Conference Clickbait
At a recent talk at the Shepherds Conference, Paul Washer spoke of his meeting with John MacArthur at MacArthur’s home some months (4?) before his death. Washer said that he spoke in a manner that ought to be done far more often than it is, especially towards men of stature. Among what was a longer conversation, Washer says he asked the following questions:
“Dr. Macarthur, Is it well with your soul? Are you reading the word? Talk to me about your prayer life: How is your communion with Christ?”
These words were clipped in a short video by someone on X, and it caused a firestorm of activity on the appropriateness of speaking to a dying believer in this way.
The reactions were typically polarizing. On the one hand, some expressed their hope that such an “assurance-robber” (Washer) would never visit them on their deathbed, whereas others felt these were fair questions from one faithful brother to another. What makes this interesting to me is that ostensibly Reformed folk found themselves on either side of the divide concerning the wisdom of how Washer handled the situation.
Before commenting on this event, you may wish to listen to more of the context, which is something I failed to do. I commented on Facebook, albeit not in an overly critical way, but I still should have listened to more before speaking. Having now heard the words immediately after the shortened clip, I think a lot of the name-calling on the internet would have been avoided. I am left wondering why the person who made the original video clipped it at the place he did. This is a valuable lesson for those who are quick to comment but slow to understand.
Having had time to reflect and watch, I think several things can be true as we look not only at this situation, but also what it may represent in terms of the broader Reformed evangelical world at this point.
First, we should be careful adjudicating on how one brother ministers to another brother. Tone of voice, facial expressions, longevity and closeness of the relationship, etc., are all important in how words are conveyed between two people. Washer stands before the Lord regarding the way he ministers to people, including how he spoke to John MacArthur.
Second, I do not doubt that some who claimed that Washer was being inappropriate towards MacArthur are the types of people who usually think such questions are inappropriate. They are functional antinomians who turn pale when they hear pointed questions such as “Is it well with your soul?” These people may hide behind the fact that at death we should ordinarily lead with consoling words (e.g., Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1), but one wonders if these folk ever want to talk about personal holiness. If legalism is a sin of commission, antinomianism is a sin of omission.
Third, I also noticed that a lot of people were throwing around the law-gospel distinction and suggesting that it was “all law” from Washer. This is interesting to me because the Canons of Dort speak of the gospel in relation to perseverance. Many who speak incessantly about the law and the gospel might be surprised to find that the Fifth Head of Doctrine (“Of the Perseverance of the Saints”), Article 14, reveals to us that the gospel exhorts, warns, and even threatens. Most English versions obscure the language found in the authorized translations (Latin, Dutch, and French). For example, the Latin would be translated as follows: “As it has pleased God to begin his work of grace in us by the preaching of the gospel, so he preserves, continues and perfects it through the hearing, reading, meditation, exhortations, threatenings, [and] promises of that same gospel, and also through the use of the sacraments.” The English translation of the French is slightly different but makes the same point, namely, that the threats come by “the same gospel” (“du mesme Evangile”). In the Latin, the phrase “hearing, reading, meditation, exhortations, threatenings, [and] promises” is modified by “eiusdem,” a genitive pronoun meaning “the same,” which can only refer back to “Euangelii,” meaning “the gospel.” Thus, the “threatenings” belong to “that same gospel” which is preached. So the gospel, according to the Canons of Dort, contains exhortations, threatenings, and promises.
Personally, as a Pastor, when I have visited the godly at the hour of death, I have usually felt the burden to console the sick and dying with the promises of the gospel. I believe searching questions have their place in pastoral ministry, and one should be free to ask such questions at the right time to the right person.
I have traveled the world and spoken to many young people who were brought out of their spiritual sloth by Washer. I praise God for this. We should remember there is a difference in the preaching style of an evangelist and a local pastor. We are probably on dangerous ground thinking that Washer’s style would be a good diet for a faithful body of believers every week.
Nonetheless, I trust most Pastors will understand that they should know what each person needs in their hour of death. For those who have faithfully professed the name of Christ, the consolation of the gospel should be offered to them in their last hour. The hope of the beatific vision surely should occupy our thoughts before death. But if one feels the burden to ask questions that address another’s communion with Christ, perhaps the framing of the questions is what really matters because, after all, why shouldn’t we talk about how we are enjoying the Lord before death?
How are you enjoying your communion with the triune God? Is there something in God’s word you’ve found precious lately? These types of questions shouldn’t feel oppressive, but if they do, perhaps not all is well with your soul?
