- Joined
- Jan 1, 2019
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Interesting review of John MacArthur's life and ministry from an IFB viewpoint:
"From the 1970s through the 1990s, he openly opposed the doctrine of secondary separation; a stance held by many fundamentalists. Yet in later years, he found it necessary to practice it often. In the 1980s and 1990s, he strongly advocated for elder-rule church governance over congregational rule, holding seminars to coach pastors on how to implement this change in their churches—even against congregational resistance. Baptist fundamentalists felt betrayed by this movement and believed it violated the scriptural polity and damaged churches. . . .
"In the last 50 years, John MacArthur has been more influential in Baptist fundamentalism than any individual Baptist fundamentalist leader. The same is true for conservative evangelicalism. He took positions that often encouraged fundamental Baptists, but also some that divided us even from one another. He always seemed to be right in the middle of our own internal controversies and debates."
I remember a long time ago, maybe late 1980s, attending an entire session of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship devoted to exposing and warning against John MacArthur. This was at the old Oak Forest Baptist Temple in Oak Forest, Illinois, pastored by Bill Schroeder, a good man. (The church later moved to Frankfort, Illinois and became Heritage Baptist Church).
I recall one pastor at that meeting who sternly proclaimed that "We need to warn our people against John MacArthur and tell them to not buy his books." Pastor Wayne Van Gelderen Sr. of Marquette Manor Baptist Church in Downers Grove, Illinois responded, "I am not going to tell my people not to buy MacArthur's books, because if I do, they are all going to go out and buy his books so they can find out what the fuss is all about." We all roared with laughter.
John MacArthur and the Fundamental Baptists
John MacArthur entered heaven on Monday at the age of 86. It’s difficult to know exactly what to say about him, as members of our fellowship hold widely differing views regarding him. In many aspects of
www.proclaimanddefend.org
"From the 1970s through the 1990s, he openly opposed the doctrine of secondary separation; a stance held by many fundamentalists. Yet in later years, he found it necessary to practice it often. In the 1980s and 1990s, he strongly advocated for elder-rule church governance over congregational rule, holding seminars to coach pastors on how to implement this change in their churches—even against congregational resistance. Baptist fundamentalists felt betrayed by this movement and believed it violated the scriptural polity and damaged churches. . . .
"In the last 50 years, John MacArthur has been more influential in Baptist fundamentalism than any individual Baptist fundamentalist leader. The same is true for conservative evangelicalism. He took positions that often encouraged fundamental Baptists, but also some that divided us even from one another. He always seemed to be right in the middle of our own internal controversies and debates."
I remember a long time ago, maybe late 1980s, attending an entire session of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship devoted to exposing and warning against John MacArthur. This was at the old Oak Forest Baptist Temple in Oak Forest, Illinois, pastored by Bill Schroeder, a good man. (The church later moved to Frankfort, Illinois and became Heritage Baptist Church).
I recall one pastor at that meeting who sternly proclaimed that "We need to warn our people against John MacArthur and tell them to not buy his books." Pastor Wayne Van Gelderen Sr. of Marquette Manor Baptist Church in Downers Grove, Illinois responded, "I am not going to tell my people not to buy MacArthur's books, because if I do, they are all going to go out and buy his books so they can find out what the fuss is all about." We all roared with laughter.
