Dr. MacArthur, “Reforming” Is Not The Answer. Repentance Is!

From his Grace to You blog Dr. John MacArthur laments what has become of the so-called “young, restless and reformed [Calvinists],” (YRR). John MacArthur is telling the YRR to “grow up…settle down.” In his introductory article, Grow Up. Settle Down. Keep Reforming: Advise for the Young, Restless, Reformed MacArthur wrote,

“[The YRR,] “cannot be genuinely ‘Reformed’ and deliberately worldly at the same time. The two things are inconsistent and incompatible. To embrace the world’s fashions and values—even under the guise of being ‘missional’—is to make oneself God’s enemy (James 4:4).”

In my previous article1 I demonstrated how John MacArthur shares in the culpability for having contributed to the worldliness among the YRR, which he now laments and admonishes them for. Since the initial article Dr. MacArthur has posted the second in his Grow Up series with additional installments to follow. With the research assistance of Brother Ken Silva of the Apprising Ministries blog2 I was directed to the following video at You Tube titled, JMac RAP.3 John MacArthur agreed to participate with and appear in this video.


Dr. MacArthur admonishes the YRR for being “deliberately worldly,” when it is he who has in part lead them there through his own personal examples of worldliness. MacArthur’s college, seminary and through Rick Holland’s annual CCM/Rock concert Resolved young people are being taught that it’s acceptable, that it’s even desirable to be worldly.

In his first admonition to the YRR MacArthur wrote, “There is even a surge of interest in Jonathan Edwards.” Dr. Peter Masters had it exactly right when he noted what the reaction of Edwards would be to how John MacArthur and Rick Holland through Resolved have besmirched his (Edwards’) Resolutions.

One of the vaunted new conferences is called Resolved, after Jonathan Edwards’ famous youthful Resolutions (seventy searching undertakings). But the culture of this conference would unquestionably have met with the outright condemnation of that great theologian.

Resolved is the brainchild of a member of Dr John MacArthur’s pastoral staff [Rick Holland], gathering thousands of young people annually, and featuring the usual mix of Calvinism and extreme charismatic-style worship. Young people are encouraged to feel the very same sensational nervous impact of loud rhythmic music on the body that they would experience in a large, worldly pop concert, complete with replicated lighting and atmosphere.... Worldly culture provides the bodily, emotional feelings, into which Christian thoughts are infused and floated. Biblical sentiments are harnessed to carnal entertainment. (Pictures of this conference on their website betray the totally worldly, showbusiness atmosphere created by the organisers.)4

The organisers of Resolved’s totally worldly, showbusiness atmosphere are Rick Holland and John MacArthur. In MacArthur’s opening Grow Up article he wrote, “We still have a lot of reforming to do. And let’s face it: the besetting sin of young Calvinists is a brash failure to come to grips with that reality.”

“We have a lot of reforming to do?” Dr. MacArthur, may I ask: Are you speaking of “reforming” as if being a better Calvinist will make a less worldly Calvinist? In my opinion, the theology of Calvinism (a theology with which I disagree entirely) has nothing to do with the worldliness that has infected the YRR. Could Dr. MacArthur possibly be telling the YRR to reform their lives and cut the worldliness from out of it? Wouldn’t Dr. MacArthur understand that if reforming the life could have worked it would have worked a long time ago?

No, Dr. MacArthur, “reforming” is not the answer, Repentance is!

Dr. MacArthur “reforming” won’t solve anything. Begin by biblically REPENTING! Start with yourself! Repent of the “deliberate worldliness” in your own ministry. Demonstrate biblical repentance by rooting out the “deliberate worldliness” you have introduced into, tolerated and allowed for in your own ministry. Call a halt to the “deliberate worldliness” in entertainment at Resolved. Only through a demonstration of personal repentance can you hope to have any credibility with the YRR when and if you will call on them to repent.

To the YRR Dr. MacArthur wrote, “To embrace the world’s fashions and values—even under the guise of being ‘missional’—is to make oneself God’s enemy (James 4:4).” Dr. MacArthur has propagated and embraced the world’s fashion and values. He as well as many of his ministerial friends in the leadership of T4G/TGC have made the world’s fashions fashionable to a whole generation of young people. Their example, the example set by leadership among the so-called “conservative” evangelicals has lead many in the younger generation to make themselves into and behave as God’s enemy. Repent!


LM

1) Has John MacArthur Promoted the Creation of the Young, Restless & Reformed Who, “Embrace the World’s Fashions and Values?”

2) Apprising Ministries

3) A source who has a son who attending the Master’s seminary indicates the JMac RAP was a video from a recent talent show. It seems it was part of the “Spring Sing 2010 at the Master’s College.” It is reported that MacArthur, furthermore, appeared in additional videos for the same contest. JMac RAP finished in 2nd place.

4) The Merger of Calvinism With Worldliness

For another video example that typifies the worldliness John MacArthur has fostered and encouraged among young people under his watch care see, Master’s College Medley- Kids at a Church

For Related Reading:
The RAP on Mark Dever