What do you think about this quote?

[billvau]

"To preach the true gospel in the professing Christian world today, is to engage in more spiritual warfare than to preach the gospel to the world of the lost." John MacArthur.

[justMike]

Would this be the difference between a proud spirit in the professing Christian world vs a more humble spirit in the "world of the lost"?
Might have some physical warfare in the current 'radical Islam' world. Your quotation speaks (I think) to a time of a more pacified
(mid to late 20th century) overall world situation. However I have no familiarity with the source of that quote.
Warfare of all kinds is in the front seat, if not in the driving seat these days.

[FresnoRob]

Since he said

professing Christian world

I’m guessing he means those who say they are Christrian but may not be. Many have believed in a false Gospel. People in general once they have made up their minds about what they believe, can become very dogmatic about that belief. Many of those who have no set beliefs are more open minded about discussing spiritual matters.

[OHOD]

There are ten worlds in my faith. The tenth is hell, the first is Buddhahood. To answer your question, it is more important to preach those that have lost or have false faith and bring them to a world of the bodhisattva by practicing the word.

[justMike]

Guess I pretty much nailed it with the mid to late 20th century tone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._MacArthur

interesting that MacArthur speaks in terms of warfare, he being a 5th cousin of General Doulas MacArthur.
I suppose this is the default way of looking at the world, including the spiritual, as a battlefield. Seems to me, unfortunate that default view.

[damon1272]

Had to ponder on this a bit but yes it is a true statement. From the time of Christ to today. The number of Saints that have given their lives to teach a true Christ vs what may be a popular take and what fits the current power structure of that time. By teaching And preaching Christ you naturally threaten the power structure and are more of a threat than one that is lost.
Ultimately there is a spiritual battle behind the human battle.

[CVShooter]

Sounds good to me. Let the Christians argue and fight among themselves about who is the real Spartacus, who is the holiest among them, etc. If it keeps them from trying to assimilate the rest of the world to their perspective, then I think it's a fine way for them to pass the time.

[Wordupmybrotha]

Interesting. Similar to not getting honor in your hometown.

[Burble74]

Sounds good to me. Let the Christians argue and fight among themselves about who is the real Spartacus, who is the holiest among them, etc. If it keeps them from trying to assimilate the rest of the world to their perspective, then I think it's a fine way for them to pass the time.

If that is what you think Christianity is about you are mistaken.

Btw it is because of the tenets of Christianity that we have the University system, (Oxford and Cambridge as a specific example long before the Aztec and Incan empire in fact) the elementary school system, the scientific method, much of our modern understanding of science, in astronomy (and no Galileo wasn’t punished for his discoveries, but his claim that Scripture taught science, which it does not as it is an account of our relationship to God), and even the fact that we have separation of church and state, you can thank Christianity for that.

The goal of Christianity is not assimilation, but education and charity. God gave all free will, He didn’t come here to force anybody to do anything.

[Kokopelli]

"To preach the true gospel in the professing Christian world today, is to engage in more spiritual warfare than to preach the gospel to the world of the lost." John MacArthur.

That statement needs clarification. If "professing Christian world" includes denominations that claim to be Christian but don't believe the scriptures, then the answer is a resounding, "Yes." If it includes denominations that add to or take away from the Bible, the answer is yes as well.

Going to church makes you a Christian, like going to McDonald's makes you a cheeseburger.

[Burble74]

That statement needs clarification. If "professing Christian world" includes denominations that claim to be Christian but don't believe the scriptures, then the answer is a resounding, "Yes." If it includes denominations that add to or take away from the Bible, the answer is yes as well.

Going to church makes you a Christian, like going to McDonald's makes you a cheeseburger.

Spiritual warfare is most commonly used to describe the conflict between the supernatural and the preternatural. This includes providing people, in charity, with the Gospel which espouses the knowledge that our sins, or rejection of God’s Grace, can separate us from God’s protection and thus open to infernal influence or even attack.

However I do not believe that spiritual warfare has the same meaning within this quote.

I think perhaps what he means is that in order to preach the Gospel, to the world, warts and all, is a battle in and of itself.

The Church of God, (Christendom) the Gospel , prevails against those against. Hristianity, DESPITE the culture which is basically anti Christian.

The Gospel, the facts of Jesus’ life and death are so uncomfortable and brutal, and to the Jews of Old in terms of His Last Supper, cannibalistic, that it is a wonder, that Christianity and its Gospel spread at all.

Jesus Himself said, the gates of Hell shall not prevail over my Church. And He was right, in spite of it all, because of the Resurrection of Christ, the followers, the women who witnessed, the persecution and execution of christians by the Romans and the Sadducees, the disfavor of the followers of Jesus, the early Christians saw and believed and risked their lives over what they saw was the Truth, that the God Man had come among us to give us the Good News.

It is spiritual warfare in that our society and everything in it works against those who would spread the Good News of Jesus...look at our secular humanist world today...it does not value self sacrifice or facing our problems instead erasing our mistakes (looks at the last Jedi, and abortion), it values all that is superficial and cannot stomach the crucifix, the reality of the Sacrifice of our God for us,it cannot stomach anything but a superficial and fleeting happiness...our society teaches about self this and self that, the opposite of Love...our society even defines love as an emotion as if liking everyone means loving everyone...BUT LOVE IS AN ACTION

Christ said to Love one another, —however we are NOt required to LIKE Everyone but we are required to treat everyone with respect and dignity and to actively care for one another...we are commanddd to LOVE, not “feel love” for everyone. AS IT IS A SIN TO TRAT OTHERS TO OUR SELFISHnESS, BUT IT IS NOT A SIN TO DISLIKE SOMEBODY unless it causes us to become selfish toward them.

[Walles]

I think the author of these words wanted to say that people really believe in God through suffering.

[justMike]

I think the author of these words wanted to say that people really believe in God through suffering.

[Garand Hunter]

Gospel/point of view of John McArthur.

Psalm 1

[theLBC]

seems like he might have been saying that (compared to the past) the majority of the world has faith (in something) so rather than bringing faith, it has become more of an argument about whose faith is correct.