The shallow language of the pulpit
"The true gospel is a call to self-denial. It is not a call to self-fulfillment." —John MacArthur
This is pious and ignorant. I can no more deny myself prior to regeneration than I can fulfill myself (using MacArthur's word).
This is the language of the pulpit. A hybrid language designed to keep people in their place and keep them ignorant of what it means to be a Christian. It's a language spoken by fools desperate to pay bills and have 'standing' in the world. It's a grotesque distortion of anything the Bible describes as the faith.
So once regenerated the process of self-denial has been worked out 99% by the pummeling I've experienced from the world and my own fallen nature. And self-fulfillment (using MacArthur's word) is basically a 'filling of the vacuum' of what has already been destroyed. Filling the vacuum desperately with the knowledge and practice and understanding of the faith.
It's all out of my hands.
We don't say: "Now it is the time that I will engage in self-denial." Making sure your standing among the church crowd is correct and you are receiving the respect you've come to demand and deserve. Everything in place. Everything right. "While at the same time I will eschew engaging in self-fulfillment." Relieved because this means to you that you won't have to actually read that strange book some of your fellow church goers are holding, let alone come to anything resembling an understanding of it.
You're in the world.
You're not on the hook, being lifted out of the world, fighting like hell every inch of the way.
3 Comments:
Thank you for posting on my blog (minus the mental case part - lol). I sense there is a lot of truth in your comment.
I am very intrigued by your blog. You seem to convey very well in words a stirring that I am feeling within, but haven't been able to articulate. I'll be reading more.
I have to admit, though, that I am a crank on the church subject. I'm sure you have a more level-headed approach. I guess I can be accused of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Also of broad-brushing the whole scene as if I know how each individual church is. I know somebody who tries to get me to stop being so negative and critical of churches in general, and I said to him once I think I react that way to shallowness in general. Also, the environment of man-fearing. Having said all that I do try to identify real things that are off-the-mark, and then write in a way to give shocks and wake people up. For better or worse...
c.t. - can you please contact me at bgbcsurvivors @ gmail dot com?
I have a question for you. Thanks! I can't find an e-mail on your blog.
JA
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