Book Review: MacArthur's Remaining Faithful in Ministry

Often it is the slender books, the brief books, that are most profound. In this class I would include such writings as Andrew Murray’s Humility: the Journey toward Holiness, Tozer’s Knowledge of the Holy, and Stott’s Basic Christianity. I can now add MacArthur’s RemainingFaithful in Ministry to this list. At just seventy-seven pages it is a book that punches far above its weight.

MacArthur writes on selected texts from 2 Corinthians 1-4, drawing nine points of faithful ministry out of Paul’s testimony to the Corinthian church. In one sense it is standard MacArthur: solid yet accessible exegesis, comparing Scripture with Scripture, delving into Greek terms when it enhances the meaning of the English text, combined with biblically faithful application. The power of his writing lies wholly within his skillful use of the biblical text.

The subtitle is 9 Essential Convictions for Every Pastor, and the book delivers abundantly on that theme. Every man in pastoral ministry should read this book and come under the weight of its convictions. Five stars, highly recommended.

Noteworthy: from Murray's Humility

This quote comes from Andrew Murray's little volume entitled, Humility: The Journey toward Holiness, pp 61-62. It makes reference to Luke 18:9-14.

The chief mark of counterfeit holiness is its lack of humility. Every seeker after holiness needs to be on his guard lest unconsciously what was begun in the spirit is perfected in the flesh, and pride creep in where its presence is least expected. Two men went up to a temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, the other a tax collecter. There was no place or position so sacred that the Pharisee could not enter there. Pride can lift its head in the very temple of God and make His worship the scene of its self-exaltation. Since the time Christ so exposed his pride, the Pharisee has put on the garb of the tax collector. The confessor of deep sinfulness and the professor of high holiness must both be on watch. Just when we are most anxious to have our heart be the temple of God, we will find the two men coming to pray. And the tax collector will find that his danger is not from the Pharisee beside him, who despises him, but the Pharisee within, who commends and exalts himself. In God's temple, when we think we are in the holy place, in the presence of His holiness, let us beware of pride. "One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them" (Job 1:6). [Emphasis mine]

I, of course, have no idea how you respond to this. It's part of a larger, and quite excellent chapter (I recommend the book, highly). But as I read this excerpt, I find my heart crying out with Paul (Romans 7:24), "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?"

I am the tax collector. But more wretchedly, I am the Pharisee.

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul says, as he continues in Romans.

Jesus Christ our only hope; but for the one who knows Christ truly, we know that He is a fully sufficient hope. He will complete that good thing He has begun in us (Philippians 1:6). And that's worth celebrating!