In the mid 90’s pastor and author John MacArthur grabbed his pen and took the confident pragmatists out back behind the proverbial woodshed in his book entitled Ashamed of the Gospel. MacArthur dissected and dismantled the ever popular and unbiblical evangelical preoccupation with gimmicks, pragmatism, and man-centeredness that undermines the power of God in and through the gospel (Rom. 1.16).
The folks at Crossway have teamed up with MacArthur to update the popular work. In the preface MacArthur laments that a number of things compelled him to this second edition. Not the least of which is the speedy fulfillment of what he had outlined in the original work. The shallow gospel leaves shallow Christians. Furthermore, MacArthur notes that there are some further challenges that seek to undermine the clarity and power of the gospel in our age. He lists the rise of postmodernism as a major issue that needs to be confronted.
In the original edition MacArthur uses the battle setting that C.H. Spurgeon found himself in during the late 1800’s in Europe. Spurgeon fought amid those who were downgrading the importance and clarity of the gospel. MacArthur continues to use Spurgeon as both a faithful mouthpiece for articulating the issues as well as a stake in history showing the continuity of the problem and solution. In this addition there is an additional appendix with material related to this topic from Spurgeon’s sermons and writings. Further, MacArthur has added two new chapters in this addition, Carried by Every Wind and Spiritual Adultery. These chapters essentially take another shot at contemporary church growth culture and then popular (though fragmenting) Emerging Church movement.
I was a little disappointed with a section in the final chapter. MacArthur, who never seems to shrink from the role of evangelical jeremiad (even though he is admittedly uncomfortable with it), brings up the resurgence of ‘The New Calvinists’. Even noting that in 2009 Time Magazine called the movement one of the top 10 big ideas changing the world right now. I thought this would have been a great time to acknowledge some refreshing gospel air among the smog filled evangelical skyline. However, instead of this MacArthur quickly noted that these Young, Restless, & Reformed guys (particularly the restless group) are very susceptible to the emergent influences (p. 231). This could have been a moment to keep the balloon floating instead of sticking a pin in it.
Overall, the message of the book needs to be repeated over and over again. So this book is welcomed. Faithful guys like Spurgeon & MacArthur need to have their passionate and biblical gospel-centeredness laid before the church’s feet that we might again be reminded to not be ashamed of the gospel.
