Our book review this month is Ashamed of the Gospel—When the Church Becomes the World, by Dr. John MacArthur. This is an updated version of his classic work with a lengthy new introduction and a couple of new chapters. Still, however, the overall message of this new publication issues a warning against pragmatism (where the ends justifies the means).
Setting the foundation of the author’s reasoning was Charles Spurgeon’s “Downgrade Controversy” in which modernism was invading the Baptist churches in England. [Editor’s Note: The “Downgrade Controversy” revolved around Spurgeon’s preachings that the churches were slowly drifting away from truth to a downhill slope, and thus labeled it "the down-grade." Spurgeon preached about this attack on God’s eternal truths from 1887 until his death in 1892.] Spurgeon accurately predicted that worldly methodology (notably plays and other forms of entertainment) would saturate the church with worldly-minded unbelievers at worst, and worldly-minded Christians at best. The thing that was designed to produce fruit (doctrinally accurate preaching) only produced “rotten” fruit.
Seventeen years ago, Dr. John MacArthur published Ashamed of the Gospel to illustrate and parallel England’s problems of 100 years ago to America’s problem today. The contrast is his point that postmodernism has replaced modernism.
Now released in an updated version, this insightful book has been incorporated with a lot of material from The Truth War, and focuses on new, non-biblical movements (the emerging movement, “emerging conversation” and the seeker-friendly movement) that are sweeping through American churches.
At the closing of Ashamed of the Gospel, we are introduced to new-age Calvinism, which is referred to as young, restless and reformed. Just what this new movement entails is left undefined; however, in the flavor of the current book, it’s probably a diluted version of Calvinism.
Ashamed of the Gospel is particularly worth reading, especially if you are interested in some of the manuscripts concerning Spurgeon’s “Downgrade Controversy.” This wonderful book is good, solid food for the mature Christian, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).
Posted on June 1st, 2010 by Scott
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Church Library