Read 'em and Reap!: Hard To Believe

The big trend in the Church today is to make everything palatable and comfortable for anyone who may walk through the doors. In fact, the desire is to make it inviting. We see things like big worship bands, exciting entertainment in the form of skits or presentations. We see short, topical, “needs-based” sermons, which are suspiciously lacking any mention of sin, judgment or Hell. Does any of this have any resemblance to Scripture? John MacArthur, in this hard hitting book, examines this disastrous trend in light of what the Word of God has to say about it. For example, he presents and explains what Jesus meant when He taught about a wide gate and a narrow gate. There are many who have fallen prey to the easy-believism and erroneously think they are marching toward the narrow gate!

He also explains Jesus’ teaching about the foolish builder who built on sand versus the wise one who built on rock. The false teaching of self-esteem is part of this fantasy as well; hence, the needs-based sermons. According to many evangelicals today, we must have a high self-esteem and love for ourselves. MacArthur points out that Scripture actually presents us as “privy pots”, and assumes that we already love ourselves too much! In reality, what Jesus had to say about the Gospel, Eternal Life, Salvation, Himself, and what’s required of us is really hard to believe. It doesn’t make sense by the world’s standards. It’s foolish. It requires a daily self-denial, possible separation from family, friends, dreams and sometimes even giving up your own life.

One word of caution: Dr. MacArthur puts the same type of emphasis on our works as the Word of God puts on them. Often he has been misrepresented as teaching a works-based Salvation. Few things are more erroneous! To conclude that he is advocating works-righteousness is to completely misunderstand the argument of the book. Read carefully and ask yourself whether you are on the road that leads to the Narrow Gate. Have you been building on sand, rather than the Rock? Are you sure? Examine yourself!

This is a book which I strongly urge you to make a priority on your reading list. You will not regret it.
Read ‘em & Reap!

Comments

I just read this book too and concur 100%. I can see where people have misunderstood his comments on pg 93 that seem to imply salvation by works. I just think maybe he was a bit sloppy in language there. Otherwise, it is a fantastic book and highly recommended for those who sense something is wrong with the modern church but can't quite put their finger on it. Also, it is great for those desiring more discernment about the church of our times. And for everyone, it is a good for self-examination, to see whether we really are in the faith, and not simply caught up in the easy-believism going around... Good review :)

Several years ago, when MacArthur preached through Romans, he addressed this issue (I'm sure he has done so in many other places, but I'm familiar with this one). The tape series is available at Grace To You, titled "The Principles of Judgement" from Romans 2. If you want to hear from him what he believes about how our deeds fit into the picture, he explains it beautifully.

You can hardly fault people for believing MacArthur promotes a righteousness based on works. The following quote is from the book:

"Salvation isn't the result of an intellectual exercise. It comes from a life lived in obedience and service to Christ as revealed in the Scripture; it's the fruit of actions, not intentions. There’s no room for passive spectators: words without actions are empty and futile... The life we live, not the words we speak, determines our eternal destiny."

I don't believe he is teaching justification by works, but you could sure take his statement that way.

Tim,
I'll concede that point. The wording is not reflective of what I know for a fact that Dr. MacArthur teaches. If someone picks up the book and reads page 93, they will have no choice but to conclude he is advocating works-righteousness. But, we must allow him to speak (or write) in context, and clearly the context of the book does not teach this (as you already know).

New information has surfaced about the paragraph in question (p.93). Turns out that this is the first book of Dr. MacArthur's that Phil Johnson didn't edit. As a result, some weird teachings trickled in, but not out of mischieviousness. GTY has posted a clarification of this key paragraph of the book.