----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Newcomb" <nan_new39@...>
Subject: RE: [soundofgrace] Are infants really "innocent?"


> Hi John,
>
> I do hope that you will read J. MacArthur's book because I don't think
this
> discussion is doing it justice.

Hi Nancy,
        I have read Macarthur's book. It is said, "Fools rush in where
angels fear to tread." (1)  John Macarthur is a brilliant and godly man and
the fartherest thing possible from a fool. (2)  He did not "rush into"
writing his book. His little book evidences a tremendous amount of research
and work. He is to be commended for openly and clearly trying to prove his
position with actual texts of Scripture. He apparently feels very strongly
about this subject. (3) The primary problem in the mind of many, including
myself, is NOT with the position he takes, namely, that all infants, without
exception, who die are sure of going to heaven, but his insistence that his
position is the only position possible according to the Scripture
        Macarthur's position is that the Bible clearly teaches all infants
go to heaven. I WANT to believe that and I DO BELIEVE that but I have very
little Biblical evidence to prove beyond question the salvation of all
infants is an article of faith beyond dispute. I cannot say, as Macarthur
does, that the death of every infant without exception is, according to the
clear teaching of Scripture, guaranteed "instant heaven." I am sorry but it
is not all that perfectly clear to me despite Macarthur's arguments.
        You are very correct is asserting that no one has a right to judge
Macarthur's, or any one else's, motives for either believing or teaching a
given doctrine. I do not in the least believe that Macarthur holds, and put
into print,  the position he does for any other reason than that he
sincerely believes that is what the Scripture teaches. All discussion and
comments must be only concerned with his exegesis of Scripture.
        Two things must be remembered. First, when anyone, regardless who he
is, puts a conviction into print it is "entombed in ink" and it is fair game
for criticism. We have as much responsibility to sincerely criticize
something we do believe as we have to print what we do believe. Second, we
may only criticize a writer's exegesis of Scripture and not his motives.
This is especially true when the writer is a man of Macarthur's stature in
Christian circles.
        One last personal opinion. John Macarthur is one of the few
internationally famous preachers I know of who does not hesitate to admit he
was wrong when friends, or even enemies, prove him to be wrong. He has
publically done this on more than one occasion. That fact alone makes me
very reluctant to accuse his motives. Macarthur has been neither reluctant
to tackle very difficult and controversial subjects nor been unwilling to
suffer the consequences of his position. Those two things, plus his
willingness to admit when he knows he is wrong, is more than enough to keep
me from throwing stones at him even when I do not agree with either position
or his exegesis.

P.S.  Glad to have you on our chat room.      JGR