Today’s Christian Husband and Father: Killing His Family with Awesome Preaching
Bob is on his way to Jerry’s house for dinner. Bob is the chairman of their church’s elder board. Jerry is being considered for eldership and Bob will be dining at his house for a pre-interview en lieu of further discussion. Pizza is the cuisine. And apparently, not just on this night—Bob notes that every trashcan in the house is stuffed with pizza boxes. Dishes full of M & Ms also adorn many of the table tops. Bob is taken to the kitchen by Jerry to meet his wife, and Bob perceives no less than twenty-five bags of potato chips staked about in various places. One corner of the kitchen is occupied with a tall stack of Coca-Cola 12packs. Big on taste—small in nutrition. Precious few will disagree that Bob’s family is headed for serious health problems if they do not change their ways. Yet, Bob is a picture of how the vast majority of Christian husbands oversee the spiritual diets of their families. However, the “Bob” motif falls woefully short of making the point; at least Bob knows what his family is eating for better or worse. Christian husbands of our day don’t even know the difference between Redemptive Historical hermeneutics and Grammatical Historical hermeneutics. In fact, when the subject comes up, a rolling of the eyes follows. That’s because the preaching/teaching is awesome where they go to church. Uncompromising, and God glorifying. As one pastor exhorted me when inquiring about what hermeneutic he used in his preaching: “Come and see if it tastes good, and if you still want to, we will talk about theology.” But I never doubt it will taste good. Who doesn’t love pizza for dinner, potato chips as a side, Coke to drink, and M&Ms for desert? Fact is, nearly 90% of preaching/teaching in today’s American church is fundamentally based on Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation. This document is the very heart of the Reformation and the engine that drives the present-day New Calvinist movement. Its premise was based on the idea that all spiritual reality, wisdom, and truth comes from the combination of two perspectives, and only these two: the holiness of God, and the wretchedness of all men whether they are Christians or not. Luther called this perspective the “theology of the cross.” It has come to be known as Gospel-Centered preaching/teaching. It is also the foundation of the Calvin Institutes. Everything in the Calvin Institutes, in some way, points to the glory of God “as set against our sinfulness.” This has become job one: as described in the Heidelberg Disputation; this way of teaching is the “cross story,” and all other spiritual wisdom is the “glory story.” Hence, the contemporary clarion call of the Reformation derived from Luther’s Disputation is, the centrality of the objective gospel outside of us. Anything at all that has anything to do with us is “subjective,” and part of the “glory story.” Unless it concerns our wretchedness. Therefore, the Disputation ridiculed a negative attitude towards suffering as well for this serves to further reveal our woeful state in life which magnifies the redemptive work of Christ and our utter worthlessness. The whole motif can be visualized by the following Reformed chart: 
Yes, you can preach wonderful sermons on those two dimensions. They are both abundantly true. Charles Spurgeon is known as the “prince of preachers.” All of his sermons are based on the “cross story.” All, I repeat “all” of John Piper’s sermons and the (seems like) 600 books he has written are based on nothing but, I repeat, nothing but the “cross story.” Amen, pass the potato chips. In circa 1994, John MacArthur abandoned the “glory story” aspects of his preaching and now focuses on the “cross story.” Amen, pass the M&Ms. And those babies slide down nice with a big swig of Coca-Cola. “But Paul, what’s so sweet about focusing on our own wickedness?” My dear friend, haven’t you seen any Staples commercials? It’s easy. You totally stink. Nothing is expected of you: “Hey honey! Good news! We don’t change! Our marriage isn’t about a bunch of do’s and don’ts! Our failures make us wiser!” That was easy. In fact, teachers like Michael Horton and John Piper continually espouse the idea that expectations are just, “more bad news.” And regarding leaders? “Alright, time to prepare my message for tomorrow, and all I have to do is look for two things, and two things only in the text: how great God is, and how bad we are.” That was easy. In fact, we find the following on a well-known Reformed blog regarding instruction on how to prepare a Bible lesson:
At this time, resist the temptation to utilize subsequent passages to validate the meaning or to move out from the immediate context. Remembering that all exegesis must finally be a Christocentric exegesis. Look for Christ even if He isn’t there directly. It is better to see Christ in a text even if He isn’t, than to miss Him where He is.
But as the apostle asked rhetorically, “What saith the Scriptures?” Is there another story other than the “cross story”? Anybody interested in the House on a Rock story?
Matthew 7:24 -“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Learn and do. That’s how we have a life built on a rock. It is the very definition of a disciple:
Matthew 19 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
So, here is my suggestion. When you go to church this Sunday, and other days following that involve sitting under the teachings of your leaders, take a legal pad with you. Draw a line at a downward angle on the bottom labeled, “our sin.” Draw a line at the top with an upward angle, and label it “Christ.” Then draw a line in the middle and label it, “What? Why? And How?” Or, “Not only what Jesus did, but what did He SAY?” Or simply, “Life built on a rock.” If there isn’t a three-dimensional balance—get out of there. You either love your family or you don’t. You will be judged by Christ accordingly. I was approached by my wife Susan this morning. My son by marriage had approached her asking questions about demonology. Apparently, he had questions concerning some things he had heard about the subject in the secular realm. I was astonished; though both of them have been in church for a combined total of 72 years, they didn’t even know the basics regarding this subject. My wife wanted to know the answers to his questions—other than the usual answers: “Jesus” and “gospel.” And if we don’t know, the world will gladly inform our children accordingly. Knowledge equals authority. Men, wake up. paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
“Cannot Calvinism defend itself if it so true?” likewise, cannot your definition of the Gospel do the same? Get a grip, this whole blog and concept is the best epitome of everything you say you hate. It is an amazing amount of self-delusion involved here. Hypocrisy at it’s finest.
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Matthew
then take your own advise and do not waste your time with this site.
I use to love John MacArthurs teaching but then realized that his Lordship Salvation teachings (repackaged Calvinism) was false and actually provided only hopelessness not joy in the Lord. This false gospel of making SURE the Lord IS the Lord of your life at the moment of salvation is a false doctrine- first, it is the wrong view of repentance. Repentance is a change of mind, not of us getting rid of sin. How can we at the moment of salvation be able to get rid of our own sin!? Second, this is Gods work first at declaring us righteous (justified) because of our belief in Him to save us and then second beginning the process of sanctifying us throughout our Christian lives. This the whole start of the Christian life in a nutshell. Any other kind of doctrine is a false doctrine and these doctrines have RUINED lives – this is WHY we are here. Because there are Christians who are walking away in despair and we want those to know that they do not have too. We want those to know that they do not have to constantly be looking over their shoulder to see if they are still justified and being constantly scrutinized by OVERLORD PASTORS who think they have the right to fruit inspect whether someone is truly saved or not. Also, the Christian has a responsibility in sanctification to do good works because of WANTING to do it not feeling guilted and shamed to do it. Yes again, I said WANT Because we are ABLE TO.
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It is amazing! I read lydia, paul, and t4h last comments, and I didn’t disagree with any of it. There is just more to it than that. We are our brother’s keeper and Pastors have a duty as well, to admonish and exhort one another with the Word. We admonish them and exhort them with the doctrines of repentance until they do, otherwise, if they never change, they may not be saved. Use the Word to provoke them unto salvation assurance by spurring them towards obedience in a biblical way. We are our brother’s keepers!! They may just need to hear the Gospel and fully submit to Christ. They may have some misunderstanding or disbelief of who Christ is, what He did, and what it means to surrender all to Him. They will not be obedient if they are not really saved, or if they do not understand how they are supposed to behave. We “learn to do good” (1 Timothy 5:4; Titus 3:14; Isaiah 1:17; Proverbs 22:6).
I personally confessed that Jesus Christ was real and that He died for my sins, but I spent a long time disobedient because I did not truly believe that Christ is God, and I did not fully surrender my whole life and will to Him. This prolonged my wretched, disobedient behavior for many years. Until I truly, really understood who Christ was, believed in His diety, submitted myself wholly, forsook everything in the world, and believed fully without a doubt every word of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation to be perfectly truthful, I never knew what it meant to be a true Christian. To do that required faith — God-given faith; not a natural, manmade faith.
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And to clarify even more – this sanctification is in sync with the Holy Spirit; it is a co-laboring between you and God. It is the essence of having fellowship with the Savior. We are to pray, read His Word, serve, fellowship with believers, and grow – the pastor is to lower himself as a servant, not be the fruit inspectors. This is only GODS work and Matthew ANYONE who starts assuming that responsibility is not a good pastor.
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Hey Paul, I think a huge problem is that yes, many pastors start out with good intentions but as time goes and these guys do not see the results in their congregations that they would LIKE to see and then they leave the simplicity of the Gospel and resort to something like Calvinism or Arminianism. Then also the congregation gets lazier the more they tend to rely on the pastor instead of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is a messy process and not everyone gets on board at the same time, but in our impatience we want everyone to do it. I saw this in dealing with my own family; I wanted change for the better and had good intentions but no one else was moving fast enough. I started getting angrier and more dissatisfied with my spouse and kids- this in turn can make one a tyrant. Then you are the one in sin and put yourself in place of God who has perfect love and grace enough to deal with all of our sins. This is the plight of a lot pastors I see today.
IT IS NOT YOUR JOB PASTOR TO CHANGE AND JUSTIFY/SANCTIFY ANYONE.
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T4H,
I agree with your assessment. Their is no doubt that the Calvinists have come up with a growth package that will work: 1. Contemporary decor. 2. Praise music. 3. Starbucks. 4. Gospel, gospel, Gospel. 5. Social interaction/ community. 6. Assurance of salvation by being under the authority of Reformed elders.
It’s a growth package that works.
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“Hey Paul, I think a huge problem is that yes, many pastors start out with good intentions but as time goes and these guys do not see the results in their congregations that they would LIKE to see and then they leave the simplicity of the Gospel and resort to something like Calvinism or Arminianism. Then also the congregation gets lazier the more they tend to rely on the pastor instead of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is a messy process and not everyone gets on board at the same time, but in our impatience we want everyone to do it”
I agree to a point as in many start off with the right focus. But what happens is success breeds something different. It becomes about growing and maintaining the system. I saw this happen too many times. And that was over the last 30 years. Now, Christianity is a business of garnering followers. Yes, even in Reformed circles. The Sovereignty of God has become a marketing tool.
A rule of thumb: Be suspiscious when those in paid ministry start becoming a minor celeb. They are getting on the on ramp to the broad road no matter what they teach.
Now, reading Jesus over and over and over in the Gospels will inoculate some to buying into the guru business of Christianity. They tend to recognize it sooner
I often wondered in those days I was in the Christian marketing business how many would last if there was NO money or “influence” attached to it. Knowing them as I did, I came to the conclusion they would find a stage somewhere. It is amazing to me how many people think they know someone because they listen to their sermons, see them on a church stage or read their books. That has a lot to do with how shallow our culture really is..
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I think where some people get hateful is when they do not want to have any authority over them. They want to be the big dog, so they bite the men around them in anger. When a Pastor confronts them, they decide to act out in rebelliousness because they just have personal issues that need to be resolved. Some just have poor discipline and poor social skills and do not know how to act when someone tells them what is best or gives them insights. Many people just think they know it all, and when they are given advice they looks for any reason to weasel out of it. By saying that it was delivered too harsh, or that someone is out to get them. Some people just are bad-apples who need to learn to submit to those in authority positions. Not against the Word, but in a God-honoring way. Like honoring your mother and father, you do it for God firstly, then the parents. Same with a Pastor. You do it for God firstly, then you listen to the advice that you would rather not hear.
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Matthew,
I wish you could see all of this from my minds eye. You are parroting everything I bought into for 20 years Matthew; e.g., “I think where some people get hateful is when they do not want to have any authority over them.” It’s brain washing Matthew. I’m not knocking you–like I said: I bought into it for 20 years. Matthew, these guys don’t think you can interpret the Bible for yourself. That precedent was set by Pope Gregory and was carried over into Reformed thought by Luther and Calvin. Luther was a total Pope Gregory lackey. Look Matthew, I ask your forgiveness for being hateful, and I ask also that you slow down and look at the historical and doctrinal facts. Calvin would not even be able to get a pastorate in our day–he was a murdering tyrant. The Puritans were political despots. For crying out loud Matthew, “Religious Freedom Day” was born from the fact that the Puritans hanged Mary Dyer for the simple fact that she was a Quaker. But these guys are heroes in Reformed circles? Just sayin’ Matthew. Yes, you may be young, but you are also smart–too smart to let others think for you. If this movement is so great, why does it keep dying and coming back? And why was the latest resurgence founded by a Seventh-Day Adventist? God has always had his remnant, and will always have his remnant, but it ain’t those guys.
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I have Primitive Baptist roots. I don’t guess you are aware of this, but I do not associate the past to reformers. Luther branched off of the catholic church, but I do not trace myself to that or embrace the catholic church as my heritage. There has always been a preserved remnant of believers who had right thinking. I do agree with these statements by MacArthur though,
“It is encouraging, however, that the same kind of tribulation that makes the false believer wither makes the true believer stronger. ” – Dr. John Fullerton MacArthur, Jr.
“Everything of real value comes with a cost. Why should Christianity be any different? Where do we get the idea that following Christ should require little effort and be met with little resistance, both from within and without?”
I hope you realize that I do not follow men, and I do not mindlessly believe everything I hear. I research on my own. I am learning alot about reformed thinking, and I do agree with alot of it, but I came into this knowing that people are fallible There are holes in the way people act, and there are some wrong thoughts everywhere, not just here. I am mature enough to follow through though and learn something from these men who have much to offer, and much truth to present.
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I have many people engaging me frequently and letting me know other insights. It is not just you who are telling me things, it is many people I know and associate with and look up to. But, they too do not have everything figured out. None of us do. Let God be true and every man a liar. You know, I still am quick to learn as much as I can, and study the works of these men. MacArthur might not be perfect, but there is a TON to be learned from him, and I respect him.
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Now we are able to talk congenially here…..:)
Matthew, all that you have said here is exactly what I went through.
You are right that a pastor is there to give teaching and exhortation, but in the daily life of a believer a pastor has no right to start dictating the pathway of a believer unless it is directly affecting the church body, such as in sexual sin or in taking advantage of the church, such as in money or people. Otherwise, a pastor is there to encourage a believer in doing what is righteous and holy and to listen to the Holy Spirit to guide in all truth. The pastor is also to ACT as a servant; he is to be lower then the people he is shepherding- humble and loving the body. This is far from what I am seeing in the church today- we practically worship pastors and especially the celebrity ones. Just read all the salutations of Paul and “see” his tone; how he speaks to the church- quite different then what most pastors talk to their congregations. And I doubt Paul would be writing that many books, but that is just my humble opinion.
What do you think of Lordship Salvation? I saw that you stated that you made the Lord the Lord of your life and submitted to Him completely. How do you know how to submit to Him completely Matthew? I sure did not at nine years of age, but I did know that I believed in Jesus and who He was and that I was a sinner. I sure did not know how to get rid of all my sins in that one moment or how and what to submit to. All I could do was believe and and repent (change my mind) let the Holy Spirit take over INDWELT in me. The submission part comes about in sanctification and lasts a lifetime, for we will never get it together completely.. There are even pastors who did what God wanted for years and then mess up royally in an affair, so what happened here? We don’t even know the awful thoughts that some Christian may have but on the outside they are doing good things like serving others and tithing regularly. Yes, we should be righteous and holy, but Matthew what about PRIDE? Boy that is one thats not talked about often- how many are dealing with this one that God so hates? See, this whole thing is messy as an unbeliever and guess what it is messy even when we become believers- this is why belief/faith is the KEY; the submitting part is our co-laboring with the Holy Spirit by praying, reading His Word, surrendering to Him daily certain sin areas that He wants to eradicate. Like I said this does not take place right away and if anyone says that it should is preaching a false works message. The Pastor is not the fruit inspector and besides he needs to be examining his own fruit and salvation; I am sure he will find some of his own buggers.
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So this is a repost hu? So what ever happened to your friend Matthew Hagin. LOL
And did you ever get over your hatred?
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John,
Ya, they never tire of their favorite angle: “You interpret everything through your ‘unfortunate’ experience.” I just dealt with this yesterday in regard to a friend: according to his pastor; his complaints have no validity because of his past experience at another church. Take me for instance; I am so damaged that I cannot properly interpret nouns, verbs, and adjectives written by John Calvin. I must understand that only the undamaged gospel experts see the reality of my pain clearly. Well, just in case they are wrong, I am going to relentlessly pump out the research till the day I die, torturing people with cognitive dissonance–one Calvinist at a time.
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