In the following video, Dr. John MacArthur briefly explains the downgrade controversy, C.H. Spurgeon’s fight against modernism in the church of the late 1800s. He then shows the parallels that Spurgeon’s fight has with the current fight against pragmatism in the church.
Parallels include:
- The rallying cry of each is for unity / love over doctrine and truth; each called doctrine divisive
- The desire for unity over truth, ecumenism, caused a departure from biblical Christianity
- Each brought worldliness into the church
- Each began as a method to draw in believers; to introduce Christ to more people
- New methods sought to be more interesting, relevant and so on
- In each case, new methods turned into a system of false doctrine that ravaged mainline churches such that they have ceased to exist in Europe
Dr. MacArthur provides much specificity about how these movements differ from biblical Christianity. In the process, he defines the pragmatic church and the biblical church, which is very useful for those who want to be biblical Christians: they can more easily identify pragmatism in their midst and address it or depart from it.
The only real hope for a pragmatic church, concerning returning to being a biblical church is for a divine revival.
On a hopeful note, revivals have begun by the prayers of a single person.
If you want to be able to identify these trendy, negative, unbiblical, worldly, methods and doctrines so that you do not lose your soul as a result of being led down the broad way of destruction by them; then this one-hour video is well worth carefully listening to and noting; and perhaps, listening to multiple times.
The following video is part two of the series, but it recaps part one and provides much more information than part one. This is from a five-part series available on YouTube. I cannot comment on parts 3-5, didn’t listen to them: search, Does the Truth Matter Anymore by John MacArthur.
In closing, I have to say that there are numerous worldly trends making the 21st century church unbiblical. But, in scripture, God often speaks of the “remnant,” and the “elect,” so it seems that few are going to find the true way. God knows who His elect are and He will lead them to the true church.
One way that someone who is currently in a false church might find the biblical church is by abiding in God’s means of grace: reading His word; prayer; the Lord’s supper; hearing of preaching; and fellowship around the word, and baptism.
After the Holy Spirit regenerates a soul (as in John 3), that person becomes hungry for His word. If you are not hungry for His word, then seeking His enablement, proper affections for the things of God, in prayer could stir in you a desire to abide in His means of grace that lead to salvation.
But if you are in the midst of professing Christians who subscribe to false systems of belief, such as those spoken against in this blog, then your walk with God will be negatively impacted, hindered…as you will not have appropriate examples; you won’t be fed by biblical preaching….
One final note, there are millions of professing Christians following false teachers, as shown in the videos in this blog; thus, you might have cause to worry if you are in a mega-church. Remember, the Bible states that “few” there be that find the true, narrow, agonizingly difficult way; that is the way of faith outlined in the Bible.
(See, categories: beatitude life posts for information about the true way; see prosperity preacher posts; mysticism posts; Beth Moore posts; Paganism posts; The Modern Gospel posts… for information about false teachers and ways to God.)