The Truth War

I recently just finished Dr. John MacArthur's latest book, "Truth War," and it is certainly a book for all believers everywhere.

MacArthur has had to spend much of his career defending the faith. Not necessarily minute details of theology, but rather the gospel itself. MacArthur has written several books on the subject including, "The Gospel According to Jesus," "The Gospel According to the Apostles,"

"Hard to Believe," "Truth War," and many others. To MacArthur, and I agree with him, there is no more important issue in which to defend and fight for than the true unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ.

In this book, MacArthur deals with apostacy and false teachings currently in the evangelical church. In particular, he deals with the Emerging Church phenom (including it's leaders like Rob Bell and others), the seeker sensitive movement (including it's leaders like Rick Warren), and many other trends in the Church right now. MacArthur shows how their attempt to be relevant has essentially required them to abandon the faith of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they are a false religion.

MacArthur provides Biblical support for his beliefs. The book is based on the Epistle of Jude (and other texts). He furthermore, ends the book by looking at how we are to respond to apostacy and false teaching. He discusses how we are to related to the confused, the convinced, and others who are struggling with false gospels.

This is an essential book for all believers. I agree with the author that the Church is falling for anything and everything in search for significance, and as a result, we have become insignificant. MacArthur calls these movements out, and challenges them with the faithful, true words of Scripture.

There is only one thing in which I wish he discussed; Joel Osteen and the prosperity gospel. At times I felt that he was started to critique the ministry and message of Osteen and others like him, but he never did. I feel that Osteen, due to his popularity, is a greater threat against the gospel than anyone right now. Osteen has become a poster child for the prosperity gospel; which says that God wants you healthy, wealthy, good times rock-and-roll, etc. This is heretical to say the least.

Aside from that, MacArthur is right on the money. He shows the importance of fighting a war for the faith, it's orthodoxy, and why it is important. If you truly believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and it's proclamation throughout the world, this book should be on you book shelf, with the binding worn out, because it is a faithful attestment of how sick the Church is right now.
Let us pray that we will have leaders like MacArthur willing to stand up for the truth, in a society that denies the very existence of truth.