Mar 20 2008
Defending an exclusive gospel
Why One Way? Defending an Exclusive Claim in an Inclusive World
John MacArthur
W Publishing Group, 2002
ISBN: 0849955580
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Postmodernism’s denial of absolute truth is seeping through the walls of the evangelical establishment and MacArthur, in the vein of all true shepherds, raises a warning for the church. While acknowledging evangelicalism’s historical diversity, he notes there was a time when all evangelicals held one truth in common: “They knew that Jesus Christ was the only way to heaven. ‘One way’ seemed an unshakeable belief that all evangelicals held in common.”
As the number of evangelicals flirting with postmodern relativism grows, MacArthur seeks to remind us of the gospel’s distinctive and exclusive claim - it alone holds the truth about life here and in the hereafter.
The Christian message is one of absolute truth standing outside ourselves. It remains true whatever one makes of it. Rooted in a rational revelation from God, it is a message of veracity, authority, and integrity. It is, as MacArthur effectively demonstrates, incompatible with any and all messages rooted in worldly wisdom.
This pocket-sized book (74pp.) packs a major punch. It is a great gift for university students, young pastors, and anyone needing an encouraging reminder that Jesus alone is still the way, the truth, and the life.
Thanks for this review. On this week when we celebrate things of FIRST IMPORTANCE (I Corinthians 15), it is essential that affirm our faith in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection as our only hope. How strange that evangelicals are having to wrestle through the uniqueness of Christ among themselves. Christ is not and never was A way, He is THE way.
These are strange days in which we live. It does seem that a surprising number of “evangelicals” are ready to jettison their confidence in the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus Christ. How did we get to this place?