Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong: A Biblical Response to Today's Most Controversial Issues [Paperback]

John MacArthur (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009

"Our response to moral questions is not determined by politics, economics, personal preference, popular opinion, or human reasoning. It is, instead, grounded in what God has told us is true about ourselves and our world....God's Word offers sanity, clarity, and hope."

--John MacArthur

Trusted Voices Offer Biblical Responses
to Today's Hot Issues

One of the greatest challenges facing Christians today is the powerful influence of secular thinking. From all directions we're fed a constant barrage of persuasive--yet unbiblical--worldviews. This makes it difficult to know where to stand on today's most talked-about issues.

The leadership team at Grace Community Church, along with their pastor, John MacArthur, provide much-needed discernment and clarity in the midst of rampant confusion. Using the Bible as the foundation, you'll learn how to develop a Christian perspective on key issues--including...

• political activism
• environmentalism
• the cult of celebrity
• entertainment and escapism
• homosexual marriage
• abortion, birth control, and surrogacy
• euthanasia and suicide
• disasters and epidemics
• immigration
• God and the problem of evil

Also included is a topical reference guide of Bible verses that address key concerns--a guide that will arm you with right thinking and biblical answers to challenging questions.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John MacArthur is the pastor–teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California; president of The Master’s College & Seminary; and featured teacher for the Grace to You media ministry. Weekly telecasts and daily radio broadcasts of “Grace to You” are seen and heard by millions worldwide. John has also written several bestselling books, including The MacArthur Study Bible, The Gospel According to Jesus, The New Testament Commentary series, Twelve Ordinary Men, and The Truth War. He and his wife, Patricia, have four married children and fifteen grandchildren.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; 4th Paperback Edition edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736926437
• ISBN-13: 978-0736926430
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four grown children and fourteen grandchildren.
John's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in seven countries. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly 2,000 English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, audiotapes, and CDs by John MacArthur.
John is president of The Master's College and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Best-selling titles include The Gospel According to Jesus, Truth War, The Murder of Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#47 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#47 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pastoral Perspective on Controversial Issues February 18, 2009

By N. Busenitz

Format:Paperback

As a contributor to this book, I am admittedly biased. But I thought a few remarks might prove useful to anyone considering it.

First, this book addresses a wide range of contemporary issues in a practical fashion from a biblical (and pastoral) perspective. It is not just another ethics textbook (nor was it ever intended to be). Rather, it was written by our pastoral staff with the intent being to show how biblical principles apply to the issues that Christians face everyday. The book is born out of real-world ministry experience, as we attempted to apply biblical principles to real life.

Second, the book is intended to be a concise treatment of the topics addressed. Full books could be written on many of the topics we addressed. Our goal was not to do that, but rather to give a succinct and hands-on treatment of each of the issues. As a result, topics like abortion, euthanasia, birth control, homosexuality, global warming, illegal immigration and the like are addressed in a concise manner. In this way, the book is somewhat of a handbook on contemporary issues.

Finally, in response to J.J.'s rather negative review, it should be noted that the book does NOT equate saving faith with external obedience, but in fact clearly states that obedience follows faith as its fruit (see p. 9, for example). Also, the love of God is specifically addressed in the book (see pp. 206-207, for example). Based on J.J.'s comments, it becomes difficult to imagine that he even read the whole book.

In any case, our church staff's hope (in putting this book together) was that it would be a resource for pastors and lay-people alike, as they seek to exalt Christ by exhibiting "right thinking in a world gone wrong."

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable guide to today's ethics as a Christian March 4, 2009

By Christina Lockstein TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong by John MacArthur is a thorough look at many of the dilemmas and issues facing Christians in today's world in a remarkable way. There is a great deal of discord within the church about issues like homosexuality, illegal immigration, politics, and so many other issues. MacArthur and some other authors back up their point of view with plenty of Scripture, and I was glad to see their compassionate view on illegal immigration. It's an issue that had bothered me, and I wasn't quite sure how to view it as a Christian, but MacArthur boiled it down to its essence giving me and other Christians a way to view this volatile issue through faith. I don't necessarily agree with his view on capital punishment, but for the first time I was able to see how Christians can support it and yet oppose abortion Biblically. MacArthur offers a real way for Christians to interact with the world without losing their soul. Popular culture including media, video games, and celebrity is also addressed by focusing on the 1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. This book covers a wide range of subjects and gives Christians a guide to use to help their own response to the world.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars We Need More Right Thinking! February 10, 2010

By Michael Kear VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong is an outstanding volume which belongs on the shelf of every pastor and teacher, especially here in the United States. John MacArthur and the leadership team at Grace Community Church have put together a worthy guide to ethics and morality in this dark day. Covering such subjects as movies and video games, divorce and birth control, politics and ecology, and even tragedy and suffering, just to name a few, this volume is well written and well researched Scripturally. You may not agree with every detail here, but you will certainly know why the writer holds that opinion according to the Holy Scriptures. There may be differences in interpretation, but at least you will know where this leadership team stands and why.

My favorite chapters were "American Idols" by Tom Patton about entertainment, escapism, and the cult of celebrity, and "God, Government, and the Gospel" by John MacArthur. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book. Listen as MacArthur places the emphasis exactly where it should be: "Only the gospel, through the power of the Spirit, can effect real change in society - since it transforms sinners from the inside out. After all, there are no Christian countries, only Christian individuals. Hence, our commission is to proclaim that gospel faithfully in whatever context God puts us. When we allow ourselves to get distracted by politics, we inevitably neglect our responsibility to preach the gospel."

Granted, this book will convict you in the areas where you fall short of the Bible standard. It certainly did so with me. But that is precisely why it is so good and why it is so needed.

Highly recommended.