Shame On You John MacArthur!
Once a rabid respecter of John MacArthur, I now have absolutely no respect for him. I am keeping some of his books in my library for reference purposes, but that’s about it. And as one who actively promoted financing/support for Christians to attend his college, I now consider him a danger to the wellbeing of Christianity in general. I have watched his decline (due to bad company with the likes of mega-heretic John Piper) for some time, but his willingness to support and associate with CJ Mahaney reveals the true heart of John MacArthur Jr.
I am almost finished reading “Blight In The Vineyard” by John Immel, and I’m looking forward to writing a review on it, and I’m taking this review very seriously as I believe this book is one of the most relevant books of our day. I have made the book required reading for all in the Dohse household. Immel, among the other hefty services rendered to the church in said book, provides Cliff Notes (in a manner of speaking) for SGM Wikileaks.
I have gone to Wikileaks and read, primarily because Reformed despots say it is gossip to do so (and thereby doing my duty), but have really been unable to ascertain any great evil on the part of CJ Mahaney because of the massiveness of the documents. Well, Immel clears that all up by pointing out a few atrocities and the page numbers. The only one I had to see follows: the transcript of a recorded conversation between CJ Mahaney and SGM cofounder Larry Tomczak. CJ Mahaney, according to the transcript by anybody’s measure, is trying to blackmail Tomczak who left SGM for doctrinal reasons (Calvinism).
Ok, look, what happened to Tomczac plays out over, and over, and over again in churches daily because of the new resurgence of Geneva style true-blue Calvinism. Aka, New Calvinism. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “Calvinism is the Gospel.” Therefore, as CJ said to Larry, “Doctrine is an unacceptable reason for leaving P.D.I” (People of Destiny International—later renamed SGM). If I only had a nickel for every time we see this played out here at TANK/PPT. It goes like this:
- The elders are informed someone is leaving for doctrinal issues.
- They are immediately confronted with “unrepentant, longstanding sin” in their lives. Like Calvin, they believe (out of necessity for control) that ANY sin is fodder for church discipline.
- They are placed in a church discipline “process” that includes counseling. When you have shown forth “fruits meet for repentance” as judged by fruit inspecting elders, you are released from the counseling (ie., you convert to Gospel Sanctification).
- If you try to leave the church without being released from “counseling,” the assembly is told that you are jumping ship in the middle of the Matthew 18 process. The congregation usually assumes the victim was confronted with an issue or dispute, and left before the offended party could come back with witnesses. The anti-gospel (synonymous with anti-Calvinism per Spurgeon) individual is then excommunicated which totally discredits him/her from blowing the whistle or challenging the doctrine of God’s anointed.
Apparently, in Tomczak’s case, that wasn’t going to fly, so CJ threatened to reveal sins committed by Tomczak’s (at the time a minor) son. Tomczak’s wife, who was on the line, called Mahaney out in regard to the fact that it was pure, unadulterated blackmail. Also consider that the son had confessed the sin and was granted forgiveness thereof. Unbelievably, when CJ is reminded of that, he tells the Tomcsaks that he wouldn’t have promised to keep the forgiven sins confidential if he knew at the time that they were going to leave for doctrinal reasons.
Immel also points out (according to Wikileaks documents) that Mahaney and SGM cronies had their attorneys review a proposal for revealing the sin/sins publically. Their attorneys strongly advised against it because Georgia law protects the rights of minors in such cases. But in a brilliant observation, Immel asks what would have happened if the church and the state of Georgia were the same! (as propagated by the Reformers for the necessary control of the totally depraved zombie sheep). Game over. Tomcsak submits or SGM reveals the information.
And this is the crux. Because Reformed leaders of the John Calvin Geneva Theocracy club cannot evoke the state to enforce their authority (not yet, anyway), they all stick together. MacArthur, Dever, Mohler, Piper et al, see a huge lack of respect in the church for the authority that they think they should have among God’s people. How they choose to save the totally depraved zombie sheep from themselves is none of our business. They have no time to be concerned with the necessary fallout that accompanies the John Calvin gospel of the enlightened ones leading the totally depraved through the fabricated spiritual minefield they call sanctification.
This explains why the cries of abused sheep fall on the deaf ears of other leaders, time, and time again. I have become convinced of this unequivocally. Nevertheless, and while one also wonders what else might be in the Wikileaks documents, MacArthur’s willingness to associate with CJ Mahaney is deplorable. But this is who John MacArthur really is. My God fearing grandmother said it well, and often: “Birds of the feather flock together.”
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
I must concur that JMac’s absence of integrity regarding Mahaney and his exaggerated pietism, theocratic leanings, and neo-Reformed theology which leads his exegesis by the nose is saddening. It is difficult to come to terms with the fact that as a resource and spiritual father JMac is no longer a serious option. Obviously every word he utters is not error but the neo-Reformed poison is infecting too much of his teaching.
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Alex,
He was taken over to the dark side when he was shown by Piper et al that Calvin/Luther really believed this stuff. Immel hits at the crux of the matter by reminding us constantly that ” a tree is known by its fruit.” And what is Mac’s fruit regardless of anything else? He doesn’t care what CJ has done to the sheep that Mac supposedly went into the ministry to feed and protect. He doesn’t give a rats behind.Why?
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Paul,
Could you please give me a brief explanation the controversy behind what Mark Driscoll is teaching his congregation. I never heard of him until about a month ago.
David
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David,
Uh, it’s not so much what he is teaching other than this hardcore Reformed thing that the totally depraved zombie sheep have to be saved from themselves at all cost by the enlightened ones, and the behavior that follows. Get Immels book and pay close attention as you are reading. It focuses on the Octopus and not the tentacles.
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I purchased “Blight In The Vineyard” and am amazed at the similarities of “supposed sin” pointing I received from “a friend” who had joined a SGM church plant. At the time I could not understand these “sin accusations” as they were so trivial, and assumed she acted this way because of the SGM church. But now I see it was not only the polity within that church but also the “doctrine” that influenced her. She chose to no longer fellowship because, bottom line, I said her Pastor needed to repent, and she viewed that as insubordinate even though I did not attend that church. Frighteningly this women now mentors my adult daughter. My daughter, husband and 4 young children now attend a John MacArthur church plant to the praise of the previous friend, and to my sorrow.
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G2G,
Interesting. And for some of us that are not of SGM, Immels book may slow down at times, but stick it out–it’s like a college class, more and more comes together as you go.
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