"Simply put, Jesus never took the irenic approach with heretics or gross hypocrites. He never made the kind of gentle private appeals contemporary evangelicals typically insist are necessary before warning others about the dangers of a false teacher's error. Even when He dealt with the most respected religious figures in the land, He took on their errors boldly and directly, sometimes even holding them up for ridicule. He was not 'nice' to them by any postmodern standard. He extended no pretense of academic courtesy to them. He didn't invite them to dialogue privately with Him about their differing points of view. He didn't carefully couch his criticisms in vague and totally impersonal terms so that no one's feelings would be hurt. He did nothing to tone down the reproach of His censures or minimize the Pharisees' public embarrassment. He made His disapproval of their religion as plain and prominent as possible every time He mentioned them. He seemed utterly unmoved by their frustration with His outspokenness. Knowing that they were looking for reasons to be offended by Him, He often did and said the very things He knew would offend them most."
Jesus was the Son of God and knew the Truth - indeed was the Truth! I am not, so I need to be careful in applying the approach MacArthur seems to imply. I need to be sure of my ground, sure of my Biblical understanding, sure that I am not just responding from pride.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree that we need to be more forthright, to call a Biblical spade a spade (if you see what I mean) but we also need to take a hard look at ourselves as we do so.
Wow I love the idea of this blog! Thank you for creating it. I also love the scripture "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works" Hebrews 10:24 Perfect! :D
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Also, as MacArthur later points out, Jesus was in a unique position because He could see these men's hearts and thus exactly knew their motives. We, on the other hand, have to be very careful we don't misread people or situations.
ReplyDeleteI think the main aim of the book is to combat the rise of postmodernism in certain Christian circles. Therefore, the real issue is not necessarily how, when and where we fight for the truth (though that is important) but whether or not we fight for the truth at all. The truth of the Gospel is not up for discussion or negotiation; it is to be believed, proclaimed and defended, regardless of how unpopular it may be with people!
Thanks for the encouragement, Alyssa! :)