Book Review of Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church Becomes Like the World. Written by John MacArthur and published by Crossway; hardcover Third Edition (304 pages).
The Motive
The book opens with three Bible verses which undergird the inspiration behind the book.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Rom 1:16
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God…For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2 Tim 1:8, 12
For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:38
Down-Grade Controversy
A scan of the Table of Contents (Appendix 1 & 2) will alert the reader that MacArthur interacts with Charles Spurgeon’s Down-Grade controversy. In fact, he refers to that Controversy throughout the book, and often cites Spurgeon.
Spurgeon’s Controversy never went away. The specific details may change, but the spirit behind Down-Grade is ever-present, and always has been. Uppermost in Spurgeon’s mind were four concerns:
1) A denial of the infallibility of Scripture
2) Denial of the necessity and substitutionary nature of Christ’s atonement
3) Denial of the existence and eternality of hell
4) Affirmation of Universalism.
Ashamed of the Gospel
Keeping all the above in mind, MacArthur takes us on an inglorious tour of Modernism, Post-Modernism, Pragmatism, Market-Driven and User-Friendly ministries, Christian Fads, and much more. Along the way he highlights the difference between man’s wisdom and God’s in matters of salvation.
The book is presuppositional in its apologetics—in other words, it enthrones God and His Word, and puts man back in his proper place. MacArthur shows that church ought not to entice people to fill its pews with entertainment and fads. Further, it must not make the gospel more palatable to modern sentiments. God draws men to salvation through His unadulterated Word.
On that latter point, Chapter 8 was most useful to me. For example, under the subheading, Divine Sovereignty versus Pragmatism, he interacts with J. I. Packer’s Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. This was particularly useful to me as at time of writing this review there is controversy surrounding an alleged Revival Event (Asbury).
For my money Chapters 6, 7, and 8 alone are worth the small cost of the book. Get it.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface to the 2010 Edition
Preface to the 1993 Edition
1) Christianity on the Down-Grade
2) The User-Friendly Church
3) Gimme That Show-Time Religion
4) All Things to All Men
5) The Foolishness of God
6) The Power of God unto Salvation
7) Paul on Mars’ Hill
8) The Sovereignty of God unto Salvation
9) I will Build My Church
10) Interlude
11) Carried About by Every Wind
12) Spiritual Adultery
Appendix 1 Spurgeon and the Down-Grade Controversy
Appendix 2 Spurgeon Speaks to Our Time
Appendix 3 Charles Finney and American Evangelical Pragmatism
Appendix 4 Carnal vs. Spiritual Wisdom
This is an important book, especially for modern Christians.
Maranatha!
Further reading
Christ’s Call to Reform the Church
Purchase Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church Becomes Like the World !
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Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church Becomes Like the World
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