I've recently read Fool's Gold by John MacArthur. This book is a collection of essays by John MacArthur and his followers about 'discerning truth in an age of error'. The authors address a variety of trends in the modern evangelical church such as Christian rock music, altar calls, and Christian consumerism. They also critique certain popular Christian books that they consider to be theologically flawed: The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren, What Saint Paul Really Said by N.T. Wright, Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, and the Revolve New Testament from Transit Books.
MacArthur's book is an ambitious, readable, and necessary attempt to hold up Christian practices to the light of Scriptural truth. Nathan Busenitz wrote a systematic attack on The Purpose Driven Life that is worthy of examination. I've long been wary of this book, given its appallingly extensive prooftexting and the bizarre reverence that many Christians seem to give it (e.g. members of my congregation bringing it to church instead of the Bible). Daniel Gillespie composed a chapter studying the theology of Wild at Heart, which I confess, had seduced me by providing non-existent Biblical confirmation of what I really wanted to be true, but is not.
The gift of discernment is a necessary instrument for Christian development, for we must exclude truth for error, to which the Apostles devoted most of the Epistles. Fool's Gold, however, sometimes borders on Phariseanism with its nitpicky attacks on its theological foes. For example, the critics of the books The Purpose Driven Life and Wild at Heart both argue that the popular works do not present a complete theology. Well, duh. They're 200-page books on one topic. The authors miss the irony that even Fool's Gold does not compose a systematic theology in its 219 pages.
Many of the book's criticisms of popular Christian trends are really just expressions of Calvinism. The clearest example is in the chapter on altar calls (Joe Carter and Shane Raynor have related and recent thoughts). Carey Hardy concluded that they undermine a proper view of the sovereignty of God:
But where is God's sovereignty in all of this? Scripture makes it clear that salvation is of the Lord -- every aspect of it -- and that those whom the Lord has foreknown and predestined, He does indeed call and justify, and whom He justifies, He will indeed someday glorify. Salvation is presented in Scripture as completed from God's perspective. Our role is faithfulness and obedience to the Lord. (p.140)
Yet in spite of the Calvinist threads of criticism running through the book, Fool's Gold is a worthwhile read for its intriguing and relevant perspectives into pop Christian trends. I recommend it.
5 comments:
You recommend this "in spite of the Calvinist threads of criticism" in the book? Tut-tut, John. I'll read it because of them. Thanks for the review!
:-)
I have been somewhat bewildered by the sometimes harsh critiques of popular books like The Purpose Driven Life and The Prayer of Jabez.
Yes, I understand that they are "light" theologically. Yes, I understand that they may not always exegete passages in context. But, they have done one thing that the majority of books written by our scholars and theologians haven't -- they have put the Word of God in the homes of non-Christians!
God's Word does not return void but goes forth to accomplish His purpose. Perhaps it was the introduction of Christianity through the Purpose Driven Life that led someone to Christ and then to join a Bible-believing church. If nothing else, then these books open the door for us to share our faith with others in a non-threatening manner.
I actually think it's a good thing that people who would never darken the door of a Christian bookstore or a church can -- and will -- walk into their local Walmart and pick up a book with Bible quotes in them.
Perhaps if we spent less time criticizing those who do write these books and more time preparing theologically sound texts for the general public, we would see more people come to Christ in America? Aren't we all supposed to be on the same team?
The Prayer of Jabez is rather distant in my memory, so I won't speak of it. But The Purpose Driven Life has serious problems. Most notably, Warren uses a dozen different translations and paraphrases of Bible verses, many of which he takes ridiculously out of context. As such, he is not attempting to conform his life to the standards of the Word, but vice versa. It would be good, as you say, to have non-Christians read the Bible, but if they are reading what amounts to a complete distortion, are they really reading the Bible, even in quotation?
As I wrote in my original post, I have seen Christians stop carrying around their Bibles, and instead arrive on Sunday morning carrying their PDLs. Isn't that disturbing? I have seen Christians quote Warren with the breathless reverence usually reserved for Scripture. That amounts to idolatry, and has no place in the Christian church. I have no doubt that it was not Warren's intention to create such a phenomenon, but it should upset him that his followers' Bibles are getting dusty.
The argument that, at least they are getting some of God's Word even if it is "light" is flawed in my opinion. Are some ashamed of the "heavy" and whole truth? Or do they think it won't sell?
The logic to me is akin to providing candy to a child who refuses to eat his supper, and saying, "well at least he is eating something", and "if he keeps eating candy maybe some day I can switch his desert with nourshing food and he won't notice" Not realizing that you may actually be preventing him from ever receiving nourishing food by keeping his hunger satisfied with candy.
Curses! Rebuked again! I always hate it when people throw facts at my theories and opinions!
I was by no means suggesting that the Purpose Driven Life should be placed in such high esteem by those in our churches. If people are leaving their Bibles at home, there is a bigger problem there that is not being addressed.
In my experience, I had several non-churched friends who became interested in Christianity and in reading the Bible after they read through Rick Warren's book. Also, we used Warren's book as the basis for a Bible study (using the Bible to flesh out Warren's text), and it turned out to be a pretty insightful study.
My only point was that there was value in the book, and you can't expect the non-churched folks who visit Walmart to pick up a systematic theology text for light reading. They have to start somewhere, and I think Rick Warren's books are a lot better than some of the popular alternatives, especially the Da Vinci Code.
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