RateItAll: The Opinion Network

The Word without the Holy Spirit is nothing but dead text. God's kingdom is not in word only, but in power (I Cor.4:20). When we pray in tongues our spirit prays and our understanding is unfruitful (I Cor.14:14-15).Paul said he would pray both with the Spirit and with the understanding.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Abuses have occured in s-called Charismatic churches. But soldiers on the field of battle have also misused their guns. That doesn't mean the army should throw away their weapons. The devil is looking for any excuse to persuade Christians to throw out their supernatural weapons of the Spirit.
I serve a supernatural God, not a dead intellectual mascot presiding over dead churches.

I have a few issues with John Macarthur. I have never met him , but have heard his "Grace To You" program a number of times. He sometimes comes across as unloving and condemnatory. But my biggest problem is that , firstly, he is a Calvinist, and he claims that man has no choice in accepting or rejecting Christ, and that it is pre-ordained. There is so much wrong with this philosophy, I could not begin to tell you. But then he also preaches that you are not saved unless you "take up your cross each day and obey Christ". But if our salvation is pre-ordained, why should we take up our cross, as even if we don't , if God has chosen us to go to heaven, we will go there whether we obey him or not. What is even the point to righteous living or evangelism, if you have no say in your eternal destiny?

Calvinism violates the fact that "God wishes NONE to perish, but for ALL to have eternal life (capitals mine)'. A loving God would not send people to hell if they can't accept him no matter what.Speaking of love, I hear little of love mentioned by John Macarthur. He seems to emphasise God's demands and wrath, more than His loving grace.

Don't just swallow everything this man says. Pray, think about and look up in the Bible about what He says. Speak to other theologians. Whether Macarthur is speaking truth or not will soon be revealed by doing this.

John MacArthur makes me want to speak in tongues:

"SOLA GRATIA! SOLA FIDE! SOLUS CHRISTUS! SOLA SCRIPTURA! SOLI DEO GLORIA!"

Pastor MacArthur is a sincere expository teacher of the Word of God. The criticisms I have read seem "over-the-top" based on my exposure to him, ranging from accusations he rejects "supernatural gifts" (I would assume his belief of Jesus' resurrection would count), Bob Jones being the most backward and racist bible college in America (3 of our 6 pastors are graduates and our congregation is very diverse), to "he says he is an expert on denominations (I would like to see where that claim was made, actually I would like to know if anyone has ever claimed to be an expert on denominations), to even one saying he is "out of his depth" and illogical (I can only assume because he expounds a different opinion).

I have studied, listened and watched a lot of media he has produced and I have yet to run across any thing that validates that he believes he is anything but a teacher/preacher of the bible. He does not hold himself out as a prophet, apostle or perfect man. He freely admits to not being able to understand everything about God but uses his constant study to answer the questions on his mind and preach on it to his church and throughout his ministeries. I agree, MacArthur is not perfect and is not God but some of the criticisms here are not right-at all.

I'll sum up with what I think speaks to his charactor. I ordered his commentary on the John's epistles and added a small donation to his ministeries. The letter I received started out by thanking me for the gift but reminded me (in the first paragraph) that my first priority was to support my local church. I would also note that he makes no promises regarding "sowing seeds", "financial rewards", "personal success through self-esteem" or other passing but historically failed philosphies. He mostly uses biblical teachings that have stood the test of time. Regardless of your opinions of him or any others, don't let anyone or anything keep you from God or the things we know we are supposed to do. God Bless.