MacArthur VS Moore - Is This Really The Only Way?

For some time now, I’ve had a couple of somewhat independent thoughts rolling around in my head:

If it’s not leading you toward humility and compassion, it’s not leading you toward God.

We should be focusing just as much (even more?) on what we are for as we are on what we are against.


Love is powerful.  But, something (religious) often seems to too easily separate power from love and, in effect, creates priority—power first, love second (if at all).

This is why context is important; because, without it, it becomes (again too easily) too much ‘either / or’ and ‘us / them’—limiting our ability to hear the truth in other perspectives.  It seems to me, the way through such things is humility and dialog.

Here is a link to a helpful (imho) perspective on the recent John MacArthur dust-up about an issue for some groups of people (evangelicals, etc.):

John MacArthur tells Beth Moore to "go home" Drama: What should we think!

Though not in agreement with all the positions mentioned, I do find the approach and some of the observations helpful.

Here’s a couple more links to consider:

Max Lucado responds to John MacArthur's women preacher comments: 'Bride of Christ is sighing'

Empowering Women Leaders: An Interview with John Ortberg

At the very least, among other things, I am grateful for men who are speaking up about the way this is being handled. I certainly understand, and feel, some of what many women feel about the power-play they experience from certain men regarding these issues.  My own daughter pointed out how conspicuous the lack of grief is (instead of condescension and mocking) from the men, referenced in the first link above, over what they feel is so wrong.

Why is it that so many old white men seem only to be interested in what is wrong about what other people believe (Christians here don't seem very different than non-Christians)?  Why do they think they are the only ones who know anything?  The only ones holding out for—holding on to the truth.  Is us VS them really the only way?  Is this the only remaining way for them to feel powerful?

As I continue to age, I hope I don't end up only interested in being right.  I can't picture Jesus, as an old man, becoming increasingly frustrated with what was wrong with the world (didn't he already know that?  And, he came anyway?  To do what?  ...love).

They will know we are Christians by our love.

-- John 13:35

It doesn't say, 'They will know we are Christians...by our beliefs' (I'm not saying that beliefs don’t matter at all, but when they seem to supplant love, something else is going on). 

It is love that we should be for because love is where the real power is.