Some church leaders evidently think the four priorities of the early church–the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42)–make a lame agenda for the church in this day and age. Churches are allowing drama, music, recreation, entertainment, self-help programs, and similar enterprises to eclipse traditional Sunday worship and fellowship. In fact, everything seems to be in fashion in the church today except biblical preaching. The new pragmatism sees preaching–particularly expository preaching–as passé.
– John MacArthur
Christ Alone Wyoming 
But if you come to our wednesday evening service, THEN we will give you some good Bible teaching!! can anyone say “Willow Creek?”
LikeLike
Where doe MacArthur get this information, and what does me mean by the “church” and “expository teaching?”
LikeLike
I will let LumpyMeatLoaf weigh in. Here’s a quote from a comment he left on this post.
“Pastor MacArthur (Dr. PhD of Biblical Theology and Dean) has multiple years of advance theological training in scripture, Greek, Hebrew with exegesis knowledge of biblical prophesy, and Christian counseling. He is the Dean of one of a top Baptist seminary in California. He has written, which I believe around 160 books concerning multiple topics within Christianity. Pastor MacArthur is highly respected over the Baptist and Reform ranks, as well continuously engages in addressing members of the Body of Christ with information; such as written, and electronic communications (such as lectures, cd’s and so forth).”
Hope this makes MacArthur’s credentials a little clearer for you, coldfire.
LikeLike
I thought I might inject this tidbit. Dr. MacArthur has probably forgotten more than i will ever known! Dr. MacArthur attended and graduated at Talbot Seminary. Whereas, he studied under the late Dr. Charles Fineberg, Dr. Fineberg was understood and respect throughout the biblical world of Christians and Jewish scholars alike. A known scholar and expert with interpretation of Hebrew and Greek alike.
LikeLike
Greetings Coldfire,
Recently, while visiting my Baptist brother-in-law, at his home in which he just purchased, we decided to sit on the front porch. Out of the blue, he reached in his hedge, whereas several pieces of trash were lodged. Upon removing these items, surprisingly, one item was an old yellow brochure, which was decorated with balloons and basically having a “County Fair” theme. It was somewhat tattered but legible and dated back to July of 2007. As he unfolded the weathered paper and chuckled…. I asked, “What is so funny?” Upon receiving the brochure, I too couldn’t help from chuckling but in an amazed way….. See, this brochure was from a “Third Waive Charismatic (Pentecostal) church that is located about 10 blocks away. To our dismay it read to the best of my memory, “Come to __________Hope Church where as you can be touched by the spirit. Come to our spiritual fireball revival (date) July 2007, whereas you to can meet members of the WW (something) Wrestling Association; Wrestling exhibitions for Jesus.” The rest was basically corn dogs, autographs, balloons, hot dogs, cold drinks and blah, blah, blah……
This is exactly what Pastor MacArthur addresses concerning the new waive churches and the lack of time proven scripture…. I have never seen anything in the Bible that indicates or promotes programs such as “Wrestling for Jesus or Exegesis by Mazy the Mime.” What ever happened to using the Holy Bible for instruction, repentance and worshiping the Lord in spirit and in truth?
Jesus is Lord
Jeff
LikeLike