully and without hesitation. Every time Christians utter the word Lord, they make a subtle yet profound declaration—that God is their Master and that they belong to Him. In fact, the Bible describes believers as His slaves. They have been bought with a price and now live for Christ as a people for His own possession.

But go into most churches today, even flip through most Bible translations, and you won’t see or hear the word slave anywhere. That’s because it has been lost in translation. In this gripping book, Dr. John MacArthur uses deep Bible teaching and historical evaluation to expertly uncover the one forgotten word that restores the Bible’s definition of true Christian freedom.

“The Christian’s great privilege is to be the slave of Christ. [Our shepherd] makes it clear that this is one of the Bible’s most succinct ways of describing our discipleship. This is a powerful exposition of Scripture, a convincing corrective to shallow Christianity, a masterful work of pastoral encouragement … a devotional classic.
—Dr. Albert Mohler

10 Questions with John MacArthur

published with permission from Tim Challies

A couple of weeks ago I asked the readers of this site to help me interview John MacArthur. I collected several of the best questions, added in a few of my own, and sent them off. Dr. MacArthur was kind enough not just to answer them, but to answer them very thoroughly.

Questions revolve around his new book Slave, the best Bible translations, avoiding scandal, the challenges he has faced in ministry, and the advice he would give himself if he could go back to the early days of his ministry. He also talks about time management, critiquing people “in our camp,” about theological crises, about the Reformed Charismatics and about Christians who deny a literal 6-day creation.

Without further ado, here is the interview with Dr. MacArthur:

Slave. What is it about this word that merits a whole book?

Sometimes one word can make an enormous difference. For example, the Latin Vulgate’s translation of metanoia (repentance) as paenitentia (penance) in places like Acts 2:38 led to all sorts of problems in the Roman Catholic Church.

The slave concept is a major theme in Scripture. In fact, believers are referred to as “slaves” hundreds of times throughout the Old and New Testaments. Yet, the American church is blind to this critical theme because most English versions translate the word as “servant” instead.

While it is true that the duties of slave and servant may overlap to some degree, there is a key distinction between the two: servants are hired; slaves are owned. Servants have an element of freedom in choosing whom they work for and what they do. The idea of servanthood maintains some level of self-autonomy and personal rights. Slaves, on the other hand, have no freedom, autonomy, or rights. In the Greco-Roman world, slaves were considered property, to the point that, in the eyes of the law they were regarded as things rather than persons. To be someone’s slave was to be his possession, bound to obey his will without hesitation or argument.

This reality has major implications for our understanding of the gospel. Christ’s call to follow Him is not simply an invitation to become His associate, but a mandate to become His slave. That message is especially needed in American culture, where a man-centered, feel-good, cheap-grace gospel has become so popular. But nothing could be farther from the biblical reality—a reality which is brought to the forefront by rightly translating that one word: “slave.”

In the past I’ve written many books that focus on a right understanding of the gospel—The Gospel According to Jesus, The Gospel According to the Apostles, Hard to Believe, and so on. But, as I note in my preface to Slave, “I have no doubt that this perpetual hiding of an essential element of New Testament revelation has contributed to much of the confusion in evangelical teaching and practice. In fact, I wonder if it wasn’t the reason I felt the need to write so many books to clarify the gospel. If this one reality had been known, would any of those books have been necessary?”

So, I see this as a vitally-important issue with far-reaching implications for how the gospel ought to be understood, preached, and lived.

In light of what you write in Slave regarding the proper translation of doulos, what is your preferred Bible translation? Is the correct translation of that word significant enough that it ought to impact the translation we choose?

I am thankful for excellent English translations like the NASB, NKJV, and ESV. But I do wish they had done a better job translating both ebed (in the OT) and doulos (in the NT) as slave. And I am glad that some new versions like the Holman Christian Standard Bible are doing this.

I have had some discussions with one major publishing company about updating their version to reflect the truth about doulos in the NT. They have told me that they will discuss it further with their translation committee. But I don’t know what will happen there.

While I don’t expect many churches to change their Bible versions over this issue, I do hope that pastors—when they preach through a text that includes doulos—will take the time to instruct their people as to what that word really means. I certainly hope they are doing their homework in the Greek, and not just relying on the English text. Lord willing, the Slave book will serve as a resource for them in that endeavor.

How does a minister in a prominent position manage to stay free from scandal and ruin in a culture of selfism and selfishness? What protections do you have in place that might help other ministers?

The key to avoiding scandal is living with integrity. If you live with integrity and a clear conscience, you never have to worry about potential scandal—because there are no skeletons hidden in your closet. Being above reproach in the eyes of others starts with being blameless before the Lord.

As important as it is to keep a good reputation in the community, it is a thousand times more important to safeguard your own personal character. The single most important battlefield in the struggle for integrity is your own mind. That’s where everything will actually be won or lost. And if you lose there, you have already ruined your character. Then it is only a matter of time before your reputation is spoiled, because a bad tree can’t bring forth good fruit.

Put simply, if you take care of the battle on the inside, you can trust God to take care of your reputation with the outside community.

While it is certainly helpful to seek accountability from other godly individuals (fellow elders, family members, etc.), it is even more helpful to remind yourself about the reality of divine accountability and future judgment. You can be surrounded by a lot of people to whom you are accountable. But if you lose the battle of accountability to God in your heart, you will never win it on the outside. The real battle is fought in the conscience and in the heart.

Looking back on those many years of ministry, what has been the greatest challenge you had to face, and how do you see God used it in your ministry?

My time at Grace Church has been a wonderful gift from God. Any difficulties I have faced have been far outweighed by the countless blessings and joys. Yet, ministry has not been without its challenges. For example, when I first came to Grace, there was an immediate need to identify and train up the godly men who would then make up our elder board. It was a long process, taking a number of years, but I knew it was a biblical priority; and it was an investment that has proven invaluable ever since.

Our elder team has faced other challenges in the years since. At times, there have been certain individuals in our congregation who have tried to cause division or who have left for unbiblical reasons. Things like that can be very painful and difficult, especially in the moment. But, in the end, we have always seen the hand of God’s faithfulness displayed. Moreover, those situations have deepened my love for my fellow elders, underscoring how important it is to have a plurality of godly men leading the church.

But to answer your question more directly, I think the greatest challenge any minister can face in ministry, especially in today’s world, is to maintain faithfulness to the Word of God over the long haul. There is always a temptation to tickle ears, follow trends, or grow lazy in weekly study. But since pastors are called to faithfully preach the Word, they must resist those temptations; and they must do so each and every week.

When a pastor maintains his commitment to the faithful study and preaching of God’s Word, nothing else will have a greater impact on his life and ministry. Not only will he be blessed, because his soul is continually being fed; but his people will also flourish, because there is nothing more relevant to their lives or necessary for their spiritual growth than the pure milk of the Word.

Sometimes pastors grow weary in the ministry, especially if they stay in the same place for a long time. But the key to avoiding debilitating weariness in ministry is personal spiritual renewal. If you fill up your own heart first so that your preaching is passionately alive to spiritual things, you can expect your congregation to be similarly alive to spiritual things. Such passion, of course, comes first and foremost through your own concentrated study of the Word of God. And here’s an important key: Don’t study to prepare sermons; study to know the truth, to rejoice in the glory and grace of God, and to be conformed to His will. Sermons should never be the primary goal of your Bible study; they should only be the overflow of it. When you study, seek an accurate understanding of who God is and what He expects—first and foremost, this is for your own devotion and holiness. And then, from the abundance, instruct your people, urging them to follow you as you follow after Christ.

If you could go back as the man you are now and offer one piece of advice to the man you were when you first accepted the pastorate at Grace, what would it be?

I would probably echo the words of wisdom my father shared with me many years ago.

Before I had even started my ministry here at Grace Community Church, my dad said to me, “I want you to remember a couple of things before you go into the ministry. One, the great preachers, the lasting preachers who left their mark on history, taught their people the Word of God. Two, they stayed in one place for a long time.” These were two good pieces of wisdom. When I first came to Grace Church, most people thought that I would only stay a year or two, because I had been an itinerant communicator to youth groups. But in my heart, I knew I wanted to do the two things my dad advised: one was to teach the Bible expositionally, especially to go through the whole New Testament, knowing, secondly, that such a goal would require staying in one place over the long term. I knew that was the only way I could continue to nourish my own soul, affect generations with God’s truth, and manifest integrity of life through long visibility.

You are obviously a busy man. What advice would you give to pastors on loving their wives and children amidst the many demands of the pastoral ministry?

It is critically important that the pastor give priority to his family. As Paul told Timothy regarding the qualification of an elder, “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?” So, this is a priority that comes to us directly from the Scriptures.

The most important things a Christian father can do for his children are to love their mother in a Christ-like way (Ephesians 5) and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6). And the most important thing he can do for his wife is to pursue Christ, and then to love and lead her out of the overflow of his devotion for the Savior. Thus, the fundamental key for being both a good husband and father is to be a godly man—one who fervently loves the Lord and is shepherding his own heart and mind with the Word of God. And that is intensely practical. To be an effective parent and a model husband, you must be faithful in your walk with Christ. Everything else in life flows out of that. Then your leadership in the home will be marked by an attitude of humble sacrifice and selfless service. As the Spirit uses His Word to sanctify your heart, you will be able to shepherd and care for your family.

There are other important things that fathers must do, of course—such as praying for their children, correcting them with patience and gentleness, instilling within them a love for the church, spending time with them, encouraging them, befriending them, and helping them make wise friendships of their own. But the heart of Christian parenting is being a faithful Christian.

That kind of genuine Christianity, daily lived out before those who know him best, brings great credibility to the pastor’s preaching and leadership in the church.

How can we best critique people who are “in our camp” and yet believe things different from us? Or behave in ways we do not appreciate? How can we know where to draw those lines?

Part of the responsibility of an elder is not only to teach and preach the truth, but also to warn the flock about error. We see this modeled by Christ and the apostles in the New Testament. When the gospel is at stake, and even when a core aspect of pastoral ministry or church life is at stake, it is important for us to warn people about falsehood and potential dangers.

When we disagree with people “in our camp” (which I understand to mean those who affirm a biblical gospel but differ with us on secondary issues), we have to respond on a case-by-case basis. And my response depends on the level of danger I believe that particular issue poses to those under my spiritual care. If an issue arises that could potentially threaten the congregation of Grace Church or the student body at The Master’s College & Seminary, I might say something to the congregation. If the issue is significant and far-reaching, I might write an article, a series of blog-posts, or even a book about it.

I don’t aspire to be a full-time all-round critic. The few well-known times when I have criticized people whom you might say are “in our camp,” my concerns have been motivated by a deep concern for those under my spiritual care. I feel a heavy weight of responsibility for them, knowing that one day I will give an account to the Lord for my stewardship of them; and I’m willing to be unpopular within the larger evangelical community if that’s what it costs to say what Scripture compels me to say.

One final thought to add is this: I believe that it is appropriate to respond publicly to that which has been taught publicly. If someone has published something in a book or on a blog or preached it in a sermon (which has then been made available online), it is now subject to public critique. I certainly believe this is true with regard to my own teachings. Anything I have preached or published (and therefore made public) is consequently subject to public criticism. And I don’t consider my critics to necessarily be unloving just because they disagree with me. In fact, I welcome their feedback, because it is part of the sharpening process.

What are the two or three most urgent theological crises that you see in the North American Church at present?

Two of my primary concerns are addressed in the next two questions. So I’ll save my responses to them for later. A third major issue that I see is the Arminian methodology that seems to characterize many in the Young Restless Reformed crowd in contradiction to their Reformed credo.

It is sadly ironic to me that those who claim to hold to a Reformed soteriology would simultaneously embrace ecclesiological and evangelistic methods that depend so heavily on current fashion, clever techniques, and human ingenuity. When pastors work so hard to be “cool” or “hip” or “trendy,” thinking that the way they talk or dress will make the gospel message more appealing to the lost, they betray an intrinsically Arminian perspective. Words like “relevance,” “innovation,” and “contextualization” have become buzzwords, even in Reformed circles, for reaching the “unchurched.” But these words expose a man-centered perspective that, I believe, is completely unbiblical.

How much better it would be to adopt the perspective of Jonathan Edwards during the Great Awakening. Edwards was surprised by the response to his preaching. He did not manipulate revival (like Finney did a century later). Rather, he focused on preaching the truth and trusted the Holy Spirit to do the work. If we are going to be Reformed in our soteriology, we should at least be consistent with how that works itself out in our practical ecclesiology—and particularly in our evangelistic srategy.

Since you wrote Charismatic Chaos we have seen the unexpected confluence of Reformed theology with charismatic beliefs (such as in the Sovereign Grace family of churches). If you were to write the book today, how would you affirm both love and critique for today’s Reformed Charismatics?

I would affirm my love and appreciation for C. J. Mahaney, Wayne Grudem, John Piper, and other conservatives in the continuationist camp. I consider these men to be friends and allies for the sake of the gospel. Charismatic Chaos was primarily written against the excesses of the broader Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. And those excesses are not what these men are best known for.

But, I would still challenge these men to reconsider their position on the charismatic gifts. I am convinced that the charismatic movement opened the door to more theological error than perhaps any other factor in the twentieth century (including liberalism, psychology, and ecumenism). That’s a bold statement, I know. But once you allow experientialism to gain a foothold, the results are disastrous.

Moreover, I am thoroughly convinced that the biblical description of the charismatic gifts is incompatible with the charismatic gifts practiced in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches today. For example, Acts 2 is explicit in describing the gift of tongues as the ability to speak previously unlearned foreign languages. The rest of the New Testament affirms this same understanding (as does the testimony of the church fathers). But that is the very opposite of the nonsensical gibberish that characterizes modern glossolalia.

So I would challenge them to explain why they hold on to a modern practice that, in reality, has no biblical precedent—especially when that modern practice is the gateway to all sorts of theological error.

One pressing issue in the church today is that of creation and evolution. Do you believe that a person can be genuinely saved and believe in some kind of theistic evolution? How serious a theological error is it to reject a literal 6-day creation?

It’s a very serious error in my estimation, because it attacks the authority of Scripture at the Bible’s very starting point. It employs a special hermeneutic in order to make the Bible mean quite the opposite of what it plainly states. And once you open that door, absolutely nothing is safe from the assaults of rationalism, skepticism, and rank unbelief.

I watch the propaganda being published by organizations like Biologos, and it’s hard to resist the conclusion that many of the people who are involved in that project don’t seem to be believers at all, given the large portions of Scripture they regularly have to explain away in order to justify their convoluted worldview.

As a matter of fact, the history of modernist rationalism is littered with vivid examples of why it is unsafe and spiritually destructive to subject Scripture to naturalistic presuppositions. I wrote on this topic in detail at the very beginning of my book The Battle for the Beginning.

But in answer to your specific question: I do think it is possible for a genuine believer to be confused or befuddled by scientific arguments regarding evolution and the age of the earth. (It is certainly possible for believers to be inconsistent in their beliefs—to hold all kinds of errors in varying degrees. That’s called cognitive dissonance.)

Well-meaning evangelicals have experimented with several ways to reconcile old-earth theories with Scripture. One of the more popular ideas (until Henry Morris exploded it) was that there’s a gap in the white space between Genesis 1:1 and verse 2, and (so the theory goes) that silent gap might accommodate countless ages of change and chaos in the universe. Spurgeon held to a version of the gap theory, and the original Scofield Bible embraced both the gap theory and old-earth cosmology with blithe enthusiasm. Of course we would not consign everyone who ever held such an opinion to the ranks of unbelief.

Nevertheless, as evolutionary theory has developed and devolved into untouchable dogma—a favorite weapon for the current generation of angry atheists—I don’t see how any sober-minded, well-grounded, fully-committed Christian who truly believes what the Bible teaches can long maintain faith in the various and ever-changing theories evolutionary scientists keep proposing. Biblical cosmology, the Genesis account of how the human race was created and subsequently fell, and the important parallels between Adam and Christ in the story of redemption—these are essential beliefs of Christianity; they have never changed; and they are diametrically opposed to every purely naturalistic theory about life’s origins.

Anyone who takes seriously the authority of Scripture must ultimately set the opinions of men aside and simply trust what Scripture says. The earlier we do that, the better. Frankly, I have never understood why someone who believes in the literal bodily resurrection of Christ would balk at believing all of Scripture, starting with Genesis 1:1.

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Many thanks to Dr. MacArthur for his willingness to do this interview.

Tune into the 2010 Ligonier Conference LIVE Webcast

The Ligonier Ministries National Conference is being held June 17-19, 2010 in Orlando, Florida and you can watch the LIVE webcast here.

The speaker lineup is a veritable who’s who among today’s most influential preachers:  R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, Alistair Begg, Albert Mohler, Steve Lawson and several others.  The theme of the conference is “Tough Questions Christians Face.”

Thursday’s schedule includes:

3:10 pm ET  Why Did Jesus Have to Die? – John MacArthur
Many skeptics have argued that the Christian doctrine of the atonement is inherently unjust. How is it just, they say, for an innocent man like Jesus to be punished for the sins of another? Even professing evangelicals have questioned the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, with one going so far as to call it “cosmic child abuse.” In this lecture, Dr. John MacArthur looks at the biblical doctrine of the atonement showing how the righteousness and holiness of God are upheld in it.

5:10 pm ET  Is the Doctrine of Inerrancy Defensible? – Michael Horton
For centuries orthodox Christians have taught that the Holy Scriptures are inerrant.  Skeptics, on the other hand, claim that this doctrine is meaningless, saying that the doctrine of inerrancy has died the death of a thousand qualifications.  How should Christians respond?  In this lecture, Dr. Michael Horton explains what the orthodox Christian doctrine of inerrancy means and shows how and why it remains a defensible part of our confession.

Congratulations Ligonier National Conference Raffle Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners of the Ligonier National Conference raffle on The Christian Worldview Radio Program.  Each winner will be sent a pair of tickets to the 2010 Ligonier National Conference, which takes place on June 17-19, 2010 in Orlando, FL.

Our sympathies to those who didn’t win, but thanks for taking part in the raffle drawing.  There will be other offers like this coming up; you can be alerted to those by signing up for the free Christian Worldview Weekly E-Newsletter in the upper right portion of the home page of this site.

If you didn’t win this time or are interested in attending this excellent conference, visit www.Ligonier.org/conferences or call 1-800-435-4343.

WINNERS

Michelle Armstrong
Hanover, MN

Thomas Kaufman
Minneapolis, MN

Joshua Jeffries
Wesley Chapel, FL

Nick Welch
Redding, CA

Jonathan Taylor
Starkville, MS

Rev EJ de Waard
Wainfleet, ON, Canada

Bob Brubaker
Clearwater, FL

Jonathan Martinez
Cleburne, Texas

Charles M. Barrett
Taylors, SC

Robert E. Havicon Jr.
Orlando, FL

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The Christians Worldview has 10 pairs of free tickets to give away for the Ligonier Ministries National Conference on June 17-19, 2010 in Orlando, Florida and YOU could be one of the fortunate winners!  The speaker lineup is a veritable who’s who among today’s most influential preachers:  R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, Alistair Begg, Albert Mohler, Steve Lawson and several others.  The theme of the conference is “Tough Questions Christians Face.”  See full conference information here.

Each pair of tickets will be given away by raffle drawing.  The value of a pair of tickets is $300!  All you must do to enter is send us your full name, mailing address, email address, and phone number (our contact info is below).  The deadline for entering your name is May 7, 2010.  We will be announcing the 10 winners on The Christian Worldview Radio Program on Saturday, May 8.  (The winners will also be contacted by phone or email as well.)

Before you enter your name, make sure:

1.  That you have a strong desire to attend the conference this June 17-19 in Orlando, FL.  Tickets can NOT be re-sold or exchanged for another year.
2.  That you are willing and able to pay for all other expenses to attend the conference like airfare, lodging, meals, etc.  (I.e. This raffle is to win free registration tickets, not free airfare and other expenses.)

To enter the raffle, send your full name, mailing address, email address, and phone number to The Christian Worldview via…

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Friday Evening Notes from the 2010 Shepherds’ Conference

John MacArthur closed out the 2010 Shepherds’ Conference on Friday night with a sermon from Mark 5:21.  If you would like to download the audio or video from the conference, go here.

The greatest demonstration of the compassion by God was the incarnation of Jesus Christ.  He chose to heal sick people, release demon possessed people, raise dead people…along with God’s power came compassion.  This is the heart of God manifest in Christ.  The theological reason for suffering always go back to divine sovereignty, that God has a purpose in it.  But even God’s response to suffering is compassion, mercy and even grief.

There are three things that make a lasting ministry.

• Separation
• Sincerity
• Sympathy

Your people need to know you care!  God only came into the world one time and it was one massive display of compassion.  Even when you can explain that God has a purpose, be there to show sympathy!

Mark has one purpose; to make it obvious that Jesus is God incarnate.  No person makes this confession until the 15th chapter and 39th verse, no one, except demons.  “We know who you are, the holy one of God”, they couldn’t help saying it because they were terrified.  A Gentile Roman solder outside the nation of Israel was the first to say it.  after Christ died.

What strikes me about him is this compassion that is demonstrated.  He knew the sovereign purpose of God. He, the God who inflicts the pain, is there to catch the sufferer.  He didn’t seclude himself, his entire ministry was in public.  His entire ministry was in the street, field, other’s homes, on the sea with only occasional rest and time with His disciples.

He is Accessible
The number of followers were so relentless that it was even difficult for him to eat.  He never left the crowds.  There was always a large crowd waiting for him, bringing all the people that needed to be healed.  He is like a hero, celebrity and in all history there has never been anything like this.  Out of all the fickle mob numbering in the thousands, there are two whose faith is real; a man and a woman.  One was rich the other poor, one respected one rejected, one with a 12-year-old dying, one with a 12-year disease.

Jarius, he was a lay leader, revered, religious and a man the people would follow.  He fell at Jesus feet – this is politically incorrect.  For a synagogue ruler to do this is putting himself in a difficult position with the “establishment”.  He worshipped!  You only bow down to a superior.  “Please come see my daughter.” he pleaded.  There is no doubt in this request.  Later we’ll see that she isn’t just at the point of death, but already dead.  The father does not budge in his faith.  He is a rare man; few believed savingly in Jesus.  Jesus went off with him.

Note that these people could get to Jesus. Sometimes we think we are more important than we are.

He is Available
As He goes a large crowd presses in on him.  He pitched his tent with people, no hierarchy, no ivory towers.  Jarius’ only hope was for Jesus to heal his daughter.  What drives Jesus’ availability – the compassion of our Lord.  He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.  Mt 12:20  “A bruised reed He will not break…”  He doesn’t throw people away.  Mt 14:14; Mark 8:2, Mt 9:36  His compassion was indiscriminate.

He is Interruptible
Verse 25 presents a woman with a hemorrhage for 12 years.  This is so personal, a woman with a female bleeding problem.  She is not just a face in the crowd.  Mark describes her with participle phrases; physiological problem and without strength; it was dangerous, she could bleed to death, severe social effects (uncleanness & everyone you touch is unclean); just imagine the courage and desperation.  She could not be cured.  Then in verse 27 she does something unthinkable, she touches Jesus.

Remember Luke 7 when the prostitute came in and kissed the feet of Jesus.  The Pharisees went ballistic and asked if they knew who she was…but nothing stopped Jesus.  He was not defiled.

This woman from Mark 5 went to multiple doctors, but every day nothing changed.  So you wanted to touch his garments.  She touched the fringe; the tassels on their robes (which the Pharisees enlarged to look more holy).  If I just touch His garments I’ll get well. This is not pagan superstition about a robe on her part, its  about the man who had demonstrated such power.

Verse 29 says immediately she was healed.  Being interruptible is a good thing to learn.

He is Intentional
This is not just a woman in the crowd.  Verse 30 Jesus perceived that His power had gone out.  His power is personal!  He experiences every expulsion of power.  He is involved.  Our God is not detached and unfeeling.  He is unaltered by what men do, but He feels everything.  No one receives His power without His involvement.

Such a personal God, such a personal work.  He is very intentional.  He knows where and to whom His power goes.  He knows the plan for this woman and that her name is in the lamb’s book of life.  This is one of His sheep.  He will act in grace and in power…to restore her to her husband, family, town, synagogue and to reconcile her with God.  He is about to save this woman.

“Who touched this garment”? You don’t have to be afraid even though you are an outcast.  This is a demonstration of the effectual call.  This is one who He is seeking and saving.  This is irresistible grace; reaching out to one who belongs to Him.  He looked around for her because He wasn’t finished with her.

Verse 33 – the woman came in fear and trembling.  She wasn’t afraid of the circumstances, she had already overcome that before she touched Him.  She was fearful and trembling because she knew she was in the presence of God.  She was aware of what happened to her…she came and fell down before him in worship.  This was the posture of the undeserved begging for mercy.  This is penitence and worship.

Her problem may have been a result of sin (maybe even sexual sin).  She collapses and tells Him the whole truth about her.  This is a confession of her sin (repentance), a confession of her faith.

He said to her “Daughter”.  That word, coming from Christ, is a word to dispel fear.  This is the only time it is used in the New Testament.  This means, you are in my family.  These are words of grace and words of welcome.  He addresses her as a child of God.

“Your faith has saved you” – “Go in peace”  You can’t have peace without being saved.  Some of the most wonderful things happen when you get interrupted.  If someone is so concerned with deep pain in their life, take that opportunity to penetrate to the real issues.

Verse 35 Meanwhile…Jarius’ daughter had died.

He is Imperturbable
Calm, tranquil, unflappable.  Verse 36  Jesus is unflappable and says “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe (keep on believing)”…”and she will be made well”.  There is a wonderful reality in operating unhurried because then you are acting in the sovereign purpose of God.

Peter, James, and John were with him.  Verse 38 “a commotion” – very different from a Western world funeral.  In Israel the idea was to make a racket, tearing clothes (they had 39 rules for tearing; ie, the tear was to be over the heart if the mourner was the  father or mother of the deceased); hired professional screamers; add flute players with loud dissonant music.

“Why make commotion and weep…the child hasn’t died”  Jesus uses the word “asleep” – temporary sleep is Jesus description of death here…just as it is temporary for us.  He put out all the mourners and then took along the child’s father and mother as well as Peter James and John (to report on it).

He is Charitable
There is a tenderness here.  “He takes the child by the hand”.  This is tenderness and compassion.  “Talitha kum!” = a sweet nickname for a little girl, “little lamb”.  This is the God of the universe with great tenderness.

“Immediately the girl got up and began to walk”.  There was no need for therapy.  John MacArthur has been in therapy for 4 months for knee and back surgery.  When Jesus healed someone there was no recovery period.

They were all stunned.  Verse 43 – He said, give her something to eat.  First he showed  tenderness to the father, then the mother and now the girl.  So intimate, so tender.

Then we have theological issue: Jesus gave them strict orders that no one should know about this.  What?  Jesus said this again and again and again.  “Don’t tell anyone”.  He gave them strict orders (a prohibition).

There are some possible reasons why He gave this instruction:  1) The house might be overrun by people.  2)The crowd, with Messianic expectations, would make the crowd aggressive and would try to force Him to be king (this view is not likely because he often gave this instruction) 3) He didn’t want to escalate the fear and intentions of his enemies.

John MacArthur doesn’t think any of these are the reason – he think the issue was this wasn’t the time to go, to spread the message, and it wouldn’t be the time until the cross and the resurrection.  Only then would He send them with the full message.  Until the cross the full understanding was not available.  After that, go tell everybody!

Shepherds’ Conference 2010 – Friday Afternoon Notes from Steve Lawson

Steve Lawson was the speaker this morning.  He started with a tribute to John MacArthur:

There is not a day in my life when John MacArthur is not sitting on my shoulder, guiding me through his notes, tapes, and ministry.  For most all of us John’s influence is used by the Lord to shape our ministries.

The Invisible War

Job 1:6-12  It has been well said that before God uses a man greatly, he must first break him greatly.  God works best through broken vessels, crushed by the hammer blows of the devil.  The more we desire to be used by God the greater our willingness to suffer for him.  There is no easy pass in ministry.  Every assignment is a killing place.  Everyone is involved in spiritual warfare.  The more we are at the frontline, the more we are caught in the crossfire between God & Satan.  The taller we stand for the Lord, the more we will draw the fire of the devil.

Eleven of the twelve apostles died a martyrs death.  The greatest preacher who ever walked this earth, the Lord Jesus Christ was despised and rejected…publicly crucified, a horrific death by public execution.  “In this world you shall have tribulation”.  The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church and they became famous for what they said when tied to a stake.

Everyone of us finds ourselves in the midst of spiritual warfare.  It is not a visible war, but invisible.  It involves unseen conflict between God and Satan, heaven and hell, good and evil with no middle ground.  There are no fence sitters, no draft dodgers, no neutrality.  The taller we stand the more we will draw the enemy’s fire.

Job 1:1
Unlikely Candidate
Job is presented as the epitome of godliness.  Uz is in northern Arabia, this was a real man in a real place.  His name was Job and he was blameless.  Blameless means without moral blemish, beyond reproach in his character and conduct.  Job was marked by character and integrity and no one could bring a charge against this man’s life.  He is upright which means straight, without deviation from God’s holy standard, set apart to God; a straight arrow morally.  He “feared” God which means reverence for the Lord; he took God seriously.  He turned away from evil, not getting as close to evil as possible.  He knew what it was to resist temptation.  He guarded his heart and shielded his eyes.  He was abundantly blessed and was a very successful businessman.  This is a rare combination — a fear of God and eminently successful without selling out his soul to this world.  This was the greatest of all the men of the earth; greatest in wealth, reputation, influence, and godliness.

Verse 4 is a picture of a family in complete harmony, love and camaraderie with each other, and the blessing of God is being poured out on Job.  The goodness of God is dripping out of heaven on Job’s life.
Verse 5 shows he is the spiritual leader of his home.  Job is the least likely candidate for a disaster that we could possibly find in the record of Scripture.  Blameless, upright, fearing God, turning away from evil, spiritual leader, business leader, the mightiest of the men of the east.  Job is marked out to suffer, not because of anything wrong in his life (no disciplinary action).  He is singled out by the sovereignty of God because God deems him worthy of suffering for God’s sake.  He is the example of the tallest tree in the forest that when the electrical storm gathers it will strike the tallest tree.

Job is the fulfillment of Jonathan Edward’s 63rd Resolution: that he would be the most godly man in his day.  We would want this to be said of any one of us here today.  But with great godliness comes great exposure to the enemy.

Unseen Challenge
Verse 6 The veil is pulled back and heaven is made transparent before our eyes and we are allowed to hear God and Satan speak.  Job has no idea that this is transpiring.  It is a rare insight into the unseen world above.  “Now there was a day” – this is a day like any day, a routine day in heaven.  “When the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord” – these are the angelic hosts of heaven reporting to the throne of God, having been discharged with divine assignments to carry out the work of God and are seen as coming back with accountability and to receive more orders.

“Satan also came among them” – I know what you are thinking – You tell me God is holy, and no sin can dwell in the presence of a holy God.  You say that there is no way that an unholy man can access a holy God that the only way is by the sacrifice and atonement prescribed by God and yet here we see Satan coming before God in the courts of heaven – How?  I do not know.  But here is Satan – once the highest of the angelic order, the one with closest access to God in heaven and the one who lead a coup against God to manipulate a third of the angels to turn to him while standing in the presence of God.  That is how cunning the devil is…this is something that he does again and again and again.  Some today deny the existence of Satan.  The existence of a real personal devil is taught seven times in the Old Testament, by every New Testament writer and by Christ himself.  He is quite simply, the evil one!

What is Satan here to do?  The answer is found in his name, derived from a word = to attack, to accuse, an opponent in court, a prosecuting attorney bringing criminal accusation against a plaintiff.  This is the purpose of the devil, to indict the people of God before the Holy One.  C.S. Lewis says, “He is a grave digger”.  We need someone to take up our case in heaven, an advocate who has never lost a case.

“The Lord said to Satan” – note the initiative is from God, “from where do you come?”. God knows everything there is to know, but the purpose of the question is for the devil to enter into the court of heaven his evidence regarding his sinister nature. “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”  Notice the devil is not in hell, the devil is on the earth creating destruction and appearing before the throne to bring accusation before the throne of God.  Remember: “Be of sober spirit, your adversary the devil roams around like roaring lion…”   He is stalking your path.  He is the god of this age, the prince of the power of the air.  Some say he is presently bound and chained…if so, he is on a mighty long chain!

Luther said, “I believe in the devil because I did battle with him this morning”.  What does Satan do?  He is blinding minds, stealing God’s word, opposing God’s work, tempting, sowing tares, attacking God’s word, spreading false doctrine.  He never takes a day off, he is busy.  Verses 8 “Have you considered my servant Job?”  It is God who initiates the involvement of Job and Job is drawn into this by divine appointment.  God issues this challenge.  The devil is God’s devil and uses him for his own holy purposes – He draws a straight line with a crooked stick.  “There is no one like him” God says, Job is in a class by himself.  He has distinguished himself in this generation.  Would you not want God to say that about your life?  Job is the most righteous man on the face of the earth and he will suffer not because of anything wrong in his life but because of everything right in his life.  There are times we suffer because of our sin, other people’s sin, a fallen world, but there are times we suffer for the glory of God because God has appointed it for us as a challenge between God and Satan.

Does God think highly enough of your spiritual walk to say to the devil, “Have you considered _(insert your name)___”?  Does God see you as blameless, upright, turning away from evil.  It is a badge of honor that God pins on a man faithful to the Word of God.  “Blessed are you when men persecute you…rejoice for great is your reward is in heaven.”

Unholy Counter
Satan counters this.  Satan is stunningly brilliant.  The Lord’s words are in the air, Satan immediately answers “Does Job fear God for nothing?”  This is sinister and is a frontal attack on the glory of God and the integrity of Job.  He accuses Job of serving God for what he has received.  It is an indictment against Job and God (as if God had to “buy” worshippers), it is by your blessing that you seduce them into worshiping you.

Job does not fear God for nothing, he has every reason to fear God.  “Have you not built a hedge around him…?”  God in His goodness (the invisible hand of God’s providence) was protecting Job.  Job has been trying to crack the code to get at Job to ruin and destroy Job, but the providential hand of God has thwarted Satan.  The devil had considered Job for some time, he is well known by the devil.  Luther – “Would to God that I would be as well known in hell as I am in heaven”.  “You have blessed the work of his hand” – the devil is pointing a finger at God.  This is the charge “and his possessions have increased in the land”.  Satan is saying, God you’ve been too good to Job.

There are only 3 places in the Bible where we hear Satan’s voice.  1) Genesis 3 when Satan tempts Eve.  Eve lives in paradise, she actually has a perfect husband, she had everything, but one tree from which she could not eat because of the goodness of God He was preserving them from it.  But the devil said God was withholding it from them.  “God is not good enough to you”  2) Job 1  Here the devil is talking to God about Job.  In this the devil says “God you are too good to them. 3) Devil’s temptation of Christ – if you worship me I’ll be better to you than God was to you. He is shrewd and scheming.

Verse 11  “But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has and he will surely curse you to your face.”  Satan challenges God to strike everything Job had – he is diabolical.  Will we worship God in tough times?  Will we bless the name of the Lord when we enter the fire of affliction?  Are we going to curse God or will we say I will worship the Lord?  This is the challenge.

Unrelinquished Control
Verse 12 God is totally sovereign in this entire encounter.  “Then the Lord said to Satan“ God is totally and completely in control, sovereign over the devil.  Spiritual warfare is not a tug of war between two equals.  Everything is top down to Satan.  God is using the devil for the higher purposes of His own name.  This is what He is doing with the devil even right now.  He is using Satan as an instrument of His hand even as he comes against us to bring about his purposes.

The hedge is then removed…but there is no panic in heaven, only plans for the glory of God’s name.  Verse 13 We see catastrophe unleashed; here is hell breaking loose.  Round one in vs 13-15.  Do you think this all just “happened”?  Round two vs. 16  Round three vs 17  Round four vs 18

Luther – “For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe, his craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.”  We are in this same warfare.

Unshakable Confidence
Verse 30  Job stands over fresh graves, his world has come to a halt, imagine the shock, the grief, the pain.  “Then Job arose” – he had been crushed under the weight of this report.  This is a sign of deep grief and sorrow.  “He fell to the ground”.  At this point  the devil strains his ear to hear what he always hears – the curse of God, the blaspheming of God’s name, the shrieks and cries of one without desire for life.  Instead he hears this “and worshipped” – which means to prostrate oneself before a superior.  Job’s first response was to humble himself and lower himself before the throne of God, to ascribe honor and glory to God, whose ways are perfect and right.  He worships God and makes this statement in vs 12 “naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return there.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  Job recognizes the sovereignty of God’s Word over his life.

Job cannot see into heaven and know of this challenge, he just knows that above it all God rules and reigns in the heavens and does whatever He pleases.  Job doesn’t have to understand why, all he needs to understand is who – He just needs to know God.  “Blessed be the name of the Lord”.  Job blessed the name of the Lord, not to malign it by magnify it, not to blast but bless, not revolt but reverence God.  This is the choice we must make as we are slammed to the canvas in the contest of this world in spiritual warfare.  There are times when we are over our head and the affliction is painful – we must make the choice to say “Blessed be the name of the Lord”.

Verse 22  “through all of this” – all personal loss and painful ordeal…Job did not sin nor did he blame God.  Job is held before us as a positive example of how a man or woman should live in the midst of difficulty and respond to the trials of life.  Calvin said “I kiss the rod that smites me.”

God 1,  Devil 0

How do you respond?  When we find ourselves in a difficult part of the Lord’s vineyard.  We are plowing rocky soil, or the storm is gathering and the difficulty has come, when there is a sweat on the brow…in our ministries and our lives.  We must worship.  The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.  Recognize the sovereignty of God.  Romans 8:28.  What others mean for evil, God intends for our God.  He has a perfect plan for our lives.  There are no maverick molecules in the universe.  Spurgeon said “Make the sovereignty of God the pillow upon which I rest my head at night.”

John Bunyan author of Pilgrim’s Progress (with the smell of the prison is on every page).  He would not be turned away from preaching the free grace of God and as a result was thrown into a prison cell.  His wife had died and he had remarried a second time.  His second wife was pregnant and suffered miscarriage.  They never locked the door of Bunyan, he could walk out any time if he would just say he would not preach the grace of God.  He remained 12 years.  Had a blind daughter named Mary and could have said his family needed him and sought “common ground”, but he would not back down and remained in prison.  When he was released he sat down and wrote “Advice To Sufferers”. No enemy can bring suffering upon man when the will of God is otherwise.  This must be our bedrock confidence as we face the devil head on.  God is God, He is sovereign, He has appointed and ordained my trials, it is God who will preserve me.

Steve Lawson then gave his own personal story.  He was asked to write a commentary on the book of Job.  So we decided he would preach through Job to his own congregation. He preached through Job 1 and Job 2, but when he reached Job 3 “all hell broke loose”.  Someone broke into the church office, took the membership mailing list and sent a letter to members of his church indicting him with believing in the sovereignty of God in salvation and asking them to vote on whether they were a Calvinist.

By the time he got to Job 5, he felt it would honor God to resign.  He stepped down and spent the rest of the year writing the commentary alone in the office over his garage,   unable to preach the series.  He then said, “How wise of God — if I am to write the commentary on Job that I must sit in the ashes of Job…to hurt with Job, to cry with Job.  How wise of God it is to bring adversity into your life, trials and storms and dark nights of the soul, difficulty in ministry and antagonistic elders and rebellious deacons, or a shrinking church budget…to bring all of these storms of affliction so that you and I would be broken vessels, walk with a limp, identify with the hurting people we serve.  His ways are not our ways.  His ways are beyond our ways.

George Whitefield – “Happy you when we can look back and say thus I have been enabled to glorify God in the fire”.

Shepherds’ Conference 2010 – Thursday Evening Notes from Albert Mohler

Al Mohler was the speaker on Thursday evening at the 2010 Shepherds’ Conference.  If you would like to watch these sessions via live streaming, go here or download the videos of previous sessions here.

Al Mohler began by commenting on John MacArthur’s reading of Colossians 1:24 saying that he, Al Mohler, hears this Scripture with special attentiveness when it is read by a man who has live it.  He said he feels elevated by being here.  He preaches in a special sense, in a special spirit, and with a special energy because of all the pastors in attendance.  He is looking forward to heaven and that “Shepherds’ Conference” as there are a lot of men he wants to meet.

Francis Schaeffer wrote a book No Little People regarding the importance of the ministry.  There are no little people and no little places and there better not be little sermons, that will not do.

Turn to John 9:1-41

When Jesus passed by He saw a man blind from birth.  
The disciple saw a question but Jesus saw a man (there are no little people).  The disciple’s questions was about who the man’s parents were that he was born blind.  In other words, there must be a reason (sin) for this blindness.  Since he was born blind, it must be his parents that are being judged.  So they ask Jesus was it this man’s sin or his parents?

Theologically the answer is not sin.  Every single thing that goes wrong, all evil (including natural evil or moral evil) traces back to the fall; earthquakes, tsunamis, an adders venom, etc.  Sin is the right answer, but not sufficient.

Jesus gives a rebuke before healing the blind man; neither the man nor his parents are responsible for his blindness.  The question was not about “who” is to blame, the man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  Jesus then spits on the ground, makes clay and applies it to the man’s eyes and tells him to go wash.  The blind man does what he is told.  John 9:7  “so he went away and washed and came back seeing”.  This is an incredible picture – the incarnate son of God spit in to the earth that he had made, applied it to his eyes.

First, the disciples had a question, now that the blind man is healed the neighbors have a question – Is this not the one that used to sit and beg?  Before he was healed they noticed him, they had him pegged, they ignored him, they thought themselves superior to him, they may even have felt pity for him.  But no one celebrated that this man now sees! – His neighbors do not, and his parents do not.  In fact some are wondering whether he is even the same man.  Some are saying “he is like him”…”they all look alike”.  He kept saying I am the one.  Of all people, who knows who he is…the blind man “I was blind, but now I see”.

They then took him to the “experts”, the Pharisees.  It was the Sabbath on the day Jesus healed him (Jesus seems to have a habit of healing on the Sabbath and the Pharisees can’t stand this.  The Pharisees asked him who healed him.  The blind man doesn’t identify Jesus but the Pharisees already know.  “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs”.  So they ask the blind man again. What do you say about him since he healed you?  The Pharisees are the ones that can’t see.  Even in their questions they display their blindness.  The blind man answers, He is a prophet.  Here is a man ignored by everyone, and now they are asking him how he was blind and sees; he becomes the theologian.  The blind man has an answer “Prophet” — He is right, Jesus is prophet, priest and king!

Vs. 18 The Pharisees then called his parents.  When you don’t get the answer you want, assume he isn’t who he says he is.  So they call in his parents who must have had the same questions in the past – why is our son like this, what have we done?  In response they say Yes, he is our son and he was born blind.  So they are then asked  “How does he now see?”  The parents didn’t know.  They know its their son and that he was blind…but now that he sees and who opened his eyes they don’t know.  They say, “ask him, he is of age, he will speak for himself”.  They didn’t want the judgement of the Pharisees.

Now a second time they called the blind man.  [Be careful when you hear “Give glory to God”.  There are a lot of people that will use glorified language to subvert the gospel. ]  Verse 25  “though I was blind, now I see”.  He was not going to be entrapped by the Pharisees.  This story isn’t what we thought it was about.  This is not about a man born blind and now seeing but a story of the glory of God in the man receiving sight.

The people (Pharisees) that think they see are blind.  When asked how he was healed the blind man answers again, bravely, why do you want to hear it again – you don’t want to become his disciples too do you?  The blind man knew who Jesus was and that he had disciples.  The Pharisees then reviled him.  “You are his disciple, but we are the disciples of Moses”   Here is an amazing thing, now that the blind man sees he finds that the world was not what he thought it was…everyone is blind.  He was blind and thought all were seeing, but now that he sees he realizes he was surrounded by blind people.

Notice what this man now knows, he sees not just with his eyes.  “We know that God does not hear sinners….” If this man was not from God He could do nothing.  You don’t know who He is, but He opened my eyes.  The Pharisees then rebuke him, “You were born entirely in sin and you are teaching us?  They still think God’s judgement was on the man and he fit into their theology as long as he was blind…but now he sees.  What do you do with this theological problem – the only result is a sovereign saving God.

Jesus hears that the Pharisees put him out and so He finds him and asks if he believes in the Son of Man?  This man answers as a man that has been touched by the Savior.   “Who is he Lord” (he will believe anything that this man tells him).  Jesus answers – “You have both seen Him and He is the one talking with you”.  The resulting profession from the blind man is simple, “Lord, I believe”.  Salvation has come not only to his eyes but to his soul.

Jesus comes into the world in its blindness.  The Pharisees ask “We are not blind too are we?”  If you have to ask if you are blind, you just might be blind!  It is a pathetic question.  Jesus tells them their problem is not blindness like this man, its a different kind with a different end.  If you have to ask if you are blind you are.  Jesus was referring, not to a genetic blindness, but rather spiritual blindness.  Jesus came to illuminate the world. Isaiah 29:18; 35:5-6; 42:6-7  The light of the world brings light, and is light.

What do you do with this story, preach a little message?  The hinge of it all is found in verse 3 – “it was neither that this man sinned nor his parents, but so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”  This is an earth-shaking reality here.  This man was born blind, so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  This blows theological fuses everywhere!

If that is true, than it is not just true about this man, it is true about each one of us and true of every person that ever lived.  Why does anything exist?  That the works of God might be displayed.  This means that before there was time, God determine that in this day God planned that this man was blind and would be touched by Jesus and begin seeing.  There are not just a couple principles here – there is an entire universe of meaning here!

We are blind from birth.  This means just what the man came to see.  He thought he was the blind among the seeing, but he was the blind among the blind.  This means God had a particular purpose, a particular plan to display in a particular way.  How can you say that and not come to the conclusion of other particulars?

Do we trust God to be God or not?  How many people do we pass every day that need the gospel.  May we see that there are no little people.  There must be no little sermons.  There are no little texts, every word is fully inspired.

The entire cosmos is the theatre of God’s hand at work for His glory.  We know the secret to the universe, so we should not be in the position of the Pharisees.  If you don’t know, don’t preach.  Never see little people, a little God, a little gospel, a little message, with little conviction, with little passion or a with little sermon.  If don’t believe this, if it isn’t life to us to the glory of God than “any little old sermon will do”.

Shepherds’ Conference 2010 – Thursday Q & A with John MacArthur

Rick Holland sat down with John MacArthur for a Q & A from the audience.  Below are some short excerpts and great comments from this interaction.

>>  When asked if he struggles with the tension involved in the issues of divine election, John said that he struggles with this as well.  He knows he can’t solve all the vast theological issues.  However he does not believe Jesus died for nobody, but for somebody, those elected and atoned for.  The issue is the nature of the atonement.  Why is there a hell and why are people going there?  This is the difficult question to ask.  Romans 9 – who are we to question how He gets glory.  No one goes to hell but that they are guilty of sin and unbelief.

>> Who lives your spiritual life?  
Some would say, the Holy Spirit…but you don’t want to blame Him.  If that is true than what are all the commands about?  “I don’t even know how my own spiritual life works”.

>>  What about disloyal staff members?
Their loyalty comes as a byproduct of my loyalty to them.  Look at The Twelve Ordinary Men.  We are all just a bunch of clay pots.  I take whomever God brings around me.  I’m the last guy that any member wants to come to and complain about a staff memeber.  You get trust when you give trust.

>> When asked about building the church, John’s answer is “No that is Jesus’ job and I don’t want to compete with Him”.

>> I believe in church membership.  This is not a vague issue.  At the day of Pentecost someone counted the number present.  They knew who these people were.  When they were added to the church they were baptized (believer’s baptism).  When you join a church you are coming under pastoral authority.  

>>  In the past, when a church member went from one church to another they went by letter of introduction.  Nowadays we have free-wheeling Christianity.  Many who claim to be Christian, have never been obedient through baptism and have never become members to come under the authority and shepherding of the church.  It is the nature of the Evangelical church today that people come to your church, they refer to them as ”non-member regular attenders”, they should be called “regular, disobedient non-members”.

>> John MacArthur has a new book coming out in January 2011 titled “Slave”.

>> How do you define “style”?
Just about everything the church does is “style”.  John MacArthur says, its “Ok” if people wear clothes somewhat up to date, makeup, various hairstyles.  Grace Church’s stance on music is that the words be God-honoring and that the style doesn’t detract from the words.

>> “Don’t import things that represent the baseness of the world.  I don’t want to look gothic – I don’t want to preach in a black t-shirt with a skull on it.“

>> What do you recommend for a bi-vocational pastor?
Find good resources you can trust and give it the best you can.  Don’t kick yourself if you haven’t read 25 commentaries.  Just give the best understanding that you can.  The best you have to give is in the pulpit.  Be sympathetic, accessible, touchable.  The battle for all of us is the same.

>> What does the Bible say about deaconesses?
“Deacon” means being a servant.  It isn’t an official group.  It is an unofficial designation.  The question really is what is the role women should have serving in the church?  See the book of Titus.

>>  If you are looking for a church (as a pastor), would you accept a position in a church that doesn’t hold the same doctrinal statement?
John said, I’m would not look for the church that doesn’t need me.  Take a challenge.  Teach the Word and see what God might do.  Be patient, love these people and see what God will do.  We can’t keep going around in churches that only believe what we believe.  What is greater than the church that says “we need help”.

>> Paul was the founder of many churches, but he had to go back and correct things all the time.  All people want is a pastor that will love them, embrace them and teach them.  Don’t hit them with limited atonement.  Let them trust you, earn their trust and then teach them.

Shepherds’ Conference 2010 – Wednesday Evening Notes from John MacArthur

The evening session at the Shepherd’s Conference was taught by John MacArthur with a message on Integrity.  If you would like to view the live stream of the conference, go here.

There are three levels of integrity:

1. In your own family.
   Your life should match the message you preach so that the people that trust you never lose that trust.
2. In the church.
   The downside to spending a long time at one church, is that there are no secrets.  There is a level of exposure in this kind of long-term ministry.  The upside is if by the grace of God you can survive with your integrity intact there is great joy in the church family that is hard to describe.
3. People you influence beyond your church.
   They know you can be trusted as well.  Psalm 25 – “let integrity and uprightness preserve me”  Psalm 41:2 “uphold me in my integrity”  John MacArthur said personally, “Don’t let me live in any way that is divergent from what I preach and what I believe”.

Integrity should mark the one with the most at stake (the spokesman, the model, the leader). Integrity means whole or complete before the Lord.  Every part of your life should be in perfect order with every other part.  “Integer” means undivided, sincere (without wax), blameless and above reproach.

In today’s world the focus is on goals, courage, energy, individuality, and imagination whereas Scripture is more concerned about your integrity, your life, and your virture.  The most important thing you have is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Nobody wants to be Ted Haggard or anyone else like that.  You can’t hide that…eventually it comes out.

It is a hard thing to defend your integrity against your critics.  John MacArthur says he has had a lot of them, and with the internet they have gone “interplanetary”.  The hardest thing is to be accused of being unfaithful or unbiblical. When John MacArthur started into ministry he asked his father to pray for him and his father said he would pray two things for him:

1. To protect him from sin and
2. To protect him from people who accuse him of sins he didn’t commit.

Do you have a life worth defending?

Defending yourself doesn’t have to be self-serving or self-centered, because when untrue criticism comes against you it can destroy people’s trust in your ministry.  This can have a terrible fall-out.  In one sense it doesn’t matter.  Its not about personal feelings, self-esteem, self-protection, or a blissful life.  It is about what it does to your ministry opportunity.  It cuts you off from the people that buy into the lies being spread.  This can be especially painful within the church.  John MacArthur experienced this himself when a number of years ago 200 people left his church during the assault of a false accusation.

Turn to 2 Corinthians 5:11, and the phrase “we persuade men”.  This is in regard to Paul’s integrity.  He had been accused by the false teachers in Corinth who were trying to destroy the congregation’s trust in Paul.  So Paul had to “persuade” Corinth of his own integrity.  The accusers then attacked Paul’s virtue. Paul renounced that and said there was no hidden life (see Chapter 6 – “giving no offense”).  They accused Paul of being proud.  He said he was nothing but an earthen vessel.  They accused Paul of being in ministry for sexual favors and money.  He said he took advantage of no one.  They questioned his apostleship.  They attacked his giftedness and they attacked his message. All of these accusations were flying around the Corinthian church and gaining ground.

Defend yourself if you have a life worth defending.

God knows our true spiritual condition.   He knows your heart.  2 Corinthians 1:12 says “the testimony of our conscience”  He is saying that his conscience is clear.  Verse 11 then says  “I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences”.  Paul tells them he trusts their consciences better than the accusers because they know Paul personally.

There are five reasons to defend your ministry:

1. Reverence for the Lord.
   A reverential awe  “therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord”.  John MacArthur said that the most driving thing in his life is his view of God, which drives his view of Scripture.  He said the hardest thing to deal with in criticism is to think that I would do anything to bring shame on the name of Christ.  My fear of the Lord controls my life.  Not that I’m afraid of God, but that I love Him and I want to glorify Him
.
2. Concern for the church
   vs 12  “those who take pride in appearance and not in heart” this described the accusers because false religion cannot change the heart.  False accusations were harming the church’s confidence in Paul and this hurts the unity of the church.  Paul was asking the Corinthians to defend him.  They needed to take up his case “so that you will have an answer”.  You want to have a church that rallies around you because they are rallying around the truth.
3. Devotion to the truth
   vs 13.  Paul is being accused of being insane or mad.  But Paul says if I appear overly excited and passionate it is for the truth of God.  He was a fanatic for God.  How could he not be passionate and zealous because of the divine truth he had received.
4. Gratitude for saving love
   What is behind all of this “for the love of Christ controls us….”  Paul fought for this because he was so grateful to God.  The verse also ways “One died for all” – who is “all”?  It is qualified in this text.  It doesn’t say “one died for all and all were saved”.  In some way all are believers in limited atonement, either you limit it or God does.  This “all” is “all who died”, so this is all who died and all who rose in Him.  Do not allow yourself to think that God did the same for all those in hell as those who are in heaven.  All sinners are dead and blind so how can they activate a potential atonement.  

John MacArthur said he can never get over that Christ didn’t die a general vague death, He died for me.  “The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep”  This wasn’t because of my wisdom, my power, but I was moved by God to repentance and to life and faith.  This is what overwhelms him, the power of the cross.  He said he sings about the cross because he sees himself there.  This is why Paul lived the life he lived.  The cross so dramatically changed him.  This sovereign love causes Paul to live a life out of sheer gratitude.

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