In the book of Philippians 3:1-3 Paul commands us to “keep rejoicing in the Lord”.   In the Greek, the preposition “en” means to be fixed or stationary.  The only way we can rejoice in the Lord is to abide or be fixed in Him consistently.  Paul says writing to the Philippians about these matters again was no trouble and he commanded all of them not just the elders and the deacons, “you must watch out for the big dogs, you must watch out for the skilled evil workers, you must watch out for the false circumcision!” These commands were meant to be tied back into his first command, “keep rejoicing in the Lord,” because when we are consistently “in the Lord” we have to watch out for thieves who want to steal our joy.

This warning and command from Paul is quite timely considering that recently David Platt shocked many young Christians by questioning the phraseology they grew up with to describe the conversion experience.  Those of us who are older however remember that John MacArthur did the same thing when he released his book, The Gospel According to Jesus.   Solomon was right when he said in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun.  Because I believed that Platt’s new book, Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live, was so similar to what I remembered of The Gospel According to Jesus, I was convinced that it wasn’t coincidence so I read both books to see if my suspicions were accurate.

Paul’s command to “watch out for the big dogs” was an allusion to the alpha male in a wild pack that often intimidated both people and the other dogs in the pack.  They ran the streets in the first century A.D. terrorizing and scavenging, but it was the alpha male the pack followed and obeyed.  Both Platt and MacArthur exhibit what Paul was warning the Philippians about.  “Big dogs” are those who are able to gain control of a church or organization and use fear and intimidation in order to keep other people under them in line.  Platt and MacArthur not only have a platform in their own churches as pastors but they also have influenced others through their books and MacArthur through Masters College. 

You may think that my characterization is a bit harsh but first let me share with you what I discovered reading both books as well as articles and videos they have done.  Both Platt and MacArthur hold to the same soteriology (the study or belief system of salvation) that begins with Lordship Salvation which Follow Me and The Gospel According to Jesus explain if you know how to read their books.  Unfortunately, most people do not know what these two authors really believe but those who do understand or agree with them, know that Platt and MacArthur’s intimidation through their status and position have influenced the beliefs of others in ways that no lay person could.  We find that someone who is in a high position or who seems to be confident about what they believe can make us doubt the truth.  Paul warns us to be constantly on guard against these individuals because they are lurking around every corner and unless we fine tune our sensitivity to heresy we can be fooled and pressured into theology that is wrong.

In Galatians, we also get the warning from Paul, that if anyone presents a gospel that creates additions to faith in Christ by grace alone, we are to reject that gospel.  Paul went so far to say if he or an angel preached such a gospel we are to reject it.  The Messianic Jews we see in Acts 15, made Gentiles be circumcised before they could be saved but Peter and James believed that scripture disputed that idea and sent out a decree abolishing the practice among Gentiles.  Some of those Messianic Jews however did not comply and went to the churches along Paul’s journey trying to convert Christians to their brand of heresy.  They forced them to not only be circumcised but follow the Mosaic Law.  So Paul makes it clear that if there is any deviation from the original message of the gospel then we are to reject it and those who bring such a gospel.

Calvinism is a man-made concept that adds to true gospel starting with Lordship Salvation.  Calvinism was created by John Calvin shortly before the death of Martin Luther in the sixteenth century.  Lordship Salvation created a bridge among  non-Calvinist Protestants because it sounded so close to their own doctrine, concerning salvation, that it was accepted among some and tolerated among others over the centuries.  Even though many do not think Calvinism is Biblical they will not reject those who hold to Calvinism outright.  For that reason Platt and MacArthur have been given the impression of legitimacy when by Biblical standards they should have been rejected long ago.

Two points describe Lordship Salvation, Commitment and Practical Righteousness.  Both Platt and MacArthur stay in sync with one another on these two points.  Lordship Salvation teaches that Commitment pre-salvation is crucial before someone can become a believer.  Commitment Platt and MacArthur argue have to include two components, devotion to Christ with the idea that anything Christ commands the individual will do and that the individual must be willing to die for Christ pre-salvation.  Platt says, “He is the all-sovereign Lord who deserves submission from everyone” and “We would be wise not to give people blanket assurance regarding their eternal destiny apart from the fruit of Biblical faith, repentance, obedience and love.”  MacArthur echoes Platt saying, “Implicit obedience to His commandments is the necessary expected and natural fruit of genuine love for Him.  It is also the tell-tale mark of authentic saving grace” and “When Jesus called people to follow Him, He was not seeking companions to be His sidekicks or admirers whom He could entertain with miracles.  He was calling people to yield completely and unreservedly to His Lordship.”

Many of you may be thinking that what they are saying is so close to the truth that it must be truth but what if I put the microscope on those quotes to bring it into sharper focus. 

Calvinism is defined by five points known as Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints.  We will examine four of these points and how they relate to Lordship Salvation.  It is important to understand that how they perceive Lordship Salvation is very different than how we perceive it.  Total Depravity means that man after the fall was so totally depraved he is not able to choose salvation nor even want it.  Unconditional Election is the concept that explains how we can be saved if Total Depravity exists.  God selects, because He is sovereign, people to become Christians and in selecting some to salvation He condemns others to hell. This is called predestination.   Limited Atonement explains the inconsistencies of Unconditional Election and scripture passages that disputes their claim.  Christ only died for the elect not for the whole world so that John 3:16 is referring to those who were chosen to believe.  Irresistible Grace again explains the inconsistencies with the other three points by saying that the elect who are chosen, God forces His grace on these individuals but they have no choice or say in the matter.  These four points change the meaning of what Platt and MacArthur said in their books.

Instead of us submitting by choice to a Holy God and accepting His gift of salvation instead some of us are selected by God to salvation and His grace is forced on them resulting in salvation.  Reading both books Platt and MacArthur question several times the salvation of many in the church.   We also question the salvation of some but it is a rare thoughtful exercise.  Platt and MacArthur however question the salvation of the individual who is an immature believer or who have been taught incorrectly or who has sin that has plagued them like drug abuse.  Some of you may be skeptical they really believe these things but look at what they have said.  Platt says in his book, “In our sin we are utterly unable to call on Christ because we are totally consumed with running from God” and “I praise God that he has not left the invitation to salvation up to sinful men and women who in their rebellion would never choose Him.”   MacArthur says also, “We cannot believe without God’s sovereign enablement.  We cannot conjure up faith out of the human will” and “First it is God who sovereignly initiates salvation…He does the seeking and the saving and it is He who brings sinners into His kingdom.  Though we respond with a desire to follow Christ even that desire is wrought in our hearts by God.  Salvation is not ultimately a human decision.”  Platt and MacArthur believe that God’s sovereignty takes out any choice we may have in accepting or rejecting salvation.  Even though they use words like repentance, grace and faith in the end you find the comments listed above as the fine print that is deceptively inserted among ideas that are acceptable to mainstream evangelicals.