pillars of christian character

I'm beginning another book that promises to be good, John MacArthur's The Pillars of Christian Character. The beginning of the book will develop the pillars of faith, obedience, humility, love, and unity. Then MacArthur writes that spiritual growth is a command rather than an option. This is followed by some chapters encouraging the attitudes of forgiveness, joy, and thankfulness at all times. The book closes with chapters on spiritual strength, self-discipline, the nature of worship, and finally Christian hope. I'm looking forward to reading this.

The introduction begins with a wonderful anecdote of the pillars in the town hall in Windsor. When construction of the town hall was complete, the city fathers toured the building and thought that the interior needed more support pillars. The customer allows being right, the architect Sir Christopher Wren, had the extra pillars added. But these were fakes in that they never reached the ceiling. They looked impressive and appeared to provide support but in fact they were mere illusions - they served no real function.

MacArthur points out that this is often the case in our churches.

Substance is replaced by shadow. Content is out - style is in. Meaning is out - method is in. The church may look right, but it bears little weight.

We are to be the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim 3.15) but as MacArthur notes, we "have built a facade that offers no support, bears little weight, and falls short of reaching the heights God designed for the church and wants it to reach."

MacArthur adds that in his experience, "if the spiritual attitudes of the people are right, ... the church's organizational structure, form, and style become far less important." I'd add that the latter is still very important but it flows out of the former and therefore is the perspective and order correct, but the latter is "right". It's more of a 'which one flows from which one' perspective and it's always wrong if the structure and form drive the spiritual.

I'd also modify MacArthur's claim somewhat in that he credits "careful, long-term, biblical teaching" with accomplishing that right spiritual attitude. While I think it is imperative to have this, as Iggy reminds me, we all ultimately need to be in relationship with the truth, Jesus. Too many seemingly make teaching the goal which is as wrong as abandoning it. The 'goal' is neither, the goal is Christ Jesus Himself.

In MacArthur's defense, he later states the his goal, as with Paul, is that Jesus Christ be fully formed in those he ministers to (Gal 4.19). I did not intend to imply MacArthur does not think this, I was only using the above as a cue to warn the teaching itself is not the target.

Later MacArthur says, "transformed lives should be the goal of all pastors and church leaders". Again, right but I'd simply add that this is the goal of all Christians not only the paid clergy or those in "leadership positions". Let's be careful not to force this into our western world paradigm (as opposed to Biblical) of what the church looks like.

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