Grace to You? John MacArthur declares war on Charismatics

Right now, at this very minute, John MacArthur is leading an all-out assault, a full-scale war on the Charismatic branch of the Christian faith. MacArthur is a longtime cessationist--a theological movement that believes gifts of the Spirit such as speaking in tongues, prophetic utterances and faith healing ceased in the early church of the first century. He and a stage full of white-haired old men are working in concert to completely demolish the practices of half a billion people who belong to some form of Pentecostal or Charismatic churches across the globe. His "Strange Fire" conference, a convenient opportunity to promote his new book of the same title, is taking place October 16-20.

Mainly highlighting a few iconic televangelists and some extreme practices, MacArthur says he's not interested in being divisive, but wants to identify the "true church" as opposed to the "false church." As an ancillary to the conversation, he is also trouncing "young people" who are attracted to the "social gospel" and Roman Catholics, assuring an audience of 4000 at his church in Southern California that these people, along with Charismatics, are following false teachers and are not brothers and sisters in Christ.

One of his guests said that only mentally unbalanced people would be attracted to such a movement.

The conversation quickly turned to the music that many contemporary churches use, apparently in order to brainwash their youth and young adults with noisy, repetitive, mindless melodies and lyrics. MacArthur quickly affirmed that only orderly, historic music of the church is appropriate for worship. After showing a prerecording of a worship team asking to be "filled up," MacArthur warned parents of this highly "sensual" music that could lead to "demon possession" through "paganism." "There is nothing good in it," declares MacArthur. "Don't let your children listen to Hillsong." (Wild applause by the audience.)

"Even Evangelical, non-Charismatic churches, are using music to suck people in." "The theology is unbiblical." (But the organ is biblical. Really. He just proved that--because it was once a wind instrument and wind instruments are mentioned in the Bible. I'm not making that up.)

I'm not a Pentecostal or Charismatic, and I don't completely understand the practices of these movements all the time, and I know they have had errant and scandalous leaders just like in my and all traditions, but I have many Christian friends who are, and they are passionate, redeemed, Jesus-followers. It deeply saddens me that MacArthur and his loyal band of hyper-Calvinists so quickly and readily not only dismiss those they disagree with, but outright accuse them of leading others away from Christ. The worst accusation: Charismatics are not led by the Holy Spirit, but are in fact possessed by Satan.

I used to listen to MacArthur and I've learned a lot from him in my childhood. But this is too far. MacArthur is divisive, demeaning and dismissive. What arrogance. What insensitivity. What abuse of leadership power. His narrowly filtered reading of Scripture has Jesus looking exactly like himself.

This is the last dying cry of a man desperate to save his beloved Christian subculture. It's what all power-driven people do when they see their systems crumble. It's motivated by a fear that "young people" (a term he keeps referencing) are not interested in his brand of narrow Christianity.

I can't imagine how he has the audacity to call his ministry "Grace to You." I'm not sure who's more mean--Al Mohler or John MacArthur.

Here are a couple of articles to help provide greater context:

From The Christian Post: 'Strange Fire' Conference: John MacArthur Calls Out Charismatic Movement as 'Unfaithful'

From Charisma News: A Final Appeal to Pastor John MacArthur on the Eve of His 'Strange Fire' Conference

Quotes from MacArthur's conference:

"What I'm talking about is the charismatic movement that offers to God unacceptable worship, distorted worship. It blasphemes the Holy Spirit. It attributes to the Holy Spirit even the work of Satan. People are caught up in it, deceived, led astray."

"The charismatic movement continually dishonors God in its false forms of worship. It dishonors the Father and Son, but most specifically, the Holy Spirit. Many things are attributed to the Holy Spirit that actually dishonor him. In many places in the charismatic movement they are attributing to the Holy Spirit works that have actually been generated by Satan."

"When people see full churches in Africa, they think of revival. But it's not good news. It's bad. . . . The Word of God is no longer playing the role of governing our thinking or our practice. . . . The phrase 'going to Bible study' is almost completely absent. . . . The churches in Africa are full of goats in sheepskins."

"The charismatic movement offers nothing to true worship because it has made no contribution to biblical clarity, interpretation, or sound doctrine."

 

 

 

Comments

[Jeff Hopper]

If Benny Hinn = all of the charismatic movement, then Fred Phelps = John MacArthur.