A few excerpts from an article by John MacArthur found here.
True biblical doctrine is practical. In fact, nothing is more practical than sound doctrine. Those who listen to right doctrine and put it into practice are transformed by it.
It’s become increasingly apparent that the contemporary mind is suspicious of propositional truth. The culture has imbibed the postmodernism construct: propositions lead to doctrines, which lead to theologies, which form the meta-narratives that the elite and powerful use to dominate, manipulate, and take advantage of the masses. “No more propositions, doctrines, and imperialistic meta-narratives,” they say. “Just show us Jesus by what you do.”
That may sound good, but it’s fundamentally flawed. . . .
Doctrine gives rise to dedication to Christ, the greatest practical act.
.. .the scriptural concept of doctrine includes the entire message of the gospel-its teaching about God, salvation, sin, and righteousness. Those concepts are so tightly bound to daily living that the first-century mind saw them as inseparably linked to practical truth.
This intent of this blogger is to set forth the truth of scripture, and focuses at times on biblical doctrine that seems to be ignored or simply has been forgotten in our postmodern world where God seems to be just a cuddly’ grandfather figure’ and His Son our ‘dance partner’. Don’t take that personally. The editorial comments of this blog’s author are not intended to be personal, but reflective of ‘trends’ in the beloved Bride of Christ that are sweeping the land. Mine is but a small voice among a growing chorus of believers who are giving voice to their discontent at seeing the God of the universe and the Lord of all creation ‘dumbed down’ and redefined by secular humanism and popular man-centered theologies.
I love you all!
The Battle Cry 
Just yesterday in church my pastor taught on the issue of ignoring God’s glory, holiness, justice and goodness and seeing Him as “a great big sugar daddy who wants to make everything in your life just the way you want it to be.”
One of the problems, he taight, is that the church cannot seem to grasp that God is both loving and wrathful. He is both perfectly just and merciful. He is holy, righteous and forgiving. We focus on one at the expense of the other.
It seems that every where I turn I am seeing this message again and again. I am convinced that God is speaking to His church at large about this.
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I think your pastor id on to something and your observation is also accurate. 🙂
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God” (Rom. 11:22) – The Apostle Paul.
There is an excellent article on the subject here:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/mac/love.htm
“Christianity says that the end of all being is the glory of God. Humanism says that the end of all being is the happiness of man.” – Paris Reidhead, from the sermon, Ten Shekels and a Shirt.
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From Hebrews:
is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God…Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.” Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. For our God is indeed a devouring fire.
Not so cuddly…although…
We have been given the Spirit within which cries out, “Abba” Daddy! To a girl that means one who will cuddle and love us because we are most precious in His sight.
Balance is key, Your Crustiness!
Can I say I love you here?
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Yes you may, and back at ya! 🙂
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I have read what you write, Michelle, so know that what follows is not about you at all. You really understand balance, much better than I.
Having left that disclaimer…
Nearly everyone I have ever heard to say “Balance. Balance.” when discussing the true biblical sovereignty of God has their own particular imbalance in the other direction, and this sort of imbalance is never a problem, it is “meeting people where they are.”
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I LOVE YOU, Dan!!!
Hey, Jason. You read what I write? You don’t comment? Doesn’t that classify you as a LURKER?!?!?! 😯
Yeah, I hear your point. I hated the word for a long time because of the yin/yang understanding. But can you tell me, what does it mean to “meet people where they are?” I’m not sure I understand the difficulty in that…?
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Crrreepy, huh? Most are pleased that all I do is lurk, sometimes I think I could get paid money just to lurk, like a protection racket.
I am helped by listening to people, their discussions, considering problems with their presumptions, hearing their concerns, observing patterns of thought. Like i said on a blog recently, it is fun to see these things develop.
You are correct in asking the question, of course, what is wrong with meeting people where they are. I was using the expression more as bumper sticker theology of those who exist in the modern incarnation of what Spurgeon called the downgrade. Those who will look at a bible verse and actually act as though it isn’t there because it doesn’t fit their sentiments or personality or whatever is really more those of whom I am speaking. I have been through this in this forum before, and I am regularily astonished how many people are afflicted with this particular blindness. But there it is. “Meeting people where they are at” is much more often than not code for ashamed of the gospel.
There is a person who I am working with who just left their spouse, they are having second thoughts because the Holy Spirit found it worthy of Him to help me to meet them where they are at.
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Creepy?! Naw…I understand.
I think I’m hearing you now.
In this forum I think it is nearly impossible to make ourselves understood clearly. Non-verbal communication is huge! If we really care about eachother, we’ll stick it out and try to find the whole truth. But you know, I’m not afraid of conflict, I’m a fighter at heart and don’t see contradiction as personal…usually. 🙄
I don’t care for too much biting sarcasm, although I’m quite cynical myself. But without the wink and nudge to go along with, people usually misunderstand my intent. I’m forever writing emails of apologies. 😳
Feel free to comment, Jason. I love interacting and just might start loving you too! 😆 😀 🙂 😉
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