My Response To Muslims in Evangelical Churches | Christianity Today

Introduction

            One of my assignments for a pastoral theology course was to analyze Christianity Today’s article on Christian Churches allowing Muslims to worship on their grounds.  Below is my abridged response to this serious issue.  I feel that this issue is something that Christians need to be made aware of.  Do we open our church buildings up to false worship, Muslims, Mormons, and so forth?  Why or why not?  The full Christianity Today article is attached for your reading pleasure. 

Summary

            Where is the line between fulfilling the Great Commandment of Love God and Love People (Matt. 22:36-40) and balancing strict commands regarding false religions (2 John 10-11)?  This is the issue that Christianity Today introduces in their article.  They give two examples of churches that decided to open their doors and allow Muslims to worship in their church buildings while mosques (and or Islamic Centers) were being built.[1]  Both of the pastors basically promote that Christians need to acknowledge that Jesus is the only way to the Father, but “we must also manifest the Father’s love (what would Jesus have us do?).”[2]  This question is paramount for pastors and Christians alike.  Therefore, should pastors open their church buildings to allowing Muslims and or other non-Christian religious groups into their buildings for worship?  These churches are technically the Lord’s but the pastors and leadership teams have been entrusted to shepherd a local flock, which includes protection from false teaching.

            Christianity Today’s article does a fair job introducing the issues but falls short in promoting one view or the other.  It closes,

Ultimately, as these (issues) and others confront us, the answers may be a matter of wisdom rather than an obvious application of biblical teaching.  They will also reflect the deployment of broader theological principles such as the sacramental nature (or lack thereof) of space and place.[3]

It would have been preferable for the author of the article to make a judgment call and defend it biblically.  Therefore, this response paper is going to do two things: biblically promote why it is wrong to open a church to false worship and give a personal application section. 

Related Issue

            The related question that arises and is also introduced in the article is the issue if Christians do not open their church buildings, how far does this boycott go?  Do individual Christians who are plumbers, architects, and so forth refuse to assist or service people of other religions?  “Does the Golden Rule apply to congregations as it does to people?”[4]  While this issue is peripheral, a brief answer would be that individual Christians should do good deeds for these people and show them the love of Christ to further the Kingdom (see Mark 16:15 and 1 Cor. 9:22).  This will be addressed more in the Application section.

Response

Issue One: What Would Jesus Do?

            In the 1990s, it was popular to use the slogan, “What would Jesus do?”  Unfortunately, it is not the best slogan or question because Jesus is the Son of God, the second person in the Trinity.  When a person came to Jesus, or He to them, with a request for healing, He healed them (see Luke 7:1-10 for one example of many).  Regardless of view on charismatic gifts, Jesus was endowed with more power from the Holy Spirit than people ever will be and thus He was able to accomplish things that only the Messiah can.  One of the pastors interviewed for the article claims, “a matter of his United Methodist congregation modeling the love of Jesus to strangers, just as Jesus had welcomed them.”[5]  Did Jesus really welcome them?  In the Gospel of John, there are two statements of Jesus telling people “go and sin no more” (John 5:14; 8:11).  The theology behind those statements is not that they became perfect but that they would live a changed life and sin less as they grew in the Lord.  So, while Jesus did welcome all people, He also challenged them to live a changed life.

            Along with this is the issue of how would Jesus handle the other world religions.  During Jesus’ First Coming, His primary focus was Israel (Matt. 15:24, John 10:16; 11:52).  With His primary focus being Israel, this means that His main religious interactions where with the Jewish religious establishment.  Matthew 23:1-39 contains seven woes and judgments against the Jewish religious leaders.  Below are a couple verses that contain some of the more harsh language by Jesus.

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces.  For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

(Matt. 23:13-15 ESV)

This demonstrates that Jesus took people’s souls very seriously and gives strong judgment against those who do not preach the Gospel.  Sadly, one pastor in the article says, “It is (opening the church door to Muslims), I think, the fullest possible expression of what we believe about Jesus.”[6]  It might be time for him to rethink what the Bible says about Jesus.

Issue Two: Good Works Versus Leading Astray

            “Does facilitation of false worship violate the love command?”[7]  What an interesting question, but it is not best one.  A better question would be how can I fulfill the love command without enabling people to continue on their journey to eternal separation from the Lord?  If churches facilitate false worship, they are either directly or indirectly promoting to the general population that they do not believe Jesus is the only way.  What open doors to false worship show skeptics and the world is that all or most roads lead to some kind of heaven or positive eternal life.  Jesus declares in regards to good works, “… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16 ESV).  This is one of many statements found throughout the New Testament that address good works.  What is evident from this statement by Jesus is the purpose of good works.  They are to give glory to the Father and the context of the passage is about being a light and salt to the world.  It is not possible to be a light and salt to the world by enabling false worship. 

Application

            I must confess that I had presuppositions against allowing non-Christians to use church buildings for worship.  This article has helped me develop a biblical framework to argue against the use of consecrated church buildings for false worship.  The article does bring up the extreme other side of the arguments about Qur’an burning and protesting the building of Mosques which is wrong in all circumstances.[8]  In no way are Christians supposed to make a show of burning books of other religions or protesting their civil freedoms (building their own religious institutions) which are protected by United States law.  Also, individual Christians that are in positions to help out people that follow other world religions, such as plumbers, have wonderful opportunities to witness and be a light to those people as they assist them or service something for them.  Therefore, pastors should not tell their congregations to boycott helping those people on an individual basis but should rejoice at the opportunity.  But in no way am I or leadership at any American church obligated to open our buildings up to false worship. 

Conclusion

            In closing, it is wrong for pastors and church leadership to open their buildings for false worship, regardless if it Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, or anyone else like that.  It is too bad that the author of the article did not interview anyone who had a solid biblical argument against opening up church buildings to false worship.  By interviewing those who promote allowing false worship, the author is either directly or indirectly promoting the practice.  As displayed throughout this paper, the biblical texts do not want us to enable false worship (reference 2 John 10-11 and Matthew 23).  Actually, Christians are called to draw people out of the world and into a relationship with Jesus Christ (Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Co. 5:9-13).  Finally, this is not meaning that Christians are to become hermits or live in communes but are to strive to live a holy life by the empowering of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26; 16:13). 

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     [1] Jason B. Hood, “Muslims in Evangelical Churches” in Christianity Today (Published January 12, 2011). Accessed 9/28/12.

     [2] Ibid.

     [3] Ibid.

     [4] Ibid.

     [5] Ibid.

     [6] Ibid.

     [7] Ibid.

     [8] Ibid.

Muslims in Evangelical Churches | Christianity Today

What is the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat)?

Scriptural Passages:

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Romans 14:10c

For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

1 Corinthians 3

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Introduction:

Salvation is through grace by faith in Jesus Christ and not based upon works, but yet we are called to do good works once we are saved. (Ephesians 2:8-10)  There are two main judgments seats or tribunals in Scripture; one is the Great White Throne Judgment for those who do not accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Revelation 20) and the Bema Seat for followers of Jesus Christ.  The focus of this post is on the Bema Seat. 

What is the Background of the Bema Judgment Seat?

The major cities of the biblical regions during the Roman Era had raised judgment platforms and seats, Bema Seats.  Paul’s original audiences would have been very familiar with Bema Seats.  The main two functions of these seats were for official government business and crowning victorious Olympians.  Additionally, the context of the three above passages demonstrates that the Bema Seat Judgment of Christ is for believers in contrast to the Great White Throne Judgment. 

What is the Purpose of Christians being Judged?

“Apparently, we (believers) will be judged/ rewarded for our motives, availability, and use of spiritual gifts.  Sin and sins have been completely dealt with in Christ’s substitutionary death, but discipleship is an issue!”^[1] (Romans 8:1)  All Christians are give spiritual gifts on top of natural abilities, sometimes the spiritual gifts are enhancements of natural abilities but the purpose of the gifts are to bring glory to God by furthering the Kingdom. (1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:4-6a) Therefore, there will be a judgment on how we use our gifts, as in how we live our daily lives on this Earth.

What is the outcome of the Judgment Seat? (See 1 Corinthians 3 above)

Works with the wrong motives will be revealed and burned up.

On the other hand, good works will receive a reward.

Five unique crowns for good works:

1.      Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) - Those believers who live a disciplined life, purging of physical inducements and pleasures of this world will receive this crown.

2.      Crown of Life (Revelation 2:10) - This crown is also known as the Martyr’s Crown for those who have suffered for the faith, especially unto death.

3.      Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:2-4) - Also known as the Shepherd’s Crown this reward is for faithful ministers (all ministers not just fulltime pastoral staff at a local church) of the Word of God.

4.      Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) - Although similar to the Incorruptible Crown, this crown is different in that this one if for believers who live their live in the hope of the imminent return of Jesus Christ and therefore live a holy and righteous life for His glory. Somehow the doctrine of the imminent return of Christ has a purifying effect upon believers, see Titus 2:12-14 and 1 John 3:2-3.

5.      Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20) - This crown is reserved for those who bring people to the Lord, both publically like in evangelistic services and privately with individual Christians ministering to the Lost and leading them to Christ. 

What are we to do?

These truths should dramatically change the way we live, for our actions will be evaluated by our Master.^[2]  So, the point of all this is that as we grow in our walk with the Lord, discipleship, there will be changes in our attitudes and behaviors that will lead to more and more good works for His glory.  2 Corinthians 13:5 states that we are to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith, because if we are, than we will live as a new creation or creatures from 2 Corinthians 5:17.

May the Lord Bless and Keep You!

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^[1] Robert James Utley, vol. Volume 6, Paul’s Letters to a Troubled Church: I and II Corinthians, Study Guide Commentary Series (Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International, 2002), 238.

^[2] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 2 Co 5:9–10.

The Severity of Pastoral Teaching Ministry?

James 3:1

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

As Christians, we are all called to test if we are in the faith (2 Co. 13:5) but for those who feel called into pastoral ministry, especially a teaching role, really need to test and seek the Lord.  The concept of degrees of judgment is found throughout the New Testament (in addition to the passages below see Matt. 25:29, Mark 4:24-25, and Luke 12:48) and this should cause all believers to want to examine their lives. 

In having the privilege of teaching a couple times in so many weeks and in getting ahead for my two pastoral ministry classes this Fall, I am relooking at my call to ministry.  My call is being strengthened and confirmed by all the events of the last year but I still wanted to look at some of the more serious Bible verses regarding pastoral teaching ministry. 

Hebrews 13:7

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

The three main roles of pastoral ministry from Hebrews 13:7 are rule (lead), speak the Word of God, and establish the pattern of faith for people to follow. (cf. Acts 20:28, 1 Ti. 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9)  None of these three roles can be properly accomplished apart from the empowering of the Holy Spirit and an anointing on a person’s life.  So many times, we in ministry wonder what people will think about us if we boldly proclaim the whole counsel of God.  The draw for popularity makes us want to ignore the challenging passages when teaching and preaching and go straight for the feel good passages.  How many times do you hear messages on Gal. 5:16-21, 1 Co. 6:9-11, 1 John 3:9-11, and so forth that are true to the text?  Therefore, if we do not want to teach these passages, than how can we model our lives and properly lead?  This is not a charge for legalism but a rebuttal to the rampant antinomianism that is plaguing American Christianity.  My chief solution to the problem is discipleship, which will be covered in detail in a future blog.

Hebrews 13:17 has many nuggets of truth in it.  First, submitting to leaders assumes that our Christian leaders are worth following, as in they are Christ-like teachers not those found in Hebrews 13:9.  Second, keeping watch over your souls does not downplay each individual believer’s responsibility in regards to their own salvation but states that the leaders must remain diligent and alert that those under them are entering into an authentic relationship with Jesus. (cf. Eph. 6:18)  We have already covered giving an account, but to restate leaders are responsible for those who are entrusted to their care.  Lastly, it is beneficial for leaders to serve with a joyous demeanor and attitude because most people do not like their leaders to be negative and bitter.

What does all this mean?

·         Those who want to be in pastoral ministry must make sure that they are doing it for the right reasons- such as honor and glory to God above all else.

·         Once in a leadership/ teaching position, we must stay true to the Word of God in its entirety because of a stricter judgment, which is both scary and encouraging.

·         In a personal way- I cannot imagine turning my back on the Lord (Luke 9:62) in that He healed me from Leukemia and has sustained me through numerous other trials and training to do nothing or minimal, when there are so many open doors around, especially in that I am sure of my call to serve Him and it has been confirmed by so many solid Christians.

May the Lord Bless and Keep You!

Who are the Sons of God from Gen. 6:1-4?

Many a thesis and dissertation, not to mention books, have been written on Gen. 6:1-4 and the meaning of the Sons of God.  Therefore, this post will keep the issue somewhat brief and hopefully serve to peak people’s interest to do their own studying on this difficult passage.  After spending about fifteen hours restudying all the issues my view has been adjusted or adapted but not outright changed.

Genesis 6:1-4 (NASB)

         1      Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,

         2      that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

         3      Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

         4      The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Here are the three main views:

     1)      Sons of God as Human Rulers - This view was created in the late 2^nd Century AD by Rabbis and is only held by a few Christians and therefore will not be covered.  Most agree that this position is too weak to be seriously considered.

2)  Sons of God as Godly Descendants of Seth - This view was created by Augustine (who is known for promoting the Allegorical approach to biblical interpretation) in the 4^th Century AD and is the primary alternative to the popular view.

Significant Weaknesses- First, nowhere in the ot are Sethites identified as the sons of God.  Second, this view forces two divergent meanings on the Hebrew word ʾadam in Gen 6:1–2: the term would have to mean “mankind” in Gen 6:1, but a specific group of humans—the Cainites—in Gen 6:2.  Additionally, this view implies that all the women of Cain’s line were ungodly, whereas all the men of Seth’s line were godly.  While this might be averted by noting that no law existed prohibiting intermarriage of any kind prior to the great flood, this would in turn undermine the entire premise of the view.  Also, since only Noah and his family were considered godly in the days of the flood, we can presume that the vast majority of Seth’s descendants were far from godly; Seth had more than one descendant (Gen 5:7).  Lastly, the daughters born in the previous chapter of Genesis were born to Seth’s line, not Cain’s—the precise opposite of what this explanation requires.

3) Sons of God as Divine Beings (Fallen Angels, aka Demons) - The popular/ dominant view today was held by both Jews and Christians until the above mentioned dates and has resurged in popularity in the last hundred or so years. This view will be discussed in more detail below. (Even though a view is popular and dominant that does not mean it is accurate and therefore needs to be challenged and held up to what the Bible says)

Extra biblical Issues:

The position of the Sons of God as Divine Beings appears in early Jewish works that comment on the stories of Genesis (1 Enoch 6; Jubilees 5), the Septuagint, Philo (De Gigant 2:358), Josephus (Ant. 1.31), and the Dead Sea Scrolls (1QapGen 2:1; CD 2:17–19); as well as the works of early Christian scholars such as Justin, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Origen.  The extra biblical arguments are not enough to prove or disprove but are fascinating in that the Early Church held to the Divine position and that is noteworthy.  The Septuagint (Greek translation of Hebrew Old Testament) and Apocrypha (Non-canonical Intertestamental Writings) need to be mentioned because in some instances they are held as authoritative or true in their representations (I am not saying that they are 100% accurate in everything or anything, but in holding to the inerrancy and authority of Scripture then the stories mentioned must be held to as true, such as Jude talking about Satan and Michael fighting over Moses’ body in Jude 9 which is a story from the Apocrypha).  Also, approximately 2/3 of the New Testament quotes of the Old Testament are from the Septuagint.

Biblical Issues: (How does Scripture Interpret Scripture?)

Old Testament:

     ·         The Hebrew phrase Sons of God appears three other times, all in Job (1:6, 2:1, and 38:7) and they represent Angels in the heavenly court. 

     ·         In Daniel 3:25 the phrase Son of God is found but it is in Aramaic (actually the whole passage is) but it refers to either God as a Theonomy or more likely the Pre-incarnate Christ ministering to those in the fiery furnace, either way the emphasis is on a “Divine Being.”

     ·         Therefore, the standard usage of Sons of God means Divine Being(s) in the Old Testament instances and is only really disputed in the Genesis passage.

New Testament: In following the hermeneutical principle of the New Testament shedding light or further explaining the Old Testament, the two passages which refer to Genesis 6:1-4 are extremely important.

2^nd Peter 2:4-11 (NASB)

       4   For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell (Greek Tartarus) and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;

       5   and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

       6   and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;

       7   and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men

       8   (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),

       9   then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,

     10   and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.

Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,

    11   whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.

Jude 6-7 (NASB)

       6   And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,

       7   just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange (or different or other) flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Why are these two texts important?  Both are promoting the incident of Genesis 6 and not the initial fall of Satan and his angels (which became demons), there are many reasons why but are way to in-depth for any worthwhile discussion in this blog.  Two quick examples are both contain references to other Genesis accounts and in the era of the NT Demons were being cast out of people and thus all were not locked up in the initial casting out of Heaven.

Coinciding Question:

What do we know about Angels and Demons?

Angels are to worship the Lord, minister, protect, judge, etc.

Demons posses, oppress, promote false religion, do Satan’s will, etc.

Concluding Argument:

Therefore, I believe that some fallen angels (demons) left their proper abode and furthermore possessed men who married women and had offspring.  This interpretation fits very well into both of the two main views introduced above.  The defining argument of the Godly line of men is that the context of the passage focuses on mankind and how wicked it has become, which is a valid point.  But strictly holding to the Godly line has serious flaws as shown above.  The next view of Divine Beings makes better sense of the Hebrew language, cross references found in both OT and NT, and (less significantly) fits within the historical view.  But if it were strictly fallen angels, in spirit form, that came down and took wives there are serious problems of procreation and the context/ meaning of the passage.

Finally, I believe that the overall point of Genesis 6 is as follows and I will quote MacArthur who says it best: “Now what causes God to step in and destroy all of humanity?  Well the first four verses tell us that the wickedness of man had reached such proportion that they had engaged themselves in demonic relationships.  Not only did they not seek God, not only did they not endeavor to know God, but they pursued demons.  And that's what we find in these opening four verses.”

I have attached a link to a sermon, with text transcript, by John MacArthur.  Additionally, I only discovered this message after doing hours of research but do feel that his points are the most biblically valid and solve many more problems than they create.

http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/90-254/Demonic-Invasion

May the Lord Bless and Keep You!

Devotion to God's Glory

Part 4 of 11: The Fruits/ Proofs of Authentic/ True Christianity

Of all the Fruits/Proofs, the devotion to God’s glory is probably the hardest to be consistent about.  Why?  Because it is so easy to get caught up in ourselves, our ways, and making our own plans for life. 

1 Corinthians 10:30-33

30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

The background of this passage is about a believer being invited over to a home for dinner.  If the food has been offered to an idol and no one brings up that point mature believers will have no problem eating it because they know that the idol is nonsense.  But the moment a weaker or new believer brings up that point and it is apparent that this will cause a stumbling block the stronger or more mature Christian is to refrain from eating the meat out of consideration for their weaker brother or sister.

This important passage shows us that we are exhorted in ALL of our activities to bring glory to God.  I have noticed a scary philosophy of living among Christians in the current generations.  That is a promotion of Antinomianism or lawless living.  In the past, say prior to the 1960s, in America, Legalism was rampant but now the pendulum has swung to the other extreme of lawlessness.  We need a return to the biblical middle!  Yes, we very much have freedom in Christ but we see that “Paul sets a limit to Christian freedom.  Christian freedom isn’t permission to do whatever we like.  Christian freedom is the freedom to do what God wants, and to put the needs and feelings of others before our own.  This is what Paul tries to do — and in so doing, he follows the way of Jesus.”^[1]  When we do what God wants us to do and put others above ourselves, we our devoting ourselves to God’s glory!  Furthermore, when we cause a weaker brother to stumble or act like the fallen world around us, we in essence are dishonoring the Lord and disgracing the Church.  If we as Christians are not at some level “set apart” (See Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Co. 5:9-12; Heb 12:1-2, 14; and 1 John 3:1-10) from the world, than why would the fallen world care to listen to us?  Are we not hypocrites, if we preach something that we do not live? 

In closing here are three excellent questions to ask before we do anything and everything, like posting on Facebook, tweeting, planning our weekends, at work or school, and so forth: ^[2]  This is something that I am right there with you all working on in my own life!

•     Can I thank the Lord in it? (Verse 30)

•     Will God be glorified through it? (Verse 31)

•     Will someone be tripped up by it? (Verse 32)

Psalm 115:1

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

For additional passages see Ps. 105:3; Is. 43:7; 48:10ff; and Jer. 9:23-24

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^[1] Andrew Knowles, The Bible Guide, 1st Augsburg books ed. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001), 584.

^[2] Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1058.

A Brief Introduction to Slave by John MacArthur

Slave by John MacArthur (2010) is one of those books that every Christian should own and read.  Personally, I find it a game changer, like Radical from David Platt.  Yes, Radical in my opinion is more important but Slave is right up there.  Outside of the Bible, I would say that all of Francis Chan’s books are extremely valuable followed closely by Radical and Slave. 

What is Slave about?

John MacArthur shows that the Greek word Doulos means slave and that almost all of our English translations have mistranslated the word into servant (HCSB gets it right), because there are at least a half dozen Greek words that mean servant and could have been used by the authors of the New Testament.[1]  Therefore, Slave contains thirteen chapters and one appendix that covers what is means to be a slave to Christ.  He does so by showing the differences of first century Greco-Roman slavery to the evil Western society’s slavery of the colonial era.[2]  MacArthur also includes the Old Testament views of slavery.  Furthermore, Slave does not read like some scholarly theology text book, instead it is reads at a personable level that all can enjoy and appreciate.

Why is Slave so good?

MacArthur does not just go through his own biblical exegesis on the issue by demonstrating what other Church Fathers and famous leaders believed about it.[3]  But more importantly the book goes through a large portion of the passages where Doulos is found and displays how the term slave gives much more theological importance to the meaning and context of the passage over servant.  Additionally, MacArthur gives a fair and solid analysis of the Free Grace Movement and demonstrates his biblical views on the Lordship of Jesus Christ.[4]

An Area for Improvement

The only area for improvement that I would have liked to see in Slave is a scripture index.  Almost every page has a footnote and a large majority of those footnotes are of passages in the Bible.  As someone who likes to reference and look up passages a scripture index would have been beneficial.

Concluding Thoughts

Instead of going on and on about how great this book is, I will close by exhorting all to go and read it for themselves.  I guarantee all that if we take the Bible passages that talk about being a slave to Christ serious and understand the original context of the Greco-Roman slavery our walk with the Lord will improve and we will all have fuller deeper lives!

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[1] MacArthur, Slave, 16.

[2] See pages 17-38.

[3] See the appendix for snippets of famous Church Fathers and Leaders like Spurgeon and Jim Elliot.

[4] 73-75 and 134-136.

Part 3 of The Fruits

Part 3 of 11: The Fruits/ Proofs of Authentic/ True Christianity

Genuine Humility:

Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines Humility as “a prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5–7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11–13).  It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquility (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22).  Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6–8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honor (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5).  It is a great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory.”^[1]

Additionally, the term is closely connected in derivation with affliction, which is sometimes brought upon men by their fellows, and sometimes attributed directly to the purpose of God, but is always calculated to produce humility of spirit.^[2]

Psalm 51:16-17 ESV

            For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

                        you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

            The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

                        a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14, Acts 13:21), yet he committed horrible sins, such as adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband (2 Sam. 11-12).  Psalm 51 is David’s prayer for forgiveness for this sin against God and man. 

Now, these two verses are not a denial of sacrificial system, which by the way the Law did not have a sacrifice for adultery or murder only of sins committed out of ignorance, but a demonstration that a proper sacrifice is humility and brokenness.  And as we know, the Lord did accept David’s plea for forgiveness and used him for many mighty works and more importantly the lineage of Jesus. 

For us today, the issue of humility is important in both everyday living and when we mess things up.  For everyday living, see Romans 12:1-2 which talks about a living sacrifice which has to deal with humility (broken spirit and heart- look back in Ps. 51:16-17).  One of the worst things people can say when a trial or tribulation comes up for somebody else is that they caused it themselves, unless they did- such as an affair leading to a divorce, etc.  When I was going through Leukemia not one person said he must have some serious sin… and I thank the Lord for that because I have noticed that a lot of issues (miscarriages, loss of a job, serious illness, etc.) that Christians go through are not because of sin but because we must be broken to fully realize that the power by which live is from the Lord and not of ourselves. 

Therefore, if we want to be used powerfully by the Lord we must learn to live a lifestyle of humility.  There will be times in our lives where we have a choice to accept brokenness or become bitter.  When we accept brokenness and look to Him for our power in all aspects of life, we give him more Glory and have a fuller life here on Earth.

May the Lord Bless and Keep You!

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^[1] M.G. Easton, Easton's Bible Dictionary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996).

^[2] D. R. W. Wood and I. Howard Marshall, New Bible Dictionary, 3rd ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 491.