This book is a doctrinal study of postmodernism and other erosions into the integrity of the churches in America. (Editor’s note: a working definition of postmodernism could be this: “Post-modern Christianity is just as difficult to lock down in a concise definition as post-modernism itself. What started in the 1950’s in architecture as a reaction to modernist thought and style was soon adopted by the art and literary world in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The Church didn’t really feel this effect until the 1990’s. This reaction was a dissolution of ‘cold, hard fact’ in favor of ‘warm, fuzzy subjectivity’.” —From a website by S. Michael Houdmann. He possesses a Master’s degree in Christian Theology from Calvary Theological Seminary and a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College.)
Dr. MacArthur focuses on several issues that are at the heart of the current war over truth: these include the inspiration, authority, inerrancy, sufficiency and perspicuity (clarity) of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The author is also critical of the way postmodernists further want to separate orthodoxy (that is, right thinking and discernment) and orthopraxy (right practice in light of the gospel). He goes on to relate that the devil’s alternate credo often has a few carefully chosen elements of truth in the mix, but they are always diluted and blended with falsehoods, contradictions, misrepresentations, distortions, and perversions. Add it all up and what you get is nothing but a big, fat lie!
Most of the Scriptural references in The Truth War are taken from the “postcard” epistles—mainly Jude. However, the central focus is taken from Paul in the 20th chapter of Acts, where in speaking to the Ephesian elders he said, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears” (vv. 29-31). In other words, a great threat to the church would be internal!
In closing, I must share with you an excellent quote from author:
“Truth never changes with the times, but heresy always does. In fact, heresy’s subtlety is most clearly seen in the ever-shifting tides of change. The church is threatened by some gross error until a defense is finally mounted, and the threat is defeated. But then the polar opposite of that error springs up somewhere with a totally different, but equally grave threat. Then the trend shifts back to the variation of the first error. And thus it has been throughout the history of the church. No error can be comfortably counted as dead and gone, because the same old errors keep springing up in a new dress.”
Posted on August 8th, 2007 by Scott
Filed under: From the Church Library