I have been oddly silent on Dr. MacArthur’s speech on “Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist Is a Premillennialist”. I was there with Jason and had the similar initial reaction, and for those who doubt Jason’s ability to print exactly what Dr. Mac said you will find that he will be proven right. However, there was one aspect of this speech this year that struck me as oddly humorous. This was my seventh Shepherds Conference, and unless Jason gets me banned I will be back next year. Every year the speakers from Grace Church and the Master’s Seminary seem to have some new attack against the church they warn us about. A few years ago it was Open Theism. Last year it was the Emergent Church and so on. What struck me as humorous this year was that I found myself on the other side of the newest warning; Amillennialism. Of course a few of the keynote speakers found themselves on the same side of the fence. When I sat down to listen to this sermon I had not taken a strong eschatological position. I have spent the last year and more intently the last few months seriously studying Post and Amil positions and I am leaning Amil.
Now I am not just paying lip service. I really was on the fence. Yet, I sat under what, according to the TMS premillers in the room, was one of the finest arguments for Premillennialism ever preached and found myself thinking “if this is the best you got then we should give an alter call right now, and ask you to accept amillennialism into your heart” — I may have said that more than thought it. The biggest issue I had with the entire speech (and I call it that because Dr. Mac himself said he didn’t have a sermon) was that the Amil position was totally misrepresented. I have read dozens of books over the last few months on the topic and have not found one writer who agreed with Dr. Mac’s definition. I don’t mind being told I am wrong, and I don’t really mind being mocked, but at least mock what I believe and not your version of what I believe.
In a few days the sermon will become available. The conference will sell 5 times the copies it would have normally and eventually this will be something we reminisce about around the firepit while we smoke a Padron ’64. Many will remember the mocking and the misrepresentation. Some will remember the striped tie Dr. Mac was wearing, but I will remember this forever as the day I was given one more reason to be Amillennial.
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36 year old husband, father, pastor, singer, musician, reader, eater, rider, watcher,
After confessing Christ as Lord, and Calvin into my heart as my personal theologian, becoming amill has greatly enriched my study of Scripture.
I’m sorry if you think MacArthur represents the “best” of premil thought–he doesn’t.
Hi Scott,
Can you post (as succinctly as possible) your reasons for being Amil & where John misrepresented Amil? So that us premil guys at this point, can see where MacAthur was off. Maybe I’m a bit naive but His speech (as you call it) was biblical and raised some important issues amils have to consider…Thanks
If I go ahead and commit to being amill, do I have to smoke cigars?
Well, on a lighter side of this issue, I’m a “I’m not sure what I believe but God wins in the end” person! (stole that last part from Greg Koukl!) I think there are too many opinions out there about end times and I think that really only God knows for sure!! I can’t say I agree or disagree. I only know that Dr. MacArthur is one of the best Bible teachers out there today and I have high regard for him. I believe he is an avid studier of God’s Word and I love to hear him teach. Yeah, he could be wrong on this one but it’s not a matter of division in my book. ALL those opinions may be wrong!! I just can’t take a side here because I’m not sure it’s clear as crystal in Scripture. Hey, either way, I’m gettin’ to Glory and how or when is up to God!!! Maybe there shouldn’t even be preaching on this topic because there are too many opinions and it can get quite confusing. It used to scare me because I was always taught pretrib rapture. I used to get all tangled up in the “when” and forget that either way I was gonna be there. Besides, salvation doesn’t hinge on it so to me, it doesn’t really matter when the rapture happens. I just know it will at some point and whether I’m still here or not, I have secured my place with Christ for eternity and that’s what counts for me!! I’m sure that helped no one but it made me feel better about still being on the fence on this one!! Thanks!
Titus2woman.blogspot.com
Check out the new post on Between Two Worlds: Problems with Premillennialism. There are some great links to articles by Sam Storms.
Scott wrote, “and for those who doubt Jason’s ability to print exactly what Dr. Mac said you will find that he will be proven right.”
I just finished listening to the MP3; Jason was right.
PJ, whoever you may be
, I plan to do just that, but I am in rural MS at the moment on a dial up connection, so don’t expect this in the next 24 to 48 hours. I have to find time to download the mp3.
I too would like to hear the misrepresentations and a positive declaration of what IS the Amil position that is currently being espoused. I hate it when my positions on things are not fairly represented and desire to fairly represent other views.
I have been very frustrated in all of this discussion on the subject on the various sites because so much heat and declarations of misrepresentation, and little giving of examples.
Please do consider giving a post to this effect: “John said such and such is the amil position. However this is the actual position.” and then give some resources for us to look at for further understanding.
I pastor a church with all of the various eschatological views held by various people. I am pre-mil, and must say that what John described as Amil in his message was very consistent with what I am being told by the Amil’s in my church. Therein lies my frustration.