Tim Challies John MacArthur
Tim Challies asked the readers of his blog in early 2011 to questions that he could be addressed to John MacArthur. He selected the best 10 questions and was pleased with the willingness of John MacArthur, in detail address these issues. The questions concerned, inter alia, on his new book slave , the best translations of the Bible, the avoidance of scandal, the challenges of the service and lessons that John MacArthur has even learned in the course of his ministry. Challies also spoke with MacArthur about time management, criticism of people out of the own stock, "theological crisis, charismatic representatives of the Calvinist camp, and Christians who reject a literal creation of 6 days.
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Challies: slave (a slave). What is this word so special that you can write a whole book about it?
MacArthur: Sometimes a word can make a huge difference. For example, the Latin Vulgate translated the word metanoia (repentance, repentance) with paenitentia (penance, penance) to passages like Acts 2:38, which led to all sorts of problems in the Roman Catholic Church.
The image of a slave is an important part of writing. Indeed, the believers in the Old and New Testament hundreds of times are called "slaves." Nevertheless, the American Blind community is important for this issue because most English Bible translations translate the word "servant."
While it is true that the duties of slaves and servants are to overlap to some degree, there is a central difference between the two words are hired servants, slaves are property. Servants can freely decide to whom and what they want to work. The idea of servitude includes up to a certain degree of autonomy and personal rights. Slaves have no freedom on the other hand, no autonomy, no rights . In the Greco-Roman world had people Slaves, one from a legal perspective as things looked rather than people. Meant to be a slave to be the possession of a person you had to obey without hesitation or contradiction.
This reality has important implications for our understanding of the Gospel. The call of Christ to follow Him, is not only an invitation to be his partner, but it includes a mandate to become his slave. This message is needed above all in American society where the human-centered gospel and the good feelings of cheap grace has become so popular . But how far are we from the biblical reality - a reality you again in the spotlight must, by translating this one word correctly: ". slave"
In the past I have written many books that dealt with the right understanding of the Gospel The Gospel According to Jesus, The Gospel According to the Apostles, Hard to Believe etc. But as I noted in the preface to my book slave , there is no doubt that the persistent lack of an essential element Revelation New Testament much to the confusion in the evangelical teaching and evangelical action has resulted. In fact, I wonder if this was not the reason I looked crowded, so viele Bücher zu schreiben, um Klarheit über das Evangelium zu bringen. Wäre diese Realität bekannt gewesen, wäre es dann überhaupt nötig gewesen, alle diese Bücher zu schreiben?
Ich sehe darin ein vitales, wichtiges Thema mit weitreichenden Auswirkungen, wie das Evangelium verstanden, gepredigt und gelebt werden sollte.
Challies: Im Lichte dessen, was Sie in Ihrem Buch Slave schreiben, was die richtige Übersetzung von doulos (Sklave) angeht, welche Bibelübersetzung bevorzugen Sie? Ist die richtige Übersetzung des Wortes ein ausreichender Grund, für welche Übersetzung wir uns entscheiden sollten?
MacArthur: I am grateful for the excellent English translations like the NASB, NKJV and ESV. But I would have liked to see the Old Testament and New Testament word ebed doulos translated with the word slave. And I am glad that some do new translations of the Bible as the Holman Christian Standard Bible this.
I have done with a larger publishing some discussion as to whether you can change your Bible so that they doulos the truth about (slave) in the New Testament reflects. You told me that they want to discuss this point in their translation committee. But I do not know which end to take it.
While I do not expect to replace many communities their Bible translations because of the subject for another, I hope that pastors - where they preach on a text that contains the word doulos - take your time and your audience is , teach what the word really. I hope they do their homework in Greek and not just rely on the English text. If the Lord willing, the book Slave for it will be a help in this regard.
Challies: How manages to be spared a preacher of your awareness, of scandals and ruin to remain in a society of self-centeredness and selfishness? How do you protect yourself, and how to protect yourself other preachers?
MacArthur: The key to avoid scandals, is a lifestyle of integrity. If you live with integrity and have a clear conscience, then you never have to worry that it could be a scandal - because in their basement are no bodies buried. In the eyes of the people to be impeccably begins, so that they may walk blameless before the Lord.
As important as it is, a good reputation in the community zu bewahren, so ist es Tausend Mal wichtiger, auf den eigenen Charakter zu achten. Der vordringlichste Kampfplatz im Ringen um Integrität ist Ihr eigenes Denken. Dort wird alles verloren oder alles gewonnen. Und wenn Sie dort verloren haben, ist Ihr Charakter bereits ruiniert. Dann ist es nur eine Frage der Zeit, bis Ihr Ruf geschädigt ist, denn ein schlechter Baum kann keine gute Frucht hervorbringen.
Einfach gesagt, wenn Sie sich um den Kampf im Innern bemühen, können Sie Gott vertrauen, dass er sich um Ihren Ruf in der Gemeinschaft draußen kümmert.
Während es sicherlich hilfreich ist, Rechenschaft vor anderen gottesfürchtigen Menschen abzulegen (Fellow elder, family members, etc.), it is far more helpful to remember that one is held responsible before God and that there will be a future court . You can be surrounded by many people one is accountable. But if you lose your heart in the struggle for accountability to God, then you'll come out to the outside never won. The real battle will take place in the hearts and conscience.
Challies: If you look back over the many years of your service, which was the biggest challenge you had to exist, and how God has used this in your service?
MacArthur: My years in the Grace Community Church had a wonderful time. Any difficulties that presented themselves to me, were low compared to the countless blessings and joys. Nevertheless, the service has not been without challenges. For example, when I was in Grace Community Church started my service, I immediately recognized the need to select God-fearing men and train them so they formed a body of elders. This was a long process and extended over many years, but I knew it was a negotiated biblical priority, and it was an investment that has since invaluable erwiesen hat .
Unsere Ältestenschaft hat seit dieser Zeit immer wieder vor Herausforderungen gestanden. Zeitweise gab es Personen, die versuchten, Spaltungen hervorzurufen oder die aus unbiblischen Gründen die Gemeinde verließen. Solche Dinge können sehr schmerzhaft und schwierig sein, insbesondere in der Situation selbst. Aber am Ende haben wir immer Gottes Treue erkannt. Ferner haben solche Situationen meine Liebe für meine Mitältesten vertieft, was mir zeigte, wie wichtig es ist, dass eine Vielzahl gottesfürchtiger Männer eine Gemeinde leitet.
Aber um Ihre Frage noch direkter zu beantworten, ich glaube, dass die größte Herausforderung jedes Predigers in his service in it is that it persistently, especially in this day and age the word of God remains faithful. There's always this temptation to tickle the ears of the listener to follow trends or casual work around with the Bible study. But because pastors are called to preach the true word, they must resist these temptations, and they have to do it week after week.
If a pastor devotes himself faithfully to the study and proclamation of God's word, is nothing but a greater influence on his life and ministry than this. He will be blessed not only because his soul is nourished resistant; but his people will grow because there is nothing in their lives gibt, was relevanter oder notwendiger ist für ihr geistliches Wachstum als die reine Milch des Wortes.
Manchmal werden Pastoren müde in ihrem Dienst, insbesondere wenn sie lange in einer Gemeinde bleiben. Aber der Schlüssel, diese Ermattung im Dienst zu verhindern, liegt in der persönlichen geistlichen Erneuerung. Wenn Sie zuerst Ihr eigenes Herz erfüllen, so dass Ihre Verkündigung für die geistlichen Dinge brennend und lebendig ist, dann können Sie erwarten, dass Ihre Gemeinde für geistliche Dinge ebenso lebendig sein wird. Solch ein Brennen kommt natürlich vor allem durch Ihr eigenes konzentriertes Studium des Wortes Gottes. Und hier ist ein wichtiger Schlüssel: Studieren Sie nicht, to prepare sermons, you study, so that you know the truth, so you can enjoy the glory and grace of God and for you to do God's will . Sermons should never be the main goal of our Bible studies, sermons should merely an emanation of it. If you study the Bible, you are looking for an accurate understanding of who God is and what he expected - first of all it's about your devotion and holiness . And then, from this wealth, you teach people and encourage them to follow you as you follow Christ.
Challies: If you once again as the man that you are now, could start from scratch, und dem Mann, der Sie damals waren einen Rat geben könnten, als sie ihren Dienst in der Grace Community Church antraten, welchen Rat würden Sie geben?
MacArthur: Ich würde wahrscheinlich die weisen Worte meines Vaters weitergeben, die er mir vor vielen Jahren mitgab.
Schon bevor ich meinen Dienst in der Grace Community Church begann, sagte mein Vater zu mir: „Ich will, dass Du Dich an einige Dinge erinnerst, bevor Du in den Dienst gehst. Erstens, die großen Prediger, die ausdauernden Prediger, die der Geschichte ihren Stempel aufdrückten, unterwiesen ihre Zuhörer im Wort Gottes. Zweitens, sie verharrten lange an einem Place. "These were two wise advice. When I came to Grace Community Church , most people thought I would stay there a year or two because I was a traveling youth minister. But in my heart I knew I wanted to do the two things my father had told me this was a means of teaching the Bible with expository preaching, especially the entire New Testament, because I knew the second that such a project requires would make a long stay in one place. I knew this would be the only way to nourish my own soul, to strengthen generations, with God's truth, and above all visible in the long run lead to an integer life.
Challies: you are obviously a very busy man What advice would you give to pastors as they should love their wives and children despite all the demands of pastoral ministry?
MacArthur: It is particularly important that the pastor gives his family a priority. As Paul told Timothy, had to demonstrate an elder of the following qualifications: ... of the house projecting well and keeps the children in submission with all honesty - but if someone knows not how to rule his own house, how he will ensure the church of God "This is a priority, as they are directly in Scripture is described.
The most important things you can do a Christian father to his children is love their mother in a modern way of Christ (Eph 5) and educate the children in the admonition of the Lord (Eph 6). And the most important thing he can do for his wife, is to follow Christ, to love them and then to infer from the abundance of his devotion to the Savior. Consequently, the fundamental key to a good husband and father is to be to be a God-fearing man - someone who loves the Lord burning and fills his heart and his mind with the Word of God. And that's very practical. To parents and a successful model in the marriage be, one must be faithful in following Christ. Everything else in life comes from this source. Then your leadership at home by an attitude of humble sacrifice and selfless service to be characterized. By the Spirit uses His Word to your heart to sanctify, it will lead your family and care for them.
There are other important things that fathers have to do, of course - such as prayer for the children correction with patience and kindness, teaching the love for the community, spending time with them, encourage them, and be a friend to help them to close friendships in wisdom. But the center of Christian Parenting is a faithful Christian to be .
This kind of true Christianity that is lived out daily in front of those you know best, produces great credibility in terms of preaching and leadership in the community.
Challies: How can we criticize people who are part of our "camp" in a constructive way if they have other beliefs or behave in a manner which we disapprove? How can we know where we cross a line?
MacArthur: Part of being an elder is not to only the truth to teach and preach, but also warn the flock from error . We see Christ and the apostles in this regard as role models in the New Testament. If the Gospel is threatened, and even if an important aspect of pastoral ministry or church life is subject to attacks, it is important to warn people against false and potential dangers.
If we disagree with people from "our camp" have (which I understand that these people affirm the Gospel, but only in secondary matters take a different view than we do), we need to respond case by case basis to it. And my response is dependent the size of the danger that, in my estimation, for the people who are entrusted to me spiritually. If it deals with a subject that is a potential threat to Grace Community Church or the students of the Master's College , I would like to speak before the congregation to do so. If the topic is very important and far reaching, I would write an article or a series of blog entries, or even a book.
I strive not to be a full-time critic of all topics. As is known, I criticized a few times people from the "own camp," as you call it, and my concern was characterized by a deep concern for the people, for which I had spiritual responsibility. I feel a heavy burden for them because I know I will one day before the Lord an account of it must , and I am ready in the broader evangelical community to be unpopular, if this is the price that I say what Scripture says.
One last thought that I would say: I believe it is appropriate , makes a speech to what was taught publicly . If someone publishes a book or an article on a blog or when someone holds a sermon (which is available online), it must not be publicly criticized. I am convinced that this is also for my teaching ministry. All I have preached or published, may therefore be publicly criticized. And I think critics do not regard as absolutely unkind, just because I do not agree with them. In fact, I welcome your feedback welcome because it is part of the process in which one gains clarity.
Challies: What two or three of the most pressing issues you currently see in the North American community?
MacArthur: Two of the main concerns werden in den nächsten beiden Fragen beantwortet. Darum gebe ich meine Antwort auf diese Frage später. Ein drittes Problem, das ich erkenne, ist die arminianische Methodologie [Arminius betonte den menschlichen Willen und war ein Gegenspieler Calvins, der als Begründer der Reformierten Kirche die Souveränität Gottes betonte], die viele in der Gruppe um Young Restless Reformed (junge Generation, die sich dem reformatorischen Glauben verpflichtet fühlt) kennzeichnet, obgleich sie ein reformatorisches Glaubensbekenntnis vertreten.
Traurigerweise ist es eine Ironie, dass diejenigen, die für sich beanspruchen, eine calvinistische Soteriologie (Lehre des Heils) zu vertreten, ekklesiologische [The community concerning] apply and evangelistic methods that have characterized much of current trends, clever methods and human ingenuity. If pastors exert oneself so as to be cool "or" hip "or" trendy "to be, and if they think that the way they talk or dress, the message of the gospel for the lost makes a pleasant , this reveals about them, that they have taken basically a Arminian position. Words such as "relevance," "innovation" or "contextualization" are becoming key words, even in Calvinist circles to the "Unchurched" to achieve. But these words contain a human-centered attitude that I believe that it is completely unbiblical.
How much better would it be the attitude of Jonathan Edwards during the Great Awakening (Grand revival from about 1730) to take. Edwards was surprised how people responded to his preaching. He manipulated the revival is not (as Finney did a century later). Instead, he focused on the preaching of truth and trust the Holy Spirit that he would complete his work. If we in our Calvinist soteriology, we should at least in the same spirit our Ecclesiology operate - and especially our evangelistic strategy.
Challies: you have the book Charismatic written chaos and yet we do, surprisingly, that to Reformation theology mixed with charismatic teachings (as in the communities that the Sovereign Grace belong movement). If you would now write a book as you would love for and criticism of Calvinism Charismatics unite with each other?
MacArthur: I would share my love and appreciation for CJ Mahaney, Wayne Grudem, John Piper and other conservative in the camp of non-Cessationisten [proponents of spiritual gifts - charisma - even today] to express. I see these men as friends and allies of the gospel. The book Charismatic Chaos was written primarily because of the excesses of the Pentecostal-charismatic movement. And for those excesses, these men are not exactly known.
But I would still ask these men to reconsider their position on spiritual gifts. I am convinced that the charismatic movement, the door open for more theological errors than any other factor in the 20 Century (including liberalism, psychology, and ecumenism). This is a strong statement, I know. But if you allow that experience at the center, the effects are catastrophic.
I also firmly believe that the biblical description of the charismatic gifts (charisms) of the charismatic gifts is incompatible, as they are practiced today in the Pentecostal-charismatic churches. Acts 2 describes, for example, the gift of tongues (language issue) explicitly as the ability to speak until then unknown and learned languages. The rest of the Neuen Testaments unterstützt dieses Verständnis (wie auch das Zeugnis der Kirchenväter). Aber dies ist das genaue Gegenteil des unsinnigen Gelalles, das die heutige Glossolalie (Zungenreden) charakterisiert. Also würde ich von ihnen einfordern, dass sie erklären, warum sie an einer modernen Praxis festhalten, die in Wahrheit keine biblische Grundlage hat – insbesondere da die moderne Praxis die Türen für alle möglichen theologischen Irrtümer öffnet.
Challies: Eine der wichtigsten Fragen, die in der heutigen Gemeinde diskutiert wird, ist die Schöpfung und Evolution. Glauben Sie, dass eine Person wirklich errettet sein kann und an eine can feel kind of theistic evolution? What would you classify the theological error that goes along with the denial of a creation in 6 days?
MacArthur: is In my opinion this is a very big mistake, because the authority of Scripture from the beginning is made on the question . It requires a special hermeneutics, to reverse the meaning of the Bible in the opposite of what it says clearly. And if you open up that door, nothing is safe from the attacks of rationalism, skepticism and open infidelity.
I watch the propaganda of organizations like BioLogos is published, and you must come inevitably to the conclusion that most people who are committed to this project, obviously did not believe, considering the many scriptures that they have to explain away regularly to their twisted ideology to justify.
In fact, the history of modernist rationalism full of impressive examples of why it is so serious and spiritually destructive if it submits the document human hypotheses. I have this issue at great length at the beginning of my book The Battle for the Beginning described.
But in response to your specific question: I believe that it is possible for a true believer to be confused or clouded by scientific arguments in terms of evolution and the age of the earth. (It is certainly possible for believers, that they inconsistent in their beliefs are -.. That they represent all the possible errors in varying degrees, this is called cognitive dissonance)
evangelicals who mean well, have experimented in various ways, reconcile the theory of an old earth with Scripture. One of the more popular ideas (To Henry Morris refuted them) was that it is a time interval between 1Mose 1.1 and 1.2 are 1Mose, and according to this theory, this interval could have lasted an incredibly long time, was in the change and chaos in the universe. Spurgeon took a version of this interval theory, and the original Scofield Bible spoke with a reckless enthusiasm by both the interval theory and on a cosmology of an old earth. Of course we would never all those who held such an opinion, among the unbelievers.
Nevertheless, evolutionary theory has become an untouchable dogma - a popular weapon for today's generation aggressive atheists - and I can not understand how a sober, well-founded, sat abandoned Christian who really believes what the Bible teaches, long the different and constantly changing theories can be convinced to propose the evolutionary scientists again and again . The Biblical cosmology, the report in 1Mose on the creation of man and his fall, and the important parallels between Adam and Christ in salvation history - these are the basic beliefs of Christianity, which have never changed, and they stand in stark contradiction purely to all naturalistic theories of the origin of life.
Anyone who takes seriously the authority of Scripture, the opinions of the people ultimately leave aside and simply rely on the script. The sooner we do this, the better it is. Honestly, I never understood how someone who believes in the literal resurrection of Christ could come there not to believe all the scriptures, from 1Mose 1.1.
Thanks to Dr. MacArthur, who was prepared to conduct this interview.
translated and published with permission from Tim Challies.
Sources:
10 Questions with John MacArthur
5 More Questions With John MacArthur
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