Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church Becomes Like the World

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Summary: MacArthur's Most Important Book
Review: John MacArthur is one of today's most influencial pastor-teachers. In today's church where political correctness reigns supreme Dr. MacArthur is willing to say things that challenge the status quo. He has written many books but this may be his most important. Using Spurgeon and the Down Grade controversy of the late 1800 as a background, MacArthur shows how much of today's evangelical church functions as if it is ashamed of the gospel. It raises questions about the church growth movement and modern evangelistic practices. MacArthur is not against large churches, being a pastor of a very large ministry in Southern California. But, MacArthur makes it clear that large churches is not defacto good if truth has been compromised. This is a book that all pastors, lay leaders and the church in general.

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Summary: Blunt, powerful, and honest
Review: John MacArthur takes the worldly modern church to task for wussing out on the gospel. By pointing back to Spurgeon's battle with the religious pander boys of the late 19th century, the author notes that nothing really has changed much. Many thanks for such a courageous book.

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Summary: Great read!
Review: Timeless. Though I don't agree with John about everything I do agree with him about most. First read a few years ago and have given it as a gift to others. Buy it and give it to your preacher (especially if he's Baptist or Charismatic).

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Summary: Godly Discernment in a Dark Hour
Review: With a piercing discernment that comes only from the Spirit of God and a firm founding in scripture, John MacArthur unmasks the shallow and potentially damning "market-oriented," "seeker-friendly," "entertainment-focused" philosophy of evangelism that has become so popular in American churches.

The Church is under attack--not from the impious world, but from some of the most influential leaders in American evangelical Christianity. These well-meaning, but woefully misguided teachers have adopted the strategies and tactics of Madison Avenue, baptized them, repackaged them and sold them to the modern church. The basic idea, however, is that pleasing the unregenerated masses is the only way to grow the church. While this in itself does not seem like something to fear, MacArthur demonstrates that when the Church's primary focus is on making the unbeliever comfortable the gospel message is inevitably lost. Uncomfortable topics such as sin, hell, discipleship and holiness are brushed aside and love and assurance are preached to the once-born, self-righteous, unregenerate masses!

Will God build His church, or must we? Will Christ save the souls of men, or has he given this greatest of tasks to mere men? Is there a Sovereign God in Heaven, or must we seduce the world into "making a decision for Christ" by appealing to their sensual, depraved minds? Sennacherib once again surrounds the walls of Jerusalem--the purity of the gospel and the souls of countless men and women are at stake. Where is the prayerful Hezekiah? Where is the bold Isaiah of this age? Arise, O Lord! Defend Your cause!

Note on Appendices: MacArthur's examination of the ministries of C. H. Spurgeon (Appendix 1) and Charles G. Finney (Appendix 2) alone is worth the price of the book.

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Summary: A Must read
Review: Yet another, well written, biblically solid book by John MacArthur. Here again, John MacArthur pulls no punches. He clearly states the sad and ugly truth about the church today. I wish I could say that I disagree with John's findings and say that I think he is blowing things way out of proportion, but I can't. I believe that this book is an accurate relection of what is happening today. This book should be a wake-up call for every person who professes to be a Christian. When are we going to realize that the world wants to see how Christians are different, not how much like them we can be. Many of the ideas in this book are interconnected with his teaching in