I started reading a new book last night that excites me. John MacArthur has written a book that isn't "friendly fire" among believers but points out that because some on the other side of this issue have deliberately attacked the authority and clarity of God's Word. He even says that they may not be authentic believers at all. Even some pastors and popular writers in the Christian market might be the enemy disguised as comrades. Here is a clip for the begging of the book.
Much of the visible church nowadays seems to think Christians are suppose to be at play rather than at war. The idea of actually fighting for doctrinal truth is the furthest thing from most churchgoers' thoughts. Contemporary Christians are determined to get the world to like them- and of course in the process they also want to have as much fun as possible. They are so obsessed with making the church seem "cool" to unbelievers that they can't be bothered with questions about whether another person's doctrine is sound or not. In a climate like that , the thought of even identifying someone else's teaching as false (much less "contending earnestly" for the faith) is a distasteful and dangerously countercultural suggestion. Christians have bought into the notion that almost nothing is more "uncool" in the world's eyes than when someone shows a sincere concern about the danger of heresy. After all, the world simply doesn't take spiritual truth that seriously, so they cannot fathom why anyone would.
But Christians, of all people ought to be the most willing to live and die for truth. Remember, we know truth, and the truth has set us free (John 8:32). We should not be ashamed to say so boldly (Psalm 107:2). And if called upon to sacrifice for the truth's sake, we need to be willing and prepared to give our lives. Again, that is exactly what Jesus was speaking about when He called His disciples to take up a cross (Matthew 16:24). Cowardice and authentic faith are antithetical.
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