Fatalism: Revisiting the question

By: American Decency Staff

“Fatalism or motivating responsible activity? [Re: John MacArthur]
I wouldn’t be bringing this up again but while reading a devotional this morning I came across these apropos thoughts.

As many of you will recall, in response to an email alert and a bulletin insert
https://americandecency.org/resources/bulletin/2007/btnseptember07.pdf
that we published, a writer stated (and some others felt also) that John MacArthur is fatalistic.

“… I think John MacArthur is doing irreparable damage to our cause, and is preaching fatalism and causing many to fall away. Who cares what happens if God has given up on us? If God has given up, surely we better as well. Who wants to be found going against God?

And so, Mr MacArthur is basically saying give up, it’s all over, God has moved to countries unknown, so stay out of government, business, education, and just let the devil have it all. …”
https://americandecency.org/main.php?f=updates_new/2007/August/8.30.07

I wouldn’t be bringing this up again but while reading a devotional this morning I came across these apropos thoughts.

Some of you take issue with MacArthur because you think he is saying that it’s over for America – God has turned America over to its sin, it’s reprobation. That it’s all over. There’s nothing we can do.

Quoting from a devotional called “Tabletalk” (Ligonier Ministries).

“When prophets spoke, they did so not primarily to reveal the future but to motivate responsible activity. Joseph was not a fatalist, and he did not end his speech to the pharaoh saying, ‘This famine is coming, and we cannot stop it. Let us hope things do not get too bad.’

Biblical Christianity is not a fatalistic religion like Islam, which teaches that man’s decisions have no real impact on God’s plan. Of course, Scripture says the Lord ordains all things. But it also tells us many details are hidden from us (Deut. 29:29); thus, what to us seems set in stone is often subject to change (Jer. 18:1-11). Certainly, God knows the future, but He usually hides the future from us. Instead, He warns of judgment and offers blessing to motivate human choices that joyously do His will and bring glory to Him. John Calvin says Genesis 41:33 shows how true prophecy eschews fatalism. God gives prophecies that ‘would form men to piety, would lead them to repentance, and would excite them to prayer when oppressed with fear.’

The writer goes on to say that some Christians fall easy prey to “fatalistic thinking. We might think that since Jesus said the poor will always be with us (Mark 14:7), it is useless to try to help them. Or, maybe we think that we can give up crucifying our flesh because we have struggled with a particular sin for decades, and no end seems forthcoming. God’s declarations in Scripture must move us to worship, repent, pray, and be holy. Otherwise, we do not believe His Word.”
[Taken from Tabletalk, Ligonier Ministries, Orlando, FL, September 5, 2007, Dr. R.C. Sproul]

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American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
PH: 231-924-4050
www.americandecency.org

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