I had been exposed to Reformed theology through Grace to You and Ligonier ministries, and I was wholly embracing the concept of a high view of the sovereignty of God.  Should I take advantage of the scholarship offer and attend Asbury, knowing my growing convictions would be out of line?  That set up a heavy dilemma in my young mind! Perhaps naïvely, I fired up my new state of the art Gateway 2000 Word Processor and typed a letter to Dr. John MacArthur.

It was the Spring of 1996.  As a senior at Auburn University, I didn’t know much but was absolutely convinced the Lord was calling me to pastoral ministry.  My church background was very eclectic – Episcopalian, Baptist, Methodist, with a sprinkle of Church of Christ.  One thing I was learning through the cassette tape ministry of Grace to You (which my dad introduced me to) was the importance of theology.  During my junior year of high school, I wore out the series Is the Bible Reliable? in my yellow Volkswagen beetle.  My life would never be the same.  The more I studied and learned, the more I desired to learn.

As a part-time youth pastor at the local Methodist church, I was offered a full scholarship to the esteemed Asbury Theological Seminary.  It was an offer too good to refuse!  However, I had some reservations.  I had been exposed to Reformed theology through Grace to You and Ligonier ministries, and I was wholly embracing the concept of a high view of the sovereignty of God.  Should I take advantage of the scholarship offer and attend Asbury, knowing my growing convictions would be out of line?  That set up a heavy dilemma in my young mind!

Perhaps naïvely, I fired up my new state of the art Gateway 2000 Word Processor and typed a letter to Dr. John MacArthur.  This was the heart of that 20-year-old college student:

All of the [Asbury Seminary] graduates I know are strong Christian brothers.  But I am having trouble resolving the conflict of going to a seminary that teaches some doctrines that I find unbiblical.  On the other hand, it seems God may be providing the money through my church.  I do not know where to draw the line.  Many have pointed out that I would still receive excellent training there and that I do not necessarily have

To my great surprise, Dr. MacArthur took the time to write me back.  As a result, I did not end up at Asbury Seminary or the Master’s Seminary (both fantastic institutions).  After considering all things, especially including Dr. MacArthur’s counsel, I chose Beeson Divinity School.  Beeson was the perfect fit for a young man wrestling with theology in the context of a deep commitment that the Bible is God’s Word – interdenominational, evangelical, Bible-believing.  In hindsight, I would absolutely do it again.

My takeaway?  You will never be too educated, too important, too busy to give.  Dr. MacArthur wasn’t.  And of course, neither was Jesus.  The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Matt 9:37-38).  Your church needs you, your community needs you, the next generation needs you. Give until you are tired, then give more.  Be someone people can count on.  Be someone God can use.  Don’t live your life with the tired mantra “I’m busy.”  Who’s not busy?  I quit buying that excuse years ago. The saying is true that “the world is run by tired people.”

Young men and women need mentors who will faithfully guide them in their beliefs and convictions.  It is not so much about Arminian versus Calvinistic theology.  Rather, it is more about taking the time to invest in those who come after us – pressing the importance of fundamental gospel beliefs and the importance of truth.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve a growing Presbyterian in America (PCA) congregation now for 25 years this summer.  I love these folks, and they tolerate me.  To sum up my ministry, I would say that I have tried to imitate Dr. MacArthur’s example, just as he imitated Christ (1 Cor 11:1).  Dr. MacArthur, thank you for taking the time to send me this letter.  It forever changed the trajectory of my life and ministry.

Chris Duncan is a Minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is pastor of Trinity PCA Opelika, AL.