Part one and two provide a backdrop for something that is developing behind the scenes in what I term the "visible church". The "visible church" is not the same thing as the true Church, the saved ones, God's elect. The "visible church" is an organization that has both elect and false brethren mingling together.
Acts 20:29-30
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
One of the signs, the main one, is that these false ones will draw men away from the true gospel and make "disciples after them". These men make disciples for themselves, not for Jesus, setting themselves up as an authority instead of bringing the truth that causes the true repentance through the Holy Spirit's power that leads people unto Jesus alone. These men write books, sell tapes, sell conferences, etc, to continue their gathering of their following, and some of them even get the Bible right 90-95% of the time, and can point out other heresies that get it even more wrong than they themselves do, however their own inside of the cup is still dirty. When the Apostle Paul spoke on this topic he mentioned that he was glad that he didn't baptize many because otherwise people might be tempted to say they were followers of Paul. We are followers of Jesus....or not.
Last Thursday I put up a post "About That John MacArthur" in which I question things MacArthur has said, things that can be found on Youtube etc, it brought me to a place where I felt I needed to look a little deeper. One of the things MacArthur stated is that he cannot remember a time he ever converted,and that he ALWAYS believed the gospel, and that some people see this as evidence that he is not born of the Spirit.
The conversation with Phil Johnson went like this:
PHIL: How old were you when you first recall sensing your need for Christ?
JOHN: Well I always believed the gospel. I don’t ever…I don’t ever remember a time when I didn’t believe the gospel.
PHIL: So you’re saying…are you saying it would be difficult for you to put your finger on when your conversion took place?
JOHN: Yeah. I’ve never been able to do that. And it doesn’t bother me.
I cannot say a person is truly saved or not, only God knows. However, the Bible says we can know them by their fruits, so where are his "fruits meet for repentance"? I have never heard him confess in deep humility and shame, his shortcomings and failings and his deep need of saving by the shed blood of Jesus for his own sins. That doesn't mean it has never happened, however, in the Christian's life such humility is a way of life, not something to parade out in the open once in a blue moon to add extra feeling to an alter call or to a singular message aimed at sinners to come to Christ (if it even ever happened that he confessed personal failings with heart wrenching sorrow for sin at all, I haven't heard them).
If anyone knows of such a confession that is caught on tape, please share it. I pray that he has made such a declaration and hopefully continues to live with such a repentant heart before God.
But to continue with what I have found, things that I find disturbing in my spirit regarding him and some of his associates, I shall now share in this post.
Read this about MacArthur's book "Slave" regarding his new revelations regarding our true slave relationship to Jesus:
http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2-slave-book.html
Read this and at least see the many photos given here taken at MacArthur's "Regeneration Youth Camp"
http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-7-druid-festival.html
Further, there is the Manhattan Declaration, which MacArthur denounced. You can find why he, and some of the other pastors that revolve in his circles, say they refused to jump on board with it:
http://www.erictyoung.com/2010/11/20/john-macarthur-r-c-sproul-alistair-begg-and-michael-horton-weigh-in-on-manhattan-declaration/
However, MacArthur and R.C. Sproul, two who openly are dead set against this ecumenical document have as a frequent guest speaker Albert Mohler. See what Mohler says about why he signed it here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2009/11/23/why-i-signed-the-manhattan-declaration/
See the list of the rest of the signers of the Manhattan Document here:
http://manhattandeclaration.org/man_dec_resources/list_of_religious_leaders.pdf
Several have sent to MacArthur's ministry to ask him why he feels it necessary to hold affiliation with "Dr." Mohler, and other questionable associations:
http://www.pccmonroe.org/2010/02.10.htm
http://paulspassingthoughts.com/2013/01/22/john-macarthur-and-al-mohler-their-hearts-are-revealed-by-their-endorsement-of-cj-mahaney/
He was upset that repentance and the message of the cross was preached to Jews in Israel:
http://www.thewatchmanwakes.com/In-Jerusalem-With-John-Macarthur--Rabbi-Feinberg--and-the-Three-Thousand.html
I read another page (which I cannot locate now, but will put a link if I can find it) of someone that repeatedly tried to call GCC to ask about the Mohler connection, who was stonewalled, and when he went to the GCC directly was threatened with legal action....not too kosher!
These are just a few, there are many many more links that expose a sinister side to this "man of God". Is it possible that he is duped? That he unknowingly has allowed people into his organization that perhaps have other agendas and that being the reason persons such as Mohler continually appear at his conferences? I suppose it is possible. His organization has become huge and he has other people who handle all the "small stuff" and he (MacArthur) has himself stated clearly that he does NOT support the Manhattan Document. True enough. Perhaps it is just that, his "ministry" has become so large that he has lost control over it.......maybe.....I personally believe R.C. Sproul is being dragged into this unholy alliance (much like John Piper as well) and am praying for him, but I personally think MacArthur is more of a willing participant who doesn't want to reveal his true stance on where his real loyalty is.
Please be careful, do not follow men who are likewise fallen just like you and me. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
Beware of the wolves in sheep's clothing!
Acts 20:29-30
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
One of the signs, the main one, is that these false ones will draw men away from the true gospel and make "disciples after them". These men make disciples for themselves, not for Jesus, setting themselves up as an authority instead of bringing the truth that causes the true repentance through the Holy Spirit's power that leads people unto Jesus alone. These men write books, sell tapes, sell conferences, etc, to continue their gathering of their following, and some of them even get the Bible right 90-95% of the time, and can point out other heresies that get it even more wrong than they themselves do, however their own inside of the cup is still dirty. When the Apostle Paul spoke on this topic he mentioned that he was glad that he didn't baptize many because otherwise people might be tempted to say they were followers of Paul. We are followers of Jesus....or not.
Last Thursday I put up a post "About That John MacArthur" in which I question things MacArthur has said, things that can be found on Youtube etc, it brought me to a place where I felt I needed to look a little deeper. One of the things MacArthur stated is that he cannot remember a time he ever converted,and that he ALWAYS believed the gospel, and that some people see this as evidence that he is not born of the Spirit.
The conversation with Phil Johnson went like this:
PHIL: How old were you when you first recall sensing your need for Christ?
JOHN: Well I always believed the gospel. I don’t ever…I don’t ever remember a time when I didn’t believe the gospel.
PHIL: So you’re saying…are you saying it would be difficult for you to put your finger on when your conversion took place?
JOHN: Yeah. I’ve never been able to do that. And it doesn’t bother me.
I cannot say a person is truly saved or not, only God knows. However, the Bible says we can know them by their fruits, so where are his "fruits meet for repentance"? I have never heard him confess in deep humility and shame, his shortcomings and failings and his deep need of saving by the shed blood of Jesus for his own sins. That doesn't mean it has never happened, however, in the Christian's life such humility is a way of life, not something to parade out in the open once in a blue moon to add extra feeling to an alter call or to a singular message aimed at sinners to come to Christ (if it even ever happened that he confessed personal failings with heart wrenching sorrow for sin at all, I haven't heard them).
If anyone knows of such a confession that is caught on tape, please share it. I pray that he has made such a declaration and hopefully continues to live with such a repentant heart before God.
But to continue with what I have found, things that I find disturbing in my spirit regarding him and some of his associates, I shall now share in this post.
Read this about MacArthur's book "Slave" regarding his new revelations regarding our true slave relationship to Jesus:
http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-2-slave-book.html
Read this and at least see the many photos given here taken at MacArthur's "Regeneration Youth Camp"
http://watch.pair.com/macarthur-7-druid-festival.html
Further, there is the Manhattan Declaration, which MacArthur denounced. You can find why he, and some of the other pastors that revolve in his circles, say they refused to jump on board with it:
http://www.erictyoung.com/2010/11/20/john-macarthur-r-c-sproul-alistair-begg-and-michael-horton-weigh-in-on-manhattan-declaration/
However, MacArthur and R.C. Sproul, two who openly are dead set against this ecumenical document have as a frequent guest speaker Albert Mohler. See what Mohler says about why he signed it here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2009/11/23/why-i-signed-the-manhattan-declaration/
See the list of the rest of the signers of the Manhattan Document here:
http://manhattandeclaration.org/man_dec_resources/list_of_religious_leaders.pdf
Several have sent to MacArthur's ministry to ask him why he feels it necessary to hold affiliation with "Dr." Mohler, and other questionable associations:
http://www.pccmonroe.org/2010/02.10.htm
http://paulspassingthoughts.com/2013/01/22/john-macarthur-and-al-mohler-their-hearts-are-revealed-by-their-endorsement-of-cj-mahaney/
He was upset that repentance and the message of the cross was preached to Jews in Israel:
http://www.thewatchmanwakes.com/In-Jerusalem-With-John-Macarthur--Rabbi-Feinberg--and-the-Three-Thousand.html
I read another page (which I cannot locate now, but will put a link if I can find it) of someone that repeatedly tried to call GCC to ask about the Mohler connection, who was stonewalled, and when he went to the GCC directly was threatened with legal action....not too kosher!
These are just a few, there are many many more links that expose a sinister side to this "man of God". Is it possible that he is duped? That he unknowingly has allowed people into his organization that perhaps have other agendas and that being the reason persons such as Mohler continually appear at his conferences? I suppose it is possible. His organization has become huge and he has other people who handle all the "small stuff" and he (MacArthur) has himself stated clearly that he does NOT support the Manhattan Document. True enough. Perhaps it is just that, his "ministry" has become so large that he has lost control over it.......maybe.....I personally believe R.C. Sproul is being dragged into this unholy alliance (much like John Piper as well) and am praying for him, but I personally think MacArthur is more of a willing participant who doesn't want to reveal his true stance on where his real loyalty is.
Please be careful, do not follow men who are likewise fallen just like you and me. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
Beware of the wolves in sheep's clothing!
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