Error Intolerant
May 19th, 2008
(By John MacArthur)
As Christians we must understand that whatever opposes God’s Word or departs from it in any way is a danger to the very cause of truth. Passivity toward known error is not an option for the Christian. Staunch intolerance of error is built into the very fabric of Scripture. And tolerance of known error is anything but a virtue.
Jesus clearly and unashamedly affirmed the utter exclusivity of Christianity. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Obviously, that sort of exclusivity is fundamentally incompatible with post-modern tolerance.
Truth and error cannot be combined to yield something beneficial. Truth and error are as incompatible as light and darkness. “What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
We can’t tell the world, “This is truth, but whatever you want to believe is fine, too. It’s not fine. Scripture commands us to be intolerant of any idea that denies the truth.
Lest anyone misunderstand, I’m not defending dogmatism on any and every theological issue. Some things in Scripture are not perfectly clear. But the central teachings of Scripture (in particular, those things related to the way of salvation) are so simple and so clear that even a child can understand.
Those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. (Westminster Confession, 1:7).
All the truth that is necessary for our salvation can be easily understood in a true way by anyone who applies common sense and due diligence in seeking to understand what the Bible teaches. And that truth — the core message of Scripture — is incompatible with every other system of belief. We ought to be dogmatic about it.
No wonder post-modernism, which prides itself on being tolerant of every competing world-view, is nonetheless hostile to biblical Christianity. Even the most determined post-modernist recognizes that biblical Christianity by its very nature is totally incompatible with a position of uncritical broad-mindedness. If we accept the fact that Scripture is the objective, authoritative truth of God, we are bound to see that every other view is not equally or potentially valid.
There is no need to seek middle ground through dialogue with proponents of anti-Christian world-views, as if the truth could be refined by the dialectical method. It is folly to think truth given by divine revelation needs any refining or updating. Nor should we imagine that we can meet opposing world-views on some philosophically neutral ground. The ground between us is not neutral. If we really believe the Word of God is true, we know that everything opposing it is error. And we are to yield no ground whatsoever to error.
Dr. MacArthur,
In a world that constantly beats Christians down I am so grateful that you stand firm on issues of faith. Your ministry has been a bulwark never failing and I am so grateful for your integrity and message. May God continue to bless your ministry and may we as Christian’s never become tolerant just because the world tells us to. We must stand on the word.
Thanks for your word.
Jason
“that sort of exclusivity is fundamentally incompatible with post-modern tolerance”
I’m glad this line was in there. What most people speak of as tolerance today is not really tolerance. Jesus was indeed tolerant, but he did not accept error as a valid alternative. We are tolerant when we say to people, “I will respect your right to believe anything you want. I will try to show you the truth, but I will not force you to follow what I believe.” If we were truly intolerant then we would return to the religious persecution of the 16th and 17th centuries, burning people because they did not believe rightly.
We live in a tolerant nation. That is to say, we live in a nation founded on the principles that individuals cannot be coerced to any religion and that government should not promote or suppress any religion. That is tolerance and that is good. That is what we should be.
Post-modern tolerance is something altogether different, and it isn’t really tolerance at all. Post-moderns say we should accept any alternate choice or decision as a valid choice for the individual who made it. We should not speak out against their choices. We should be willing to understand them and their view and accept that their way is just as valid as our way. That is not tolerance, that is relativism. For tolerance to be tolerance there must be two mutually exclusive positions, positions that cannot be reconciled or spoken of as alternate but valid choices. For tolerance to mean anything there must be a situation in which one person is right and one is wrong and yet each person is willing to give the other person freedom to believe as he will while trying to convince him of the error of his ways.
The only question that remains is then; what FUNDAMENTALS are required to be adhered to under the LORDSHIP of our Christ Jesus?
I have found that without a clear and Scripturally referenced Confession of Faith, most Churches and even Elders are being tossed about with every wind of false doctrines. That they do gladly join themselves to the harlots of Baal in the world to advance themselves numercally, yet neglecting the spiritual care they ought to Shepherd among each the other.
Yet, the LORD did warn us to discern all things and teachers according to the standard of Scripture. The problem intensifies however when the Elder/s and the Church reject the Authority of Scripture inadvertantly or perhaps wilfully, then what can we do?
Let the LORD be true and every man a liar.
By grace alone through faith alone in our LORD God Jesus the Holy Spirit, our Redeemer.
Just my thoughts on the true “church”…
Public reading of the word is commanded in the New Testament. When Ezra read the word, he did not comment on it. Instead leaders turned to their small group and answered any questions people had on what was just read. Then Ezra continued reading. Having a group of elders all of one mind correctly dividing the word and teaching truth to the people would remove the tares from the wheat, as anyone unable to accept the teaching would not want to be there. Accountability is in place for only truth to be taught. Interestingly, though the people did not have the word, they all learned the word.
…Let me just dream a little in these last days… It is Sunday morning at home with the family reading the word, praying the word, and confessing to one another. Preparations for corporate worship have been laid, and we pack the simple picnic with enough to share with others. Don’t forget your instrument! As a family we sit with the families of our small group, including our group leader. The word is read. The elder clarifies the teaching in our small groups. The groups vary in response… singing psalms, confessing, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns, crying, praying, exhorting, rebuking, encouraging, disciplining, loving, restoring…all the things we are commanded to do in the scriptures, but do not have opportunity to do as a body gathered together. We enjoy our sandwiches, and continue doing all the “one another” commands. Then as one big group, we sing our praises with all kinds of instruments. “They” know we are Christians by our love. We learn how to help other small groups in need, and of other assemblies who need our help.
Through the week we care for one another sacrificially so no one is in need. The community takes notice that no Christian is in want. Ever. How could it be otherwise?!!! God is faithful and our joy is complete. We gather as good Bereans to study, memorize and apply what was read on Sunday, continuing to encourage and rebuke, etc. as we apply the word to our corporate lives as one body. Our leader is so patient, yet firm, with us, and we submit appreciatively. No apostasy, rebellion, immorality, etc. is tolerated. Church discipline, if necessary, would require the person to be brought before the group, and if needed before the whole assembly. All efforts are done Biblically to restore the brother. If he refuses, he wasn’t really one of us.
Next Sunday, same thing: first individually, then as a family-confession, prayer, praise, communion, etc., then as a small group, then we sing a joyful new song with all the people together with all kinds of instruments. One group teaches a new song God gave to them. Another group brings a word of encouragement in a song. Another group has set the passage to music for us to sing together. No child is bored or misbehaving. (As a public school teacher, I know this is truly possible. It is so easy for children to behave when in the right environment.) Church discipline is done before the assembly when necessary.
The small group would be based on how close you live to one another so the making of disciples would come by “we have your house surrounded” so be at Martha’s for dinner at six! The neighbors would be served by the Christians. Eventually, “We’re coming to take you away haha, hehee…and we packed a lunch!” As long as I am dreaming, the neighbors are begging to come to the whole assembly, the teens are emulating the leaders and emerging as such, new small groups are being formed and our Lord’s name is praised all day long as there is no grumbling sin in our midst! There would be no empty talk, only what is edifying.
…just my thoughts on it…
Confessions are fine; however, the tendency is to raise them to the level of Scripture. People who set their doctrine by a particular Confession are often not willing to let Scripture ‘correct’ the Confession. Having like-minded elders is also fine; however, this does not ensure that they will correctly divide the word of truth. They may want to, and think they are doing so, since they are in agreement with the Confession, but this does not ensure that they are.
“Our leader is so patient, yet firm, with us, and we submit appreciatively. No apostasy, rebellion, immorality, etc. is tolerated.”
Small groups are fine, but again this won’t ensure that there won’t be problems. Often, ‘no rebellion’ works out to mean that you cannot disagree with the leader (and/or the Confession), if you do, then you are ‘in error’. The leader is not an Apostle, and we shouldn’t raise him to this position. Also, we shouldn’t be too quick to label someone a tare, because they left the church due to the elders’ teaching. I know you meant if they didn’t agree on major subjects, like the person and work of Christ, saved by faith alone through Jesus alone, the Trinity, the authority of Scripture…, but many are too willing to so designate someone who doesn’t agree on ’secondary’ issues (i.e. Sabbath observance…).
“But the central teachings of Scripture (in particular, those things related to the way of salvation) are so simple and so clear that even a child can understand.”
Are there any secondary issues pertaining to salvation? Isn’t that what the entire Calvinism debate is about?
All Christians should agree that 1) God is holy and just 2) man is a sinner 3) Jesus died as a propitatory substitute and rose from the grave for our justification 4) repentance and faith are necessary to be saved
But, what about God’s sovereignty? Sure, if you reject it, you reject the Bible. But what if my view is a bit different than yours? What if you say, “God regenerated me so I could believe” and I say, “God drew me to Himself and as a result of believing, He regenerated me.”? Certainly, the techinical issues of salvation can’t be held as fundamentals, can they?
So true, Michael. Having all the groups meeting together at the same time lends itself to great accountability. When one elder misleads a group or does not stand firm against a member twisting the truth, one only has to nudge the leader of the neighboring group for correction and teaching from the word. If need be, all the leaders can gather immediately for clarification. With the entire assembly ferverently praying for their leadership as they search the scriptures, I trust God would faithfully reveal His truth of the passage to the elders. This would require elders to prepare in advance: do their homework, watch and pray, and go forth like-minded. The leader/reader of the assembly would need to study a great deal in order to implement church discipline when needed. No member would go unheard or silenced if all is done out in the open all at once, everyone together. Pockets of meetings breed factions and false teachings. Our society has become so individualized without accountability to the truth of scripture.
…just read the postings here of how many people are suffering under false teaching in their churches because every church in their area has poor leadership embracing false doctrine. The modern model has failed miserably, so has the post-modern, etc. Ironically, the emerging church, who points at the failings of the church, puts out volumes of literature causing the most damage to truth in our town. It is not other religions or the falling away of the members supressing the truth and twisting it. It is leaders buying into fads causing the damage. Thank You, Lord for your faithful ones who come to this website!