Kirk says, “Richard Bennett, My name is Kirk. I know Monty Collier and enjoy reading essays by Clark and Robbins from the trinity foundation website. I bought your book "Far from Rome, Near to God". I like it so far. I had a question. I am from the Dallas Fort Worth area in Texas and have not been able to find a church here to worship and fellowship. Quite frankly I may never find one. The churches around here are either Arminian or they are Reformed and succumb to the Lordship heresy of John Macarthur. Wondering if you knew of any good church located in this area?”
Pastor Glen says, “Hi Kirk, It is good to hear from you. I am Pastor Glenn Diehl. I was raised up in Ft. Worth. I am presently living in the far northern part of California. It is my responsibility to answer Berean Beacon email. May I say, you are asking the wrong people about a church if you do not like Reform theology. ‘Far from Rome, Near to God’ is written by men who for the most part are reformed in faith. Reformed faith adherents believe in the Doctrines of Grace, and we also believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I don't know where you ever got the idea that believing in the Lordship of Jesus Christ is heresy. It is taught throughout the Word of God, particularly in the writings of Paul. Kirk, I am sure you are aware that is the problem with too many Christians today; they want to live anyway they like and still think they are going to heaven "because they prayed a ‘sinner's’ prayer sometime in their past.’ There is nowhere in the entire Bible where we are told to pray a ‘sinner's prayer.’ Jesus and the writers of the NT told us to repent and believe in the ‘Lord’ Jesus Christ. I exhort you not to jump over the word ‘Lord.’ We also believe in the doctrine of election that is so clearly laid out by the apostle Paul in Romans. So, Kirk, if the Doctrines of Grace, the Doctrine of Election, and the Doctrine of the Lordship of Jesus Christ offends you, we will not be able to direct you to a "good" church. Nonetheless, it is our sincere prayer that the Lord will direct you to a church that will exalt His name and teach biblical truth. Kirk, I do not believe it was by chance you came into contact with our book. I believe the Lord is trying to tell you something is amiss about what you presently believe. After 56 years studying the Word of God, I am thoroughly convinced that the doctrines I have mentioned above are biblical. John MacArthur is not perfect, but he is more solid in the Word than those pastors today who teach a watered-down, no blood, no repentance, no Lordship, seeker sensitive, emergent church nonsense gospel. Remember this, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ ‘For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.’ Kirk, we are living in an era where there is much apostasy coming from our pulpits and supposedly ;Christian’ books. I encourage you to be like the Bereans and search the scriptures against anything you hear from others. Even from us. Richard Bennett and I both attend Reformed faith churches. He's in Yakima, WA, and I am in Redding, CA. I am an ordained Baptist minister. There are Reformed Baptist churches, though I have never attended one. But I would recommend you try one for a month or so and see if God would lead you to regularly attend. Kirk, you are in our thoughts and prayers. If you want to talk some more. please write again, or you can contact me on Skype. My contact information is: kittyhawk63@juno.com I look forward to hearing from you again. Remember, we are two hours behind your time. If it is 6pm your time, it is 4pm our time. The Lord bless you, brother, Pastor Glenn”
My response, “I never said I did not like Reformed theology just wanted to clarify that. Perhaps I was not clear on that. I said that the Reformed churches in this area are more so catholic with their doctrine of Lordship salvation than anything else. In fact, I like to read guys like Gordon H. Clark, John Robbins. Monty Collier is currently teaching class over law and gospel distinction. I am a die hard five pointer - supralapsarian, Christ died only for the elect alone and no one else.
Lordship salvation is the heresy that says that in order to be saved or keep ones salvation he must not only believe in Christ but also continue to do good works. You must not only believe that Christ is savior but also submit to his lordship. This is heresy in that it focus on one's works for assurance. Macarthur, who is not reformed at all, believes that a person cannot be justified if he does not have 'fruits'. This right here is not what the Bible says and I do ask that you would reexamine your stance on such things. Of course Christ is Lord, but this has nothing to do with whether I live rightly or continue in sin and the Reformers of old never said this as well. We are living in a day where people who do profess to be Christians are in fact not but are in fact legalist, and sadly John Piper, R.C. Sproul (Jr), and John Macarthur are leading this regime.”
His response, “Yes, Kirk, I just read your message literally and it did not come across as you may have intended. We also agree that Christ died only for the elect even though salvation is genuinely offered to everyone. It is God the Holy Spirit's work to only quicken the elect that they may believe. I must again state we are in agreement with John MacArthur that true believers accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I state again the scriptures, and there are many in the NT, that we must ‘repent and believe in the ‘Lord’ Jesus Christ. It is not, ‘repent and believe in Jesus Christ.’ Jesus Christ is not a fireman who comes along and puts out the fires of hell for a particular individual without also demanding to be Lord of that person. In other words, true salvation comes when a person believes in the saving work of Christ on the cross and Jesus becomes Lord of that person's life. Kirk, I would agree with MacArthur. If a person who claims to be a Christian does not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit and does not have any good works to show that they are saved, I would seriously question their salvation. I think that is the point MacArthur is making and definitely is the point the apostle James made. Read:
http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/... Here you see this statement: ‘Broadly speaking, Calvinism encompasses the whole of Reformed theology and its doctrinal distinctives.’ John MacArthur is definitely Calvinist. Kirk, I think we may be at an impasse. One day all Christians will have their poor theology corrected and we will be of one mind. I look forward to that day. In closing, I say to you what I tell many others: Keep the Faith, share your faith. Pastor Glenn”
My response, “Do you agree with John MacArthur's claim that the Gospel in its proper saving sense is ‘a call to obedience’?”
His response, “Kirk, I am not a student of John MacArthur. My theology and beliefs are the result of my own Bible study. I do not deny that I have been taught many of the things which I have confirmed through my own study. I do not know what MacArthur teaches in many areas. I would say this to your question, if a person does not intend to obey the Lord Jesus Christ once saved, I would doubt that the person is truly saved. ‘Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.’ As you know from what is written, most of Jesus' words are commandments. The NIV says, ‘Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’ Obedience is a sign of a changed heart. Pastor Glenn Diehl”
My response, “You are familiar with the law and gospel distinction? Further how much is necessary before you know you are saved? How much sin is too much sin? I am sure you sin a lot.”
His response, “Kirk, I have no desire, nor time, to continue this present conversation. Our ministry is solely focused on witnessing to Catholics who are enslaved by the false teachings of Catholicism and their four-fold requirement for salvation. We want Catholics to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We teach that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. If you want to discuss what John MacArthur teaches, which you consider heresy, I suggest you write to him and what you regard as heresy. We are not Grace to You nor are we pushing John MacArthur's theology. I have work waiting to do from Richard. I must go. If you want to know more what we teach, please avail yourself to our articles and videos on
www.bereanbeacon.org. We try our best to be biblical in what we teach and yet we do not claim to be systematic theologians. When I told you that you could write, I was hoping you would focus on our ministry, not MacArthur's. Thank you for writing and may we end this interchange in good spirit. Good day, Pastor Glenn”
My response, “I fail to understand why you think Macarthur is a good teacher, even when you have not read him and even when Catholics praise him?”
