Theological views John F. MacArthur

1 theological views

1.1 young-earth creationism
1.2 eschatology
1.3 law , covenant
1.4 soteriology
1.5 cessationism
1.6 complementarianism
1.7 psychology
1.8 other christian movements , other religions

theological views
young-earth creationism

macarthur advocates young-earth creationism in book, battle beginning (2001), , in sermons. speaking evolutionary theory, writes christians ought expose such lies , oppose them vigorously. argues battle beginning battle between 2 mutually exclusive faiths - faith in scripture versus faith in anti-theistic hypotheses. not battle between science , bible.

eschatology

macarthur premillenialist , pre-tribulationist in regards timing of rapture , other end time occurrences, , stated, m committed fact jesus come set literal earthly kingdom , come 7 years before kingdom, come prior tribulation. however, macarthur has tried distance himself others within line of thought, such minister tim lahaye , novelist jerry b. jenkins of fame left behind series. macarthur remarked during sermon, ...somebody out there going say, oh boy, s in left behind series. no—i m not in rapture-fiction , m not in wacky charts. don t see me here big chart , stick. , m not in newspaper exegesis where...everything happens in news fulfills obscure old testament prophecy...i reject wacky world of newspaper exegesis , cartoon eschatology , crazy interpretation locusts of revelation 9 being helicopters...

law , covenant

macarthur describes himself leaky dispensationalist. while holds premillennial , pre-tribulational rapture of church , fulfillment of covenant promises made jews @ end of tribulation, rejects of classic dispensational ideas, such law having no application church. macarthur stated, m not in traditionally known dispensationalism, 7 dispensations, 2 kingdoms, 2 new covenants, 2 ways of salvation, discontinuity between old testament , new.

soteriology

macarthur key person in lordship salvation controversy in 1980s, arguing against free grace theology. states, must receive jesus christ is, both lord , savior, saved (ii peter 2:20). regarding eternal security, states, should never presented merely matter of being once saved, saved--with no regard believe or do. writer of hebrews 12:14 states frankly continue living holy lives enter lord s presence. macarthur s views raised controversy within american evangelicalism , challenged in print non-lordship dispensationalist theologians, charles ryrie , zane c. hodges, argued macarthur teaching form of works-based salvation. macarthur has denied conclusion due disagreement on nature of christ s lordship in relationship salvation. 1 can refer 2 tapes recorded in 1989 when asked reason ifca man.

in december 1989, bible broadcasting network terminated macarthur s grace program. in explaining step, bbn president lowell davey referred macarthur s teachings on blood of christ, , lordship salvation. davey called these teachings confusing. in letter dated january 15, 1990, davey cited a, ....drift dr. macarthur theological position not adhere to, , said macarthur s sermon series on theology of election ....convinced direction of grace toward hyper-calvinism.... macarthur preaches salvation election of god s sovereignty. however, term hyper-calvinism used denote 5-point calvinism or strong defense of calvinism, rather historical hyper-calvinism position elect may offered gospel (compare historical teaching of protestant denominations, including macarthur, of free offer of gospel). position not seem accurately reflect macarthur s position in sermons. controversy concerning efficacy of christ s blood stems macarthur s statement not literal liquid blood of christ saves, sacrificial death on cross, view espoused in article titled, not bleeding, dying, published in may 1976 issue of grace family paper distributed church. macarthur himself, though, later clarified stated of him in article, noting position concerning christ s blood , death in atonement, mentioning efficacy of christ s blood not particular physical property of blood itself, fact shed blood in dying, , affirmation christ s blood in death necessary satisfy god s holy requirement atonement.

cessationism

macarthur cessationist, , 1 of prominent voices in church against continuationist beliefs of pentecostalism , charismatic movement. has written 3 books in support of position: charismatics (1978), charismatic chaos (1993), , strange fire: danger of offending holy spirit counterfeit worship (2013). in october 2013, macarthur hosted conference called strange fire @ church, mark launch of book of same name. event featured number of speakers argued cessationist theology , critiqued charismatic movement. in opening remarks, macarthur stated, watching behavior of hindus belong kundalini cult. body movements identical of people in charismatic movement, extreme behavior of pagans. work of satan, work of darkness, , not attributed holy spirit. , that, charismatic movement such has made no contribution biblical clarity, interpretation, or sound doctrine ... detracts , confuses. has produced distortion, confusion, , error. have people been saved in charismatic churches? yes. nothing coming movement has been reason saved. evangelicalism has thrown arms open , has welcomed trojan horse of charismatic movement city of god. troops have taken on , placed idol in city of god.

he broadly calls modern visions, revelations, voices heaven...dreams, speaking in tongues, prophecies, out-of-body experiences, trip heaven, anointings, miracles – false, lies, deceptions – attributed falsely holy spirit. , charismatic movement has stolen holy spirit , created golden calf, , they’re dancing around golden calf if holy spirit. has made list of gifts of spirit, 1 cor. 12-14, holds once new testament finished, sign gifts ceased have function , , ended conclusion of apostolic age, around 100 ad.

in subsequent teaching, has happened after strange fire conference (2013), macarthur allowed within charismatic movement there believed in authority of scripture, honored lord, , pursued godly living, , movement retained enough gospel truth souls saved within it. however, saw interdenominational presence being testimony absence of theology, , charged theology both heterodox , heretical...everything defined experience..and therefore has weak view of scripture, s charismatic movement. further criticized modern charismatic movement, stating in 1967 bunch of jesus freak people in beach areas of southern california go calvary chapel..and first time, church, know of in history, church lets defined subculture dictate be. out go ties, out go hymns, out go normal , formal things...and hippie culture, know, kids coming out of drugs, communal living, free sex, , kind of casual thing, , s charismatic church, s four-square church...that s movement becomes know calvary chapel. first calvary chapel church saying ll let culture tell need be...the charismatic movement has developed...its comfortable in roman catholicism, comfortable in dead denominationalism...i thinks false form of christianity.

in past (1991) however, macarthur commended chuck smith (1927 – 2013), founder of calvary chapel movement, writing straight forward critique of charismatic extremism, , stated there many him have taken stand , thank god courage , desire biblical. in response macarthur s “strange fire” conference, calvary chapel expresses fundamental disagreement macarthur s understanding of spiritual gifts among god s people today, affirms charisma, not charismania, , commends chuck smith’s book charisma versus charismania being 1 of best short, popular works on subject.

three books have been written in response strange fire book , conference, arguing continuationist position: authentic fire: response john macarthur s strange fire michael brown; holy fire: balanced, biblical @ holy spirit s work in our lives r.t. kendall , essential guide power of holy spirit: god s miraculous gifts @ work today dr. randy clark. addressing “strange fire” conference, continuationist calvinist baptist john piper concurs there many abuses in charismatic church, adds need keep in mind every charismatic abuse has mirror image in non-charismatic abuses...in of these cases, non-charismatic church more guilty charismatic, such as, absence of emotion, more deadly excesses.

complementarianism

macarthur takes stand against chauvinist , feminist views complementarian view on gender roles , considers bible not allow women teach men or exercise authority in churches. believes biblical roles of elder , pastor restricted men citing biblical passage of 1 timothy 2:11-12.

psychology

macarthur advocate of nouthetic counseling, stresses bible sufficient tool counseling people mental illnesses such depression , anxiety. macarthur not reject forms of psychological theories , techniques, though considers psychology , psychiatry contrary bible.

he has argued true psychology (i.e. study of soul ) can done christians, since christians have resources understanding , transforming soul. secular discipline of psychology based on godless assumptions , evolutionary foundations , capable of dealing people superficially , on temporal level... psychology no more science atheistic evolutionary theory upon based. theistic evolution, christian psychology attempt harmonize 2 inherently contradictory systems of thought. modern psychology , bible cannot blended without serious compromise or utter abandonment of principle of scripture s sufficiency....

his stance has caused several controversies, notable of first time employee of evangelical church had ever been sued malpractice. case failed come trial because judge ruled case having insufficient evidence.

other christian movements , other religions

his writings disapprove of other modern christian movements , ministers such run seeker-friendly church services such robert schuller, bill hybels, , rick warren.

he has criticized popular word of faith pastor joel osteen, whom has spoken of quasi-pantheist.

in may 2002, in midst of significant media , public attention focused on catholic sex abuse cases, macarthur gave message highly critical of entire system of roman catholic priesthood. macarthur has referred catholicism kingdom of satan, , holds confession pope anti-christ, term, said, applies positions himself against or in place of christ.

macarthur states person believes of roman catholicism teaches not believe in saving faith because roman catholic way of salvation works based , twisted system of satanic lies presided on pope.