In the last week, two significant events have highlighted the stark contrast between cultural and biblical Christianity.
The matters involved two well-known professing Christian men, Chip Gaines and John MacArthur, through whom the church can learn an important lesson about what it means to follow Christ. In contrasting these two men, Christians can see there is a genuine difference between merely professing to follow Christ and being humbly submitted to Christ as Lord and Savior. One man appears to have attached Christ to himself as a decoration to his celebrity status, while the other built his entire life around serving and proclaiming Christ as Lord. Christians should look at these differences as an important life lesson in what it means to count the cost of following Christ.
On July 11, news broke that reality television stars Chip and Joanna Gaines’ new show, Back to the Frontier, would feature a married male homosexual couple and their two sons. The Gaineses had previously become famous through their HGTV show, Fixer Upper, and have openly professed their Christian faith for years. When news of the positive inclusion of a homosexual couple on their show came to light, many Christians rightly pushed back on social media. Just 24 hours later, Chip Gaines responded to that pushback, but not in a positive manner. In a post that raised many eyebrows, Gaines wrote:
Talk, ask qustns, listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never
It’s a sad sunday when “non believers” have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian
Gaines made it clear that he saw Christians who questioned and rebuked him and his wife for including the homosexual couple on their show as being hateful and cruel to nonbelievers. He further responded to several prominent Christians’ comments by mocking or dismissing their concerns. Gaines demonstrated he had little concern for the biblical questions and reproofs being brought before him. His attitude appeared flippant and unconcerned about the unbiblical nature of their normalizing and affirming sexual depravity on their program.
This is the fruit of the modern evangelical practice of cultural Christianity. Rather than seeking to conform itself to Christ, this practice encourages people to be followers of Christ with little to no call for obedience to His commandments. Christian churches that preach a steady diet of self-help and positive affirmation do not challenge attendees to examine their walk in Christ and pursue holiness. Rather, such teachings are viewed as harmful and divisive, potentially driving people away from Christianity. As such, professing Christians not only fail to seek to grow in wisdom and holiness, but they eschew any Christian or church by claiming they are obstacles to people coming to Christ.
This is evident from Chip Gaines’ behavior online toward other Christians. Rather than see the responses from his potential target audience, fellow Christians, as a reason to examine his actions, Gaines responded with mockery and derision. Gaines demonstrated his concern was not for the glory of God, but for the preservation of his TV program and reputation with unbelievers. This should be cause for concern for any genuine follower of Christ and a reminder that mere profession of faith does not a Christian make.
Now, contrast the actions of Chip Gaines with the news of John MacArthur’s passing on July 14. MacArthur was the pastor of Grace Community Church in California for over 50 years. In that time, he not only dutifully taught the congregation through verse-by-verse expository preaching, but he also established the Grace to You ministry, Master’s Seminary, Master’s University, and multiple other ministries. He was a prolific writer and speaker, having appeared on multiple news programs where he spoke the truth of Scripture without fear or apology. His ministries have provided numerous resources, often free of charge or at reduced cost, to innumerable people and churches around the world.
MacArthur became well known, not because he was a celebrity, but because he boldly spoke the truth about Christ in whatever venue he found himself. News of his passing was bittersweet to many Christians who count his preaching and writing as instrumental to their coming to faith and growing in the knowledge of Scripture.
The legacy of John MacArthur is not bound up in celebrity status. It is established in the humility of a man who saw no greater duty than to preach the Scriptures faithfully each and every week. MacArthur made no bones about his view of the pulpit either. He taught that the role of the pastor should not be viewed as a star or celebrity. Rather, he taught that the pastor was a servant, a third-level galley slave, in service to Christ. In that humble service, MacArthur spoke boldly against numerous matters of false teachings, including the prosperity gospel, the excesses of the charismatic doctrine, false religions, and many more. He also spoke publicly about secularism, atheism, LGBT indoctrination, abortion, and much more. He never wavered on these matters and always directed people to the clear teachings of Scripture.
MacArthur endured much slander and attacks on his name and his church because he viewed the cause of Christ to be of higher value than any status he might gain through compromise. MacArthur spoke, taught, thought, and lived as the consummate servant of Christ. And now he has entered into his eternal rest with the Savior he so dutifully proclaimed.
This week has been a public demonstration of two wildly different kinds of Christian men. The church continually finds itself at a crossroads, and it must determine which path it will take. Will it follow the path of Chip Gaines, who has ignored the clear teachings of Scripture for the applause of the world? Or will it follow the path of John MacArthur, who spent his life devoted to the preaching and living out of the Scriptures, regardless of what the world said?
For this writer, the choice seems clear. We need far fewer celebrity Christians and a lot more willing, third-level galley slaves. May the church choose wisely.
This article was originally posted by Voice of Reason and is republished here with permission.
Chris Hohnholz is a retired law enforcement officer living in Northern Nevada with his wife, Kristine. He is the father of two young men, a student at Reformed Baptist Seminary, and serves as a member of his church’s safety team. His articles can be found at www.slavetotheking.com.
