"The Rise of Extreme Tolerance"
Joe R. Price

     The above title is given an article by John MacArthur, published online at christianity.com and adapted from his book, “The Truth War” (Thomas Nelson, 2007). MacArthur is an Evangelical pastor of the Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA, and President of The Master’s College and Seminary. He is Calvinistic in theology, and unquestionably uses “Christian” and “church” in an inclusive sense that is foreign to the New Testament (Acts 11:26; Matt 16:18; Eph 1:22-23; 4:4). No one reading these comments should conclude this is an endorsement of MacArthur; it is not.

     That said, MacArthur offers insights we would do well to ponder. As he warns evangelicals about “postmodern” objections to clear and authoritative preaching, we are reminded that similar attitudes exist among us. Brethren have been warning of and battling against this very thing for the past 30 years and beyond. [It is worth noting that opposing “extreme tolerance” does not mean “moderate tolerance” of error is acceptable; it is not (Eph 5:11).]

Downplaying Doctrine

     MacArthur bemoans that evangelicals are downplaying doctrine to attract crowds:

   “Many evangelicals (once known for a very prudent and biblical approach to doctrine) are fast becoming as doctrinally clueless as the unchurched people they are so keen to please. At least three decades of deliberately downplaying doctrine and discernment in order to attract the unchurched has filled many once-sound churches with people who utterly lack any ability to differentiate the very worst false doctrines from truth. I constantly encounter evangelical church members who are at a loss to answer the most profound errors they hear from cultists, unorthodox media preachers, or other sources of false doctrine.”

     We have seen a similar turn among brethren who admit they are going in a “new direction”. Being tired of preaching they perceive to be “dry” and “boring” (that which identifies error, rebukes sin with the word of God and calls sinners to repentance), they clamor for something more pleasing to their ears (2 Tim 4:3-4; 1 Cor 2:1). Sermons on how to establish and apply Bible authority are becoming more rare in some churches of Christ these days (Col 3:17). Bible preaching is being replaced with seminars, workshops and the latest “how to” book – as if the word of God is out of date and incapable of addressing present-day concerns. Lessons that uphold “sound doctrine” by exposing denominational error as well as error in churches of Christ are fewer and farther between these days. Yet, inspired Scripture continues to be profitable for doctrine (2 Tim 3:16). We must not downplay the apostles’ doctrine. Hold it up for all to see, believe and obey (Phil 2:16).

Shades of Gray

     MacArthur continues:

   “The culture around us has declared war on all biblical standards…Some Christians unwittingly began following suit several years ago. That has opened the door for a whole generation in the church to embrace postmodern relativism openly and deliberately. They don’t want the truth presented with stark black-and-white clarity anymore. They prefer having issues of right and wrong, true and false, good and bad deliberately painted in shades of gray. We have reached a point where the typical churchgoer today assumes that is the proper way of understanding truth. Any degree of certainty has begun to sound offensive to people’s postmodernized ears.

   “Many in the church, caught up in the spirit of the age, think Christians should never take an uncompromising stand, should never argue about anything. We’re not supposed to engage in polemics. I hear this frequently: ‘Why don’t you just state the truth in positive terms and ignore the view you disagree with? Why not steer clear of controversy, forget the negatives, and present everything affirmatively?’”

     Sound familiar? The battle against unity in doctrinal and moral diversity that has raged among us for the past four decades comes down to whether definitive truth is sufficiently revealed in the Scriptures so that we can conclusively know it, believe it, obey it, rebuke those who sin against it, and refuse to have fellowship with those who go beyond it (Eph 3:3-5; 5:17; Gal 1:6-9; 2 Jno 9-11). From the innovations of institutionalism, to the errors of marriage, divorce and remarriage, to the length of the days of Genesis 1 and more: shall we “agree to disagree” when the word of God says, “It is written”? No! We will continue to affirm that we can answer “What does the Scripture say?” with divine authority (Rom 4:3; Gal 4:30). Jesus said we can know the truth and be freed from sin (Jno 8:31-32). God calls us to the old paths of truth; may we ever walk therein (Jer 6:16).

Don’t be so Negative

     MacArthur takes on the whole notion of “positive” preaching (which he sees as a symptom of postmodernism tolerance). We restate his concern for emphasis:  

   “Many in the church, caught up in the spirit of the age, think Christians should never take an uncompromising stand, should never argue about anything. We’re not supposed to engage in polemics. I hear this frequently: ‘Why don’t you just state the truth in positive terms and ignore the view you disagree with? Why not steer clear of controversy, forget the negatives, and present everything affirmatively?’”

     Within the past 30 years some of our brethren said there is far too much “negative preaching” among us and that we need a more “positive” approach to Christianity. Some warned that being too straightforward with the truth builds walls and runs people off. Bold Bible preaching continues to be seen by some as rudeness (the Bible never calls it such). By way of contrast, the New Testament commands us to “reprove” and “rebuke” as well as “exhort” – always with proper attitudes of heart (2 Tim 4:2-5; 2:24-26).

     What has been the result of positivism among the evangelicals? MacArthur says,

   “That ethos is why it is no longer permissible to deal with biblical issues in a straightforward and uncompromising fashion. Those who dare to take an unpopular stand, declare truth in a definitive way – or worst of all, express disagreement with someone else’s teaching – will inevitably be marked as troublesome. Compromise has become a virtue while devotion to truth has become offensive.”

     In striking similitude, the so-called “positive approach” to Christianity by brethren has resulted in flagging allegiance to definitive truth and compromise with those who teach and practice error. Watchmen are called “watchdogs” while those who advocate demonstrable error are championed as heroes of the faith (Isa 52:7-8; 62:6; Jer 6:13-17). Will we learn anything from the evangelicals? Or, will we join them on the path of compromise?

Absolute Truth

     MacArthur tells of one Rudy Carrasco, an Emergent Church movement pastor who believes preaching is “simply too one-sided, too authoritative, and too rigid for postmodern times.” He quotes Carrasco as saying: “Every day, every week, there’s stuff that pops up in life, and it’s not resolved, just crazy and confusing and painful. When people come across with three answers, and they know everything, and they have this iron sheen about them, I’m turned off. Period. I’m just turned off. And I think that’s not unique to me.” (Tom Allen, “Postmoderns Value Authenticity, Not Authority,” The Baptist Standard, July 8, 2004)

     Do you see the rationale? Nobody knows everything; therefore no one can know anything for certain! That is the devil’s lie! When we preach God’s word of truth as definite and absolute we are charged with “thinking we know everything” (2 Pet 1:3-4). Such a charge tries to divert attention away from what the Bible actual says; we can know truth.

     MacArthur closed with the following challenge:

   “The world needs Christians who embrace an antithetical worldview, a biblical mindset that answers questions of truth and morality in terms of black and white. Why? Because there is no salvation without absolute, unshakeable truth. Compromising, changing, tolerant opinions don’t provide answers for the “crazy and confusing and painful” issues… Only truth saves and sanctifies and gives hope.”

     God’s word is sure and certain; it is powerful to save. We must not fail to “hold fast the pattern of sound words” and preach the whole counsel of God (2 Tim 1:13; Jno 17:17; Col 3:17; Acts 20:27).

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

The Sin of Self-Righteousness

I. KNOWING AND WARNING AGAINST SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, Matt 5:20.

  A. Trusting in Oneself for Righteous-ness, Lk 18:9 (Prov 30:12-13); Isa 65:5.
  B. Self-Righteous to Think One is Righteous Based on His Own Obedience (Law-Keeping), Phil 3:9; Rom 3:20-22; Gal 2:16; 3:11-12; Rom 4:2-4 (3:23)
  C. Self-Righteous to Think One is Righteous Due to His Own Moral Goodness, Lk. 18:9-12.
  D. Self-Righteous to Bind Where the Lord has not Bound, Matt 23:3-4; 15:1-6, 9-14. (Rom 14:10-13; 15:6-7)
  E. Self-Righteous to Work to be Seen by Men, Matt 23:5 (6:1, 5, 16).
  F. Self-Righteousness Displays Arrogant Superiority over Others, Lk 18:9; Matt 9:11-13 cf. Lk. 7:36-39 (Matt 21:28-32).
  G. Hypocrisy is the Companion of Self-Righteousness, Matt 23:25-28.

Part 2 Power Point

II. SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT…

  A. Carefully Obeying Law of God, 1 Tim 4:6; 2:3:10; Heb 5:8-9.
  B. Zeal and Dedication, Titus 2:14.
  C. Reproving and Rebuking Sin, 2 Tim 4:2; Gal 2:11-14.
  D. Refusing to have Fellowship with those who Practice Sin and Teach Error, 2 Jno 9-11 (2 Cor 6:14-7:1).
  E. Believing in Absolute Truth as Final, Authoritative Will of God, Eph 3:3-5; 5:17; Jno 8:32 (2 Tim 3:16-17; Jude 3).

III. RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST EXCEED SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, Matt 5:19-20.

  A. Submit to the Righteousness of God, Rom 10:3-4 (Phil 3:9-11).
  B. Do and Teach Command of God, Matt 5:19 (Heb 11:7; Eph 2:8-9).

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

The Christian's Influence

1. To be a Christian implies a conversion, Rom 6:3-4; Col 3:1-3, 8-10.
2. An area of growth must be our influence, Phil 2:14-16.
3. Things that build an influence that cannot be rebuked.

I. BE HONEST IN CHARACTER.

  A. Honesty is a Principle, not merely a “Policy”, Phil 4:8; 2 Cor 8:18-21; 1 Pet 2:11-12.
  B. Always be Truthful, Eph 4:25; Prov 6:16-19; Matt 12:34-35.

II. BE PURE IN SPEECH, 1 Pet 3:10.

  A. We must Abandon Vulgar Hearts and Language, Eph 4:29; 5:4; Col 4:6 (Jas 3:5; Titus 2:7-8).

III. BE PURE IN LIVING.

  A. Maintain the Purity of the Church for which Christ Died, Eph. 5:25-27; Phil 1:27; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Tim 5:22 (Rom 12:1-2; Gal 2:20).
  B. Church must not Condone Sin in its Members, 1 Cor 5:1-2, 13; Gal 6:1; 2 Ths 3:6, 14-15 (Acts 5:11, 13-14).

IV. BE KIND AND CONSIDERATE, Eph 4:32; 1 Cor 13:4.

  A. Kindness Shows Sincerity towards Others, 1 Pet 1:22; Rom 12:9; Gal 4:16; 2 Tim 2:24-26.

V. UNCOMPROMISING WITH TRUTH.

  A. Good Influence Occurs when We Live our Convictions (Dan 1; Acts 4); 2 Tim 4:2; Rom 8:31, 35-37.

Conclusion

1. Develop an influence without fault.
2. Give ourselves fully to godly living, Phil 2:14-16.

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Created by Chuck Sibbing.  07/20/2009