Strange Fire- a response to John McArthur

I would like to comment on John McArthur’s recent conference and book ” Strange Fire.” This conference and the book is an all out attack, not just on Charismatics but also on anyone who believes in the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in sign gifts such as Tongues, Prophecy, Words of knowledge and gifts of healings and so on. Much of what McArthur writes is obviously correct. I do believe that most of the Charismatic sect is a Trojan horse, gifted to and greedily accepted by the Pentecostals. The Charismatics do have an obsession with health and wealth and miracles and time and time again it overshadows Jesus.I also agree that the majority worship a golden calf, erected by modern men in the shadow of Jannes and Jambres.

Yet MacArthur exposes himself in his own zeal as the opposite end of the Trojan horse. The combination of men who deny the ongoing work of the Spirit as written in the Word and men who are obsessed with health and wealth and miracles is an almost deadly one-two punch from the devil himself. These are the men who have spied out our liberty and have come down to bring us into bondage, those whom the Lord delivered from the Law. True men and woman of God would cry ” God forbid,” in response to the charge that we have created a license to sin as we walk in the liberty and the freedom of the Spirit.

One charge against those who believe in the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit is that they are obsessed with gifts and in the defending of them. It is not the defending of ” gifts,’that one would be engaged in, it would be in the defending of the Scriptures that teach us about the gifts. Are men’s opinions and intellect to over-rule the written word of God? How many pages and chapters must be thrown out so that the false, and may I add, deadly and devilish, doctrine that the gifts have ceased can be justified?( who else but the devil himself could gain by this)

God lays down in His word the gifts that we need to operate a healthy Body, and men come along and say that we do not need the gifts to operate a healthy Body. Who should one believe, the Word of God or men? Not a single Scripture even suggests that there would come a time on this earth where the gifts would cease. One would have to wrestle a text from 1 Cor 13 out of context to come up with the pretext that now exists within certain sects of Christianity. The pride of man says that we can do it ourselves, we do not need to follow the instructions of Scripture. The humble man will acknowledge that without God and His leading, unless the Lord builds the house, then we can do nothing and we labor in vain…………bro Frank

This conference may have started out as as a war on charismatics. But I must agree with one brother who said that this is more of a war of Calvinists who are cessionist on evangelicals who are non Calvinist and some being charismatic.

The reviews I read of the conference suggest a theological arrogance and elitism that rest only with this Calvinistic camp. Those in the MacArthur Lawson camp have set themselves up as the guardians of gospel truth as interpreted through a Calvinistic filter.

MacArthur has already said that those in the charismatic movement are not Christians. Soon that criteria will be applied to those who do not hold to the Canons of Dort.

The troubling thing is the spirit that is coming out of this conference. This spirit reminds me of the attitude of the Reformers toward the Anabaptists. In the eyes of the Reformers who regarded themselves as the guardians of gospel truth. The Anabaptists were heretics because of their belief in believers baptism. Because if this the Anabaptists were persecuted and martyred.

If this same spirit is acted out then one can only imagine what the attitude of MacArthur Lawson will be toward those who not only are charismatic but non Calvinists. My question. Will history repeat itself?

Bearmaster.

Yes, there is no reason to retaliate against MacArthur. However, an observation of his activity if you don't mind.

From Greg's post: https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=50594&forum=34
"MacArthur, who is 74, urges evangelical Christians to engage in a "collective war" to stop the spread of the charismatic movement, which he describes as a "deadly virus," a "deviant mutation of the truth" and a "Trojan horse" that has infiltrated mainstream Christianity."

MacArthur is a living example of engaging in activity that Jesus forbade.

Jesus said this in Matthew 13:27-30.

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, NAY; LEST WHILE YE GATHER UP THE TARES, YE ROOT UP ALSO THE WHEAT WITH THEM. LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER UNTIL THE HARVEST: AND IN THE TIME OF HARVEST I WILL SAY TO THE REAPERS, GATHER YE TOGETHER FIRST THE TARES, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

JESUS said NAY! MacArthur is ignoring this as he has built most of his ministry for most of his life on being a REAPER who is "waging war on Charismatic (and all Pentecostals for that matter". Man does not have the knowledge or wisdom to be a REAPER, yet some think they do.

No one has to do anything, and no one should do anything except stay out of God's way with regard to MacArthur. Pray for him as the Spirit leads, and even Pentecostals know that they don't have to avenge themselves or even defend themselves. We are all answerable to God, and so is MacArthur. Jesus Christ won't let anything destructive happen to His Church.

I wonder whether those who are up in arms against MacArthur have been listening to the speakers at the conference.

http://www.gty.org/resources/sermon-series/325/strange-fire-conference

I suggest this one in particular

A Case for Cessationism (Tom Pennington)October 17, 2013 for those who are arguing that there is no scriptural warrant for the cessation of the miraculous sign gifts.

As the speaker says, Cessationists do not deny that there are miracles today and that God still heals on occasion.

He also says that 1 Cor:13,10 has a number of possible interpretations and is so much disputed that we need to look beyond it and I agree.

I do agree with him that there are a number and perhaps a large number of folk in continuation circles that are not saved, that have been drawn in by the music and emotionalism which is in stark contrast with the reservation of the Cessationsists (in general). It is far less likely that the unsaved will be attracted to Reformed churches. But that is not the issue. The issue is the massive growth this past 100 years of those who believe the miraculous gifts have not ceased.

Although I think that Calvinists have not got it right regarding the role of scripture, and the timing of the baptism of the Spirit, they are far less wrong than continuists.

The charismatic circles I have mixed in are NEVER in obedience to the directions Paul gave the Corinthians. And I have never known any person in these circles that is living a sanctified life. I have found less morality even though I found less arrogance and pride than what I have found amongst Calvinists.

If only some real discussions could take place between the two camps, instead of the knee jerk defensiveness that is being displayed, sadly on this forum too, and that involves each side taking the time to learn what each other side believes, then I am sure that there are possibilities of a good outcome in the church becoming more open to seeking the whole truth instead of the parts each side are holding.