December 4, 2003

John MacArthur’s book, Reckless Faith strikes at the very heart of evangelism. On the first page he writes, “One of the worst lies of our age is the notion that it isn’t important what you believe, as long as you believe passionately enough.” He pleads for rationality and real truth seeking like Jesus taught (John 8:32) and states, “Authentic faith can never bypass the mind. Genuine Christianity cannot be anti-intellectual. truth cannot be self-contradictory. Truth makes sense; nonsense cannot be true.”

MacArthur discusses in some detail the prevalent attitude against preaching doctrine and states, “The attitude that scorns doctrine while elevating feelings or blind trust cannot legitimately be called faith, even if it masquerades as Christianity. It is actually an irrational form of unbelief. God holds us accountable for what we believe as well as for how we think about truth.” He stands with Martin Luther who struggled against irrational thinking in the church and wrote, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason, my conscience is captive to the Word of God.” MacArthur demonstrates clearly God’s concern for truth and sites scores of scripture passages that use the words truth, knowledge, discernment, wisdom and understanding.

We are reminded of the importance of these passages as we study with Buddhists in Cambodia. Intellectual university students who study the sciences and learn to reason, blindly accept the contradictions and fables of their national religion without questioning because, as one student told me, “religion is mystical and the spiritual world cannot be understood”. As we study together, many are realizing that the same God who created the earth left a logical book, the Bible, that can be understood through study and reason. Pray for all those in the world who spurn reason, logic and discernment because He Cares.

I’ll be in Prattville, Alabama speaking three times this weekend at the Guyana Workshop. Brethren are honing their methods to help the Guyanese Christians develop responsible churches. Twenty-five years have passed since the first congregation was established and now they are ready to go forward without foreign control and guidance. You played a major role in planting the early congregations.

William E. "Bill" McDonough, Director
Partners In Progress
Phnom Penh, Cambodia