Comments on: John MacArthur and Beer http://www.soundchurch.org/john-macarthur-and-beer/ Applying the principles of the church as the pillar and ground of the truth Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:14:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Richard http://www.soundchurch.org/john-macarthur-and-beer/#comment-279 Richard Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:23:10 +0000 http://www.soundchurch.org/?p=263#comment-279 I do not take from John MacArthur's article that he is at all calling for total abstinance from the drinking of beer or any other alcoholic beverage. The main point I believe is that if you're in a pastoral leadership position, using alcohol as an attractant for your propsed mission field, you cannot assume that everyone you come into contact with or comes under your leadership has the same strengths and weaknesses as you do. You may be able to enjoy a beer (or anything else for that matter) with no issue. However, someone, unknown to you, may have a real weakness in that area. Encouraging drinking would therefore cause them to stumble in a very bad way. A very unwise strategy to say the least. It makes the most sense in the context of being in a leadership/evangelistic missionary position, which MacArthur cleary states. The whole "held to a higher standard" concept. I find it intersting that some of the responses to MacArthur's article are just as extreme, if not more so, as they accuse MacArthur of being (a "modern day Pharisee"? Wow). I do not take from John MacArthur’s article that he is at all calling for total abstinance from the drinking of beer or any other alcoholic beverage. The main point I believe is that if you’re in a pastoral leadership position, using alcohol as an attractant for your propsed mission field, you cannot assume that everyone you come into contact with or comes under your leadership has the same strengths and weaknesses as you do. You may be able to enjoy a beer (or anything else for that matter) with no issue. However, someone, unknown to you, may have a real weakness in that area. Encouraging drinking would therefore cause them to stumble in a very bad way. A very unwise strategy to say the least. It makes the most sense in the context of being in a leadership/evangelistic missionary position, which MacArthur cleary states. The whole “held to a higher standard” concept. I find it intersting that some of the responses to MacArthur’s article are just as extreme, if not more so, as they accuse MacArthur of being (a “modern day Pharisee”? Wow).

]]> By: Josh http://www.soundchurch.org/john-macarthur-and-beer/#comment-80 Josh Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:57:43 +0000 http://www.soundchurch.org/?p=263#comment-80 Here is the link for the interview done by Paul Edwards of WLQV Detroit. http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=8171101990 Here is the link for the interview done by Paul Edwards of WLQV Detroit.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=8171101990

]]> By: Scott http://www.soundchurch.org/john-macarthur-and-beer/#comment-78 Scott Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:50:00 +0000 http://www.soundchurch.org/?p=263#comment-78 "It is high time for us to recognize John MacArthur for what he truly is: a modern Pharisee, a legalist whose every pronouncement arises from his firm conviction that he is holier than today’s target, whoever it is. I’m sick of kowtowing to the man’s reputation; his version of the faith makes unbelievers sick, and ought to. To obscurity with John MacArthur, sez me." That is a some comment. A Pharisee is an unsaved man. Your firm conviction is mistaken and maybe you should seek out a recent radio interview with Phil Johnson on sermonaudio re: John Macarthur and see if his comments are justified and then your own. “It is high time for us to recognize John MacArthur for what he truly is: a modern Pharisee, a legalist whose every pronouncement arises from his firm conviction that he is holier than today’s target, whoever it is. I’m sick of kowtowing to the man’s reputation; his version of the faith makes unbelievers sick, and ought to. To obscurity with John MacArthur, sez me.”

That is a some comment. A Pharisee is an unsaved man. Your firm conviction is mistaken and maybe you should seek out a recent radio interview with Phil Johnson on sermonaudio re: John Macarthur and see if his comments are justified and then your own.

]]> By: philwynk http://www.soundchurch.org/john-macarthur-and-beer/#comment-76 philwynk Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:50:40 +0000 http://www.soundchurch.org/?p=263#comment-76 Oh, for crying out loud. "Scripture ... celebrates virtues such as self-control, sober-mindedness, purity of heart, the restraint of our fleshly lusts, and similar fruits of the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work in our lives," says MacArthur. Yes, indeed -- and enjoying a pint of a micro-brewed red lager says absolutely nothing about this, either positive or negative. For MacArthur to pretend that it does, misses the point entirely. He should be warning against excess, reverse legalism, and the subtle excuses we make for our sins as we imitate the world. Instead, he wastes our time railing against ... drinking beer. Talk about straining at gnats! It is high time for us to recognize John MacArthur for what he truly is: a modern Pharisee, a legalist whose every pronouncement arises from his firm conviction that he is holier than today's target, whoever it is. I'm sick of kowtowing to the man's reputation; his version of the faith makes unbelievers sick, and ought to. To obscurity with John MacArthur, sez me. Oh, for crying out loud.

“Scripture … celebrates virtues such as self-control, sober-mindedness, purity of heart, the restraint of our fleshly lusts, and similar fruits of the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in our lives,” says MacArthur. Yes, indeed — and enjoying a pint of a micro-brewed red lager says absolutely nothing about this, either positive or negative. For MacArthur to pretend that it does, misses the point entirely. He should be warning against excess, reverse legalism, and the subtle excuses we make for our sins as we imitate the world. Instead, he wastes our time railing against … drinking beer. Talk about straining at gnats!

It is high time for us to recognize John MacArthur for what he truly is: a modern Pharisee, a legalist whose every pronouncement arises from his firm conviction that he is holier than today’s target, whoever it is. I’m sick of kowtowing to the man’s reputation; his version of the faith makes unbelievers sick, and ought to. To obscurity with John MacArthur, sez me.

]]> By: Josh http://www.soundchurch.org/john-macarthur-and-beer/#comment-69 Josh Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:41:44 +0000 http://www.soundchurch.org/?p=263#comment-69 Marcus, there are some YRR's who do use alcohol in this way. I know a few of them, but i am not going to name names for fear of inciting the fanboys. ;) Marcus, there are some YRR’s who do use alcohol in this way. I know a few of them, but i am not going to name names for fear of inciting the fanboys. ;)

]]> By: Dan Pine http://www.soundchurch.org/john-macarthur-and-beer/#comment-68 Dan Pine Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:03:34 +0000 http://www.soundchurch.org/?p=263#comment-68 Careful handling of this subject from a Scriptural standpoint is refreshing and much appreciated. Thank you for pointing out the pitfalls on either side of this debate. The danger of either having a younger brother heart that uses liberty as an excuse to serve the flesh or having an older brother heart that is uplifted with self-righteous pride is an ever-present reality in each of us. And a heart motivated by the gospel, a heart that runs to Jesus the Good King above all, is not somewhere in the middle; no, it is something completely different altogether! Careful handling of this subject from a Scriptural standpoint is refreshing and much appreciated. Thank you for pointing out the pitfalls on either side of this debate. The danger of either having a younger brother heart that uses liberty as an excuse to serve the flesh or having an older brother heart that is uplifted with self-righteous pride is an ever-present reality in each of us. And a heart motivated by the gospel, a heart that runs to Jesus the Good King above all, is not somewhere in the middle; no, it is something completely different altogether!

]]> By: Marc White http://www.soundchurch.org/john-macarthur-and-beer/#comment-67 Marc White Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:35:27 +0000 http://www.soundchurch.org/?p=263#comment-67 Denver Sound Church shares some concerns that I resonate with. His article also had some broad and seemingly sweeping statements concerning the YRR crowd, such as myself. JM (maybe unintentionally) put the YRR movement into one large pot labelled "We Love Alcohol and Reckless Abandon." I don't recall many of my Reformed friends holding services at bars and leaving free beer on the back table for church services. Before I digress further, I will again say Thank you for your ballanced and fair approach to this recent article. Denver Sound Church shares some concerns that I resonate with. His article also had some broad and seemingly sweeping statements concerning the YRR crowd, such as myself. JM (maybe unintentionally) put the YRR movement into one large pot labelled “We Love Alcohol and Reckless Abandon.” I don’t recall many of my Reformed friends holding services at bars and leaving free beer on the back table for church services. Before I digress further, I will again say Thank you for your ballanced and fair approach to this recent article.

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