Alright, I have to admit- I myself am wrong to poke so much fun, and focus so much derision, at Johnny Mac and “his” church. As you well know, I attend GCC when I’m up in LA, and I have grown a great deal directly thanks to God’s moving through the pastors there. However, it has never gotten easy for me to hear people say, “I’d take a bullet for John MacArthur!” or “I hope John MacArthur never dies so I can hear his commentaries forever!” And yes, I have heard both statements made at least once, probably more. They’re totally genuine, totally innocent statements expressing appreciation for good teaching, but they raise the hair on the back of my neck!

As many have said, you’d be hard pressed to find many churches with the biblical scholarship and expository gold mine of GCC- but sometimes we need to consider whether or not we’re TOO into it. On the other hand, I’d say the same of many of the leaders of the Emergent movement- followers gladly embrace the philosophies of these leaders, and apply their faith in accordance with that perspective and that perspective alone.

In America, we often shudder at the mindless devotion of Muslims in the Middle East to their all-knowing mullahs and ayatollahs- although we know the Truth, can we not also be misled by our own flawed humanity?