Why are doctrinally sound Christians so often cold?

First, this question is built on a broad, sweeping generalization. A true one, yes, but I’m not affirming either that all doctrinally sound Christians are cold, nor that all warm Christians are not doctrinally sound. That said, there is a reason for the stereotype. Many amateur theologians are experts at straining out doctrinal gnats while swallowing cold camels. My theory is a simple one- they’re cold because they don’t believe what they say they believe.

How do I know this? Because if they believed what they say they believe they wouldn’t be cold. They affirm what they affirm. They defend what they defend. They explain what they explain. But believe? Believing is more than mere affirmation, defense and explanation. As any sound amateur theologian will tell you, to believe the gospel includes fiducia, rest, or trust. The demons affirm the gospel. They could both defend it and explain it. But they don’t rest in it. They don’t love it, but hate it. They believe, and tremble in terror.

Such is not the case for colder believers. Instead, while they rest in the gospel, it is an uneasy rest. As with all of us it is a rest that wars against our flesh. The flesh rears its ugly head in the life of the lover of theology through the gateway of pride. How our depravity is made evident in that we who affirm we are totally depraved still manage to be proud that we affirm total depravity. Our prideful depravity is evident in our careful affirmation that works are not the ground of our justification but the fruit thereof, followed by our pride for being able to articulate that distinction.

Consider also the frequent frustration those of us who affirm God’s sovereignty over all things have over fellow believers who don’t affirm God’s sovereignty over all things. Disagreement? Of course. A desire to help? By all means. But frustration? Every Calvinist should lose his Calvinist card whenever he forgets that the Arminians’ Arminianism is all a part of God’s sovereign plan. When we forget that such were some of us. When we forget that despite that theological mistake, oftentimes the Arminian has a deeper love toward our Lord than we do.

Some people marvel that Dr. John MacArthur and my father were able to get along, and fight side by side over the years despite their differences. They were simply following in the footsteps of John Wesley and George Whitefield. These two men led the Great Awakening, worked together to form Methodism. Their ability to get along, however, took a hit when Wesley published an essay against Calvinism. Whitefield’s disciples asked him, following Wesley’s death, if he thought he’d see Wesley in heaven. Whitefield wisely replied, “No. John will be so much closer to the throne of grace than I will, I don’t think I’ll be able to see him.” Whitefield had the superior theology, but his heart was anything but cold.

A person who affirms the doctrines of grace says, “Look at what I’ve figured out.” A person who believes the doctrines of grace says, “Look at what God in His glorious grace has done.” Pray that we all would not only believe more accurately but more fervently and humbly.