존 맥아더의『다른 불』비판(2)-
“은사운동에 대한 건설적 비판도 아니고
기적중지론을 변호하는 대표적인 주장도 되지 못하는
맥아더의 『다른 불』
글 : 조지 P. 우드 박사·목사
(미국 '하나님의성회' 교단 사무총장, 총회장 역임)
번역 : 구요한 목사
다음은 미국 ‘하나님의성회’ (한국의 순복음) 교단 소속 목사·박사인 조지 우드가 존 맥아더의 최근 저서인『다른 불』에 대해 비판하고 평가한 글이다.
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2014년에 하나님의성회 교단은 사역 100주년을 맞이했다. 아칸사스 주 핫 스프링스에서 보잘 것 없이 시작된 이래 우리 교단은 전 세계적으로 6,600만 명의 회원 규모로 성장했다.(1) 이 기간 동안 충성스런 사역자들이 복음의 씨앗을 심었고 하나님이 자라게 하셨다(고전 3:6).
하나님의 성회 교단은 은사운동의 일부인데, 은사운동가들은 전 세계적으로 5억 명에 육박한다.(2) 이 운동의 결과 전 세계 기독교의 중심이 북반구에서 남반구로 옮겨졌다. 이 운동의 성장은 현대에서 가장 중요한 인류 운동이자 기독교 역사상 가장 위대한 부흥임에 틀림 없다. 이로 인해 하나님을 찬양한다!
존 맥아더는 그의 저서인『다른 불』(Strange Fire)에서 은사운동에 대해 상당히 다른-거의 전적으로 부정적인-견해를 제시한다.
은사주의자들은 전 세계적으로 5억 명 이상이 된다. 그럼에도 불구하고 이처럼 많은 사람들을 움직이는 복음이 진정한 복음이 아니고 배경이 되는 영이 성령이 아니라고 그는 주장한다. 실제로 우리가 목격하는 것은 가짜 교회가 폭발적으로 성장하는 것이며 은사운동은 기독교를 공격해 온 사교나 이단처럼 위험하다고 그는 주장한다. 은사운동은 처음부터 광대극이나 사기이며 좋은 것으로 변화된 것이 하나도 없다고 그는 주장한다.(3)
맥아더도 은사운동 안에는 “조직적인 비리와 혼란”에도 불구하고 “복음의 필수적인 진리를 이해하는 성실한 사람들”이 있다는 사실을 인정한다. 그렇지만, “은사운동의 잘못된 가르침과 가짜 영성”에 지속적으로 노출되면 그들은 물론 다른 사람들도 “영원한 위험”에 빠뜨린다고 주장한다.(4)
이것은 기독교 운동(들) 뿐만 아니라 특정 기독교인에 대한 심각한 비난이다. 오순절파이자 하나님의 성회의 안수 받은 목사로서 필자는 근거가 빈약하고(5), 과격하기 때문에(6) 그의 주장을 무시하려는 유혹을 받았다. 실제로 필자는 맥아더의 책을 은사운동에 대한 건설적인 비판이나 기적중지론자를 대표하는 건전한 서적으로 추천할 수 없다.(7) 그럼에도 불구하고 그의 주장을 교정할 뿐만 아니라 기독교의 연합을 증진시키기 위해 『다른 불』에 대해 오순절주의자의 입장에서 반론을 제기할 필요가 있다.
동의하는 부분과 동의하지 않는 부분
기독교의 연합에 관해 오순절주의 지도자들이 맥아더와 동의하는 요소가 있다.
제1부에서, 맥아더는 조나선 에드워즈가 요한일서 4장 1절~8절을 바탕으로 설교한 “하나님의 성령의 사역의 독특한 표식들”을 바탕으로, 진정한 부흥의 5가지 요소를 조목조목 제시한다.
그 사역이 진정한 그리스도를 높이는가?
그것이 세상적인 것을 대적하는가?
그것이 사람들은 성경으로 이끄는가?
그것이 진리를 향상시키는가?
그것이 하나님과 다른 사람에 대한 사랑을 야기시키는가?
오순절주의자인 우리도 이 시험(tests) 방법에 전적으로 동의한다. 그러나, 우리는 은사운동이 전체적으로 이 시험들에 합격했다고 믿는데 맥아더는 불합격했다고 믿는다.
제2부에서, 맥아더는 오늘날의 성령의 은사는 성경 대로 역사하지 않으므로 진짜가 아니라고 주장한다. 오순절주의자인 필자도 일부 은사운동가들 중에서 은사를 성경 대로 사용하지 않는 사람이 있다는 사실에 동의한다. 그러나 오늘날의 성령의 은사 자체가 진짜가 아니라는 주장에는 동의하지 않는다.
제3부에서 맥아더는 은사운동 비판에서 방향을 틀어서 구원, 성화 및 성경 기록의 감동과 조명의 관점에서 성령의 사역을 약술한다. 오순절주의자로서 우리는 맥아더가 말하는 성령론의 기본적인 주제를 인정한다. 그러나 맥아더는 성경적 성령론의 주요한 주제, 즉 신자에게 사역을 위한 능력을 부여하시는 성령을 소홀히 취급하고 있다.(9)
동의하는 점을 볼 때, 크리스천으로서의 우리-오순절파나 은사운동파-의 신앙이나 맥아더의 신앙은 중요하고 실질적인 면에서 동일하다. 불행하게도, 맥아더는 서로 동의하지 않는 훨씬 덜 중요한 요소들을 바탕으로 정통성 여부를 판가름하고 있다. 전체적으로 맥아더는 은사운동을 기독교를 공격하는 “가짜 교회,” “이교도,” “이단”으로 묘사한다. 그래서 맥아더는 하나님의 성령의 만연한 악행에 대해 집단적으로 투쟁할 것을 촉구하고 있다.(10)
맥아더가 어떻게 해서 이처럼 무례하고 공격적인 결론에 도달하게 되었는가?
첫째, 맥아더는 은사운동은 이단과 부도덕성으로 가득 찬 운동으로 묘사한다. 제1부에서 그는 “가짜 부흥을 대적한다”로 다룬다.
둘째, 그는 자신의 성경 석의를 바탕으로 오늘날 나타나는 사도직, 예언, 방언 및 신유의 은사들은 성경적 기준과 다르다고 주장한다. 그 결과, 그것들은 진짜가 아니라고 주장한다. 그는 이 주제들을 제2부에서 “가짜 은사를 드러내다’는 제목으로 다룬다.
증거를 조심스럽게 검토해 보면, 맥아더의 두 가지 주장 모두가 틀렸다는 사실을 입증한다.
은사운동에 대한 서술
첫째, 맥아더는 은사운동은 이단과 부도덕성으로 가득 찬 운동이라고 주장한다.
어떠한 큰 운동이든-특히 5억 명의 추종자를 가진 운동이라면-문제점이 없을 수 없다. 그러나 맥아더는 은사운동의 교리가 잘못되었기 때문에 이런 문제가 생긴다고 주장한다. 유명한 은사운동가들의 여러 가지 스캔들을 자세히 묘사한 후, 맥아더는 “이러한 스캔들이 은사운동의 역사(歷史)에 만연해 있다. 이런 스캔들의 뿌리는 잘못된 교리에 있다. 간단히 말하면, 이 장에서 자세히 살펴 본 도덕적 영적 실패는 썩어빠진 성령론-성령에 대한 잘못된 가르침-의 필연적인 결과물이다.”(13)
맥아더가 은사운동의 묘사에 대해 저지르는 기본적인 문제는 과학자들이 말하는 선택 바이어스(selection bias. 선택 편향)에 있다. 즉 “연구에 활용하는 개인이나 그룹을 선택할 때 저지르는 오류”를 말한다.(14) 맥아더는 잘못된 교리를 가르치고 도덕적 흠이 있는 은사운동 지도자들의 오류들을 나열한 후, 그들이 마치 전체 은사운동가들을 대표하는 것처럼 오도한다.
이것은 아내 모르게 불륜을 저지른 몇몇 미국 대통령의 부도덕성을 파헤친 후 마치 미국 대통령 전체가 불륜을 저지르는 사람이라고 몰아붙이는 것과 같다. 맥아더가 만일 다른 그룹을 선택하여 분석해 본다면 전혀 다른 결과를 낳을 것이다.
맥아더의『다른 불』에 묘사된 은사운동가들을 게리 B. 맥기가 지은 『성령의 사람들』(People of the Spirit)에 묘사된 성령운동가들과 비교해보면 필자가 무슨 말을 하는지 이해할 것이다.(15) 맥아더가 묘사한 은사주의자들은 ‘선택 바이어스’로 인한 오류이기 때문에 은사운동가 전체를 대표하는 묘사로 받아들일 수 없다.
맥아더도 은사운동을 대표하는 신조와 실천사항들을 알고 있다. ‘종교와 공적 삶에 대한 퓨 포럼’(Pew Forum) 사(社)가 2006년에 출판한『성령과 능력』(Spirit and Power)이란 제목의 보고서를.(16) 맥아더는 그 보고서를 인용하고 그 보고서를 바탕으로 연구하여 “번영신학”(prosperity theology)은 은사운동의 한 가지 특징이라고 주장한다.(17) 불행하게도, 맥아더는『다른 불』독자들에게 그 보고서가 제시한 은사운동의 정통성, 도덕성, 경건, 전도에 대한 열정 및 사회적 참여에 대한 폭넓은 기여는 제시하지 않고 있다.
퓨 보고서의 대표적인 글을 인용해 보자.
정통성. “갱신주의자들 즉 오순절주의자들과 은사운동가들 또한 전통적인 기독교의 교리와 실천사항에 대한 그들의 믿음을 견지하고 있다.”(18) 이것은 성경에 대한 그들의 견해에서 확인할 수 있다. “비갱신주의자들 대부분은 성경이 하나님의 말씀이며 문자적으로 받아들여야 한다고 믿는데, 이러한 견해는 비갱신주의자들보다 오순절주의자들 사이에서 더 확고하다.”(19)
도덕성. “오순절주의자들은 동성애, 혼외 정사 및 음주와 같은 사회적, 도덕적 주제에 대해 전통적인 견해를 고수한다.”(20)
경건. “갱신주의자들은 또한 교회 출석, 개인 기도 및 성경 읽기와 같은 전통적인 기독교 실천행위 참여율이 비갱신주의자들 보다 다소 높은 수준이다.”(21)
전도에 대한 열정. “10개국의 대부분의 오순절주의자들은 사람들을 기독교로 개종시킬 의무가 있다고 믿는다.”(22) 재미있는 사실은 “복음을 전파하는 의무감에 있어서 갱신주의자들이 비갱신주의자들 보다 더 열심이란 사실이다.”(23) 왜? “오순절주의자들은 예수에 대한 믿음만이 영원한 구원에 이르게 한다는 사실을 믿기 때문이다.” 여기에서도 “오순절파의 믿음은 특별나다”(24)고 기록한다.
사회적 참여. “오순절주의자들과 은사운동가들의 상당수가 그리스도를 믿는 사람의 숫자가 충분하면 사회적 병폐들이 스스로 해결될 것이라고 믿는다…… 그러나 또한 갱신주의자들은 가난한 자를 위한 정의를 위해 일하는 것이 자신들의 의무라고 여긴다.”(25)
퓨 보고서가 묘사한 이러한 운동이 당신에게 “가짜 교회”인 것처럼 생각되는가?
갱신주의 크리스천들의 “가짜 교회”가 어떻게 비갱신주의자들보다 더 정통 교리 수호, 보수적 도덕성, 따뜻한 경건, 전도의 열정 및 사회 참여에 열심일 수가 있는가? 물론 아니다.
그러므로, 은사주의자들의 신조나 실천사항은 맥아더가 말하는 썩은 성령론의 필연적인 부산물일 수가 없다. 어떤 운동이 정통 교리와 정통 삶으로 특징 지워진다면 그것은 성령님이 진짜로 그 안에서 역사하시는 것인데 이는 맥아더가 제시한 진정한 부흥의 5가지 표식에 해당되기 때문이다.
번영신학(prosperity theology)은 어떠한가?
은사주의자들 사이에 만연한 번영신학은 “극단적인 것이 주류가 되었다’는 사실을 증거하는가? 실제로, 번영신학이 은사운동의 성장을 선언적으로 설명 해주는 것이 아닌가? 맥아더에 의하면 대답은 ‘그렇다’이다. 맥아더는 “실제로, 은사신학의 급성장의 주된 이유는 번영신학이 유명해졌기 때문이라고 할 수 있다. 회심자를 끌어들이는 것은 죄를 책망하시는 성령의 사역에 의한 것이 아니라 물질적 소유와 신체적 치유로 유인하기 때문이다”라고 썼다.(27)
맥아더의 마지막 문장에 포함된 거짓 선언은 제쳐두자. 교회가 성령의 죄를 책망하시는 역사는 물론 하나님의 치유 및 물질적 공급에 대한 소망을 통해 성장하면 안 되는 이유라도 있는가? 예수님은 치유를 받기 위해 몰려온 사람들을 비판하지 않으셨다(눅 4:38-44). 그렇다면, 왜 우리는 그런 사람들을 비판해야 하는가?
대신에, ‘번영복음’(prosperity gospel)이란 단어의 애매모호성에 초점을 맞추어 보라. 맥아더는 독자들이 ‘번영복음’이란 단어를 ‘믿음의 말씀운동’(Word of Faith Movements)과 연관시키기를 원한다. 번영복음이 은사운동 안에 만연해 있고, 믿음의 말씀운동과 동일시하는 의미로 사용되고, 그 신학이 이단이라면, 은사운동은 정말 이단성이 강한 운동이다.
필자는 믿음의 말씀운동을 변호하지 않으며, 맥아더가 지적한 그들의 여러 가지 신학적 오류에 동의한다. (그렇다고 해서 그들이 이단이라고 확신하지는 않는다).(28) 그럼에도 불구하고,『성령과 능력』보고서를 자세히 읽어보면, 보고서는 맥아더 보다는 훨씬 더 우호적으로 번영복음을 이해하고 있다는 사실을 알 수 있다.
퓨 보고서는 인터뷰 대상자들에게 믿음의 말씀 신학에 대한 동의 여부를 묻지 않았다. 퓨 보고서의 조사자들은 인터뷰 대상자들에게 다음의 두 가지 진술에 대해 어떤 정도로 동의하는가를 질문했다.
• “하나님은 충분한 믿음이 있는 신자에게는 물질적 축복을 베푸실 것이다.”
• “하나님은 충분한 믿음이 있는 신자에게는 건강과 질병으로부터의 치유를 베푸실 것이다.”
믿음의 운동 지지자들은 당연히 이 진술에 동의할 것이다. 그러나 마태복음 6:25-34 및 야고보서 5:13-16처럼 신자들에게 하나님의 공급과 치유를 분명하게 약속하신 구절들을 읽고 마음에 깊이 새긴 사람들도 마찬가지로 위의 2가지 진술에 동의할 것이다.
한편, 만일 당신이 위에 인용된 성경 구절들을 바탕으로 위의 두 가지 진술에 동의하면 당신은 맥아더의 요주의 인물 리스트에 포함된다. 그러나, 만일 당신이 위의 두 성경 구절에 어느 정도라도 동의하지 않으면 당신은 스스로가 “믿음이 작은 자”라는 사실을 드러내는 것이 아닌가?
필자는 믿음의 말씀운동을 변호하려는 것이 아니라 사람들이 번영신학을 받아들인다고 해서 자동적으로 믿음의 말씀운동 지지자는 아니라는 말이다.
더군다나, 번영(prosperity. 한글 성경에는 주로 ‘형통’이란 뜻으로 번역되어 사용됨-번역자 주)이란 단어의 의미는 문맥에 따라 의미가 다르게 해석된다. 맥아더는 번영신학에 대한 공격의 빌미로 사용하는 ‘번영’의 의미를 폴 알렉산더가 『표적과 기사』(Signs and Wonders)에서 사용된 번영의 의미로 사용한다.(30)
그런데 맥아더는 『성령과 능력』이 은사운동을 변호하는 기록들을 간과하듯 『표적과 기사』가 은사운동을 변호하는 기록들도 간과했다.
하나님은 신자가 부자가 되기를 원하시는지의 여부에 대해 나이지리아의 오순절주의자인 로렌스 은왕코는 “그렇다”고 대답했지만 알렉산더는 “아니다”라고 대답했다.
알렉산더는 이렇게 썼다.
“나(알렉산더)는 분에 넘치는 풍요, 재산의 사장(死藏), 탐욕, 터무니 없음 및 소비주의를 반대했지만 ‘건강한 삶을 위해 충분히 갖는 것’에는 찬성했다. 나는 단순한 삶을 지지한다. 그(은왕코)는 기아, 가난, 질병 및 절망을 반대하고 ‘건강한 삶을 위해 충분히 갖는 것’에는 찬성했다. 나는 재물의 산을 바라보면서 부의 수준을 낮추려고 했고 그는 절망의 골짜기를 내려다 보면서 가난한 자들의 수준을 높이려고 했다.”(31)
‘번영’은 ‘건강한 삶을 위해 충분히 갖는 것’이라는 의미로 이해한 알렉산더는 그 자신이 번영의 의미에 대해 은왕코와 동의하고 있다는 사실을 깨달았다. 하나님은 신자들이 ‘그런 식’으로 번영하고 형통하기를 원하신다.
맥아더는 독자들이 ‘번영’이란 말을 들을 때 이미 필요 이상의 재물을 가진 북미 TV 전도자들의 탐욕과 연관시키기를 원한다. 왜 맥아더는 은왕코가 생각하는 번영의 의미에 동의하는 퓨 보고서의 인터뷰 대상자들이 생각하는 번영의 의미를 제시하지 않는가? 대부분이 빈곤층 출신인 인터뷰 대상자들이 생각하는 번영의 의미가 보다 더 상식적이고 덜 가혹한 것이 아닌가?
번영복음이 믿음의 말씀운동과 동일한 것이 아니고 번영(또는 형통)의 의미가 상황에 따라 다를 수 있다고 생각한다면 퓨 보고서가 지적하고 맥아더가 간과한 다음의 사실을 알 수 있다.
번영복음은 비은사적 신자들에게도 널리 퍼져있다. “『성령과 능력』에 의하면, 모든 나라에서 대부분의 크리스천들이 믿음만 충분하면 하나님이 건강과 질병으로부터의 치유를 베푸신다고 믿고 있다….. 전 세계의 많은 크리스천들 또한 믿음만 충분히 있으면 하나님이 물질적 축복도 베푸신다고 믿고 있다. 하나님이 건강을 베푸신다는 사실 보다 덜 보편적이고 덜 강한 믿음이지만.”(32)
요약하면, 맥아더의 주장과는 반대로 은사운동은 이단과 부도덕성으로 가득 찬 운동이 아니다. 은사운동의 신조와 실천행동은 정통적이고, 도덕적이고, 경건하고, 전도에 열심이고, 사회적 참여도 활발하다. 믿음의 말씀 운동에는 다소 문제가 있지만 은사운동 내의 번영신학에 대한 이해는 맥아더가 비난하는 것보다 더 훌륭하고 동정적인 접근법이 있다.
(그외의 주제에 관심 있는 분은 아래에 게재한 영어 원문을 참조하기 바란다)
Neither a Constructive Critique of Charismatics Nor a Good Representative of Cessationism, January 13, 2014
By George P. Wood
In 2014, the Assemblies of God completes its 100th year of ministry. From humble beginnings in Hot Springs, Ark., our Fellowship has grown to encompass over 66 million believers in 252 countries, territories, and provinces.[1] Faithful saints have planted and watered gospel seeds during these years, but God has made them grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).
The AG is part of the Charismatic Movement, which now numbers over 500 million persons worldwide.[2] That movement has shifted the center of Christianity from the global North to the global South, from the developed world to the majority world. Arguably, its growth makes it one of the greatest revivals in the history of Christianity, as well as one of the most significant people movements of the modern era. And for that, praise God!
John MacArthur offers a very different — and almost entirely negative — assessment of the Charismatic Movement in his new book, Strange Fire:
Charismatics now number more than half a billion worldwide. Yet the gospel that is driving those surging numbers is not the true gospel, and the spirit behind them is not the Holy Spirit. What we are seeing is in reality the explosive growth of a false church, as dangerous as any cult or heresy that has ever assaulted Christianity. The Charismatic Movement was a farce and a scam from the outset; it has not changed into something good.[3]
He concedes that there are “sincere people” within the movement who “understand the necessary truths of the gospel” despite its “systemic corruption and confusion.” Nevertheless, he contends that continued exposure to “the false teaching and counterfeit spirituality of the Charismatic Movement” places them and others in “eternal jeopardy.”[4]
These are serious charges to level against any Christian, let alone an entire movement of Christians. As a Pentecostal and an ordained Assemblies of God minister, I am tempted to ignore them because they are both ill-founded[5] and intemperately made.[6] Indeed, I cannot recommend MacArthur’s book either as a constructive critique of the Charismatic Movement or as a good representative of cessationist theology.[7] Nevertheless, the publication of Strange Fire requires a Pentecostal response, not merely to correct the record but also to advance the cause of Christian unity.
Where We Agree and Disagree
Regarding Christian unity, there are several points where Pentecostal readers can agree with MacArthur.
In Part 1, he articulates five tests of authentic revival from a reading of 1 John 4:1–8, informed by Jonathan Edwards’ “Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God”[8]:
1. Does the work exalt the true Christ?
2. Does it oppose worldliness?
3. Does it point people to the Scriptures?
4. Does it elevate the truth?
5. Does it produce love for God and others?
As Pentecostals, we wholeheartedly endorse these tests. However, whereas we believe that the Charismatic Movement, on the whole, passes them, MacArthur believes it fails them.
In Part 2, MacArthur argues that contemporary spiritual gifts do not operate the way the Bible says they should, so they are inauthentic. As Pentecostals, we agree that some individuals within the Charismatic Movement practice the gifts in violation of biblical order. However, we disagree that contemporary spiritual gifts, per se, are inauthentic.
In Part 3, MacArthur turns from critiquing the Charismatic Movement to outlining the work of the Holy Spirit in terms of salvation, sanctification, and the inspiration and illumination of Scripture. As Pentecostals, we affirm the basic thrust of his pneumatology. However, we note that he has downplayed a major theme of biblical pneumatology — namely, that the Holy Spirit empowers believers for service.[9]
These points of agreement demonstrate that our faith as Christians is significantly and substantially the same as John MacArthur’s. Unfortunately, he has chosen to interpret the much smaller points of disagreements as matters of orthodoxy. On the whole, then, he situates the Charismatic Movement outside the camp, describing it as a “false church,” “cult,” and “heresy” that is “assault[ing] Christianity.” Indeed, he calls for “a collective war against the pervasive abuses on the Spirit of God.”[10]
How does MacArthur arrive at this outrageous and offensive conclusion? First, he portrays the Charismatic Movement as rife with heresy and immorality. This is the burden of Part 1, subtitled, “Confronting a Counterfeit Revival.” Second, based on his exegesis of Scripture, he argues that contemporary manifestations of the spiritual gifts of apostleship, prophecy, tongues, and healing do not match biblical criteria. Consequently, he says they are inauthentic. This is the burden of Part 2, subtitled, “Exposing the Counterfeit Gifts.”
A careful examination of the evidence will demonstrate that MacArthur is wrong on both counts.
Portrait of the Charismatic Movement
First, MacArthur portrays the Charismatic Movement as rife with heresy and immorality. Consider these representative quotations:
Heresy: “What we are seeing is in reality the explosive growth of a false church, as dangerous as any cult or heresy that has ever assaulted Christianity.”[11]
Immorality: “The halls of Pentecostal and charismatic history are paved with scandal.”[12]
Any large movement — especially one with over 500 million adherents — will contain problematic elements. However, MacArthur argues that the Charismatic Movement consists of these problematic elements, arising from its “bad doctrine.” After describing a variety of scandals involving well-known charismatic leaders, MacArthur writes: “Scandals such as these permeate charismatic history. Trace them to their source and you will discover that they are rooted in bad doctrine. Put simply, moral and spiritual failures such as we have chronicled in this chapter are the inevitable consequence of rotten pneumatology — false teaching about the Holy Spirit.”[13]
The basic problem with MacArthur’s description of the Charismatic Movement is what scientists refer to as selection bias — that is, “[a]n error in choosing the individuals or groups to take part in a study.”[14] He has profiled charismatic leaders who teach aberrant doctrines or have committed moral failures and then puts them forward as representative of the Charismatic Movement as a whole. This is like describing the moral lives of American presidents by studying only the ones who cheated on their wives. Select a different group, and you’ll get a different picture. (Contrast the charismatics mentioned in Strange Fire with the Assemblies of God adherents profiled in Gary B. McGee’s People of the Spirit, and you’ll see what I mean.[15]) Because MacArthur’s description of charismatics suffers from selection bias, it cannot be taken seriously as a representative description.
MacArthur is aware of a report on charismatic beliefs and practices that is representative of the movement. Titled Spirit and Power, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life published the report in 2006.[16] MacArthur cites both it and studies based on it to prove that “prosperity theology” is a characteristic belief of the Charismatic Movement.[17] (More on that later.) Unfortunately, he fails to inform readers of Strange Fire about the report’s broader conclusions regarding the Charismatic Movement’s orthodoxy, morality, piety, evangelistic intensity, and social engagement.
Consider these representative quotations from the report:
Orthodoxy: “renewalists [i.e., Pentecostals and charismatics] also stand out for the intensity of their belief in traditional Christian doctrines and practices.”[18] This is evident, for example, in their view of the Bible. “[M]ajorities of non-renewalist Christians believe that the Bible is the word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word; but this view is even more common among pentecostals [sic] than among non-renewalist Christians.”[19]
Morality: “pentecostals [sic] often stand out for their traditional views on a wide range of social and moral issues, from homosexuality to extramarital sex to alcohol consumption.”[20]
Piety: “renewalists also tend to engage in more traditional Christian practices at somewhat higher rates than do non-renewalists” — i.e., practices such as church attendance, private prayer, and frequent Bible reading.[21]
Evangelistic intensity: “Majorities of pentecostals [sic] in all 10 countries believe that Christians have a duty to convert people to Christianity.”[22] Interestingly, “the duty to spread the gospel tends to be felt more strongly by renewalists than by non-renewalists.”[23] Why? Because of “the widespread belief among pentecostals [sic] that faith in Jesus Christ represents the exclusive path to eternal salvation”; even here, Pentecostals “stand out for the intensity of their belief.”[24]
Social engagement: “strong majorities of both pentecostals [sic] and charismatics believe that if enough people were brought to Christ, social ills would take care of themselves…. However, renewalists also see it as their duty to work for justice for the poor.”[25]
Does a movement that matches Pew’s description sound like a “false church” to you? Would a “false church” of “renewalist Christians” be “more intense” about their orthodox doctrine, conservative morality, warm piety, evangelistic intensity, and social engagement than “non-renewalist Christians”? Of course not! But if not, then charismatic belief and practice cannot be the “inevitable consequence” of “rotten pneumatology,” as MacArthur claims. If a movement is characterized by orthodoxy (right believing) and orthopraxy (right living), then the Holy Spirit is genuinely at work in its midst — and this according to MacArthur’s own five tests of authentic revival.
What about prosperity theology, however? Doesn’t its prevalence among charismatics prove that “the extreme has become mainstream”?[26] Indeed, doesn’t it offer an alternative explanation for the growth of the Charismatic Movement? According to MacArthur, yes. He writes: “In reality, the rapid expansion of charismatic theology is primarily due to the popularity of the prosperity gospel. It is not the convicting work of the Holy Spirit that is drawing converts, but the allure of material possessions and the hope of physical healing.”[27]
Set aside the false disjunction in MacArthur’s last sentence. After all, why can’t the church grow because of both the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the hope for God’s healing and material provision? Jesus didn’t criticize the crowds who came to Him for healing (Luke 4:38–44), after all, so why should we today?
I hold no brief for the Word of Faith Movement, and I share many of MacArthur’s concerns with its theological errors. (I’m not sure they always rise to the level of heresy, however.)[28] Nonetheless, a careful reading of the evidence from Spirit and Power suggests a more sympathetic interpretation of the prosperity gospel than MacArthur allows.
Instead, focus on the ambiguity of the term prosperity gospel. MacArthur wants readers to associate that term with the Word of Faith Movement. If the prosperity gospel is prevalent among charismatics, if it is identical to Word of Faith theology, and if that theology is heretical, then the Charismatic Movement is shot through with heresy.
Pew did not ask interviewees whether they agreed with Word of Faith theology, after all. They asked interviewees to what extent they agreed with the following two statements:
“God will grant material prosperity to all believers who have enough faith.”
“God will grant health and relief from sickness to believers who have enough faith.”[29]
Obviously, Word of Faith adherents will agree with these statements. But so might people who have read and taken to heart the Bible’s robust promises of God’s provision for and healing of believers in passages such as Matthew 6:25–34 and James 5:13–16. If, on the basis of such passages, you agree to some extent with Pew’s statements, you wind up on John MacArthur’s naughty list. On the other hand, if you disagree to some extent with these biblical promises, don’t you show yourself to be a person of “little faith”? My point here is not to defend Word of Faith theology but simply to demonstrate that the route to prosperity theology does not necessarily pass through Word of Faith teaching.
Moreover, the meaning of the word prosperity varies depending on context. One of the authorities MacArthur cites against prosperity theology is Signs and Wonders by Paul Alexander.[30] Just as MacArthur passed over exculpatory information about charismatics in Spirit and Power, so also he passes over exculpatory information in Signs and Wonders.
Relating a disagreement he had with a Nigerian Pentecostal named Lawrence Nwankwo concerning whether God wants Christians to prosper — Alexander argued no, Nwankwo argued yes — Alexander writes: “I was arguing against overabundance, hoarding, greed, exorbitance, and consumerism — and for enough for a healthy life. I argued for a simple existence. He was arguing against starvation, poverty, sickness, and hopelessness — and for enough for a healthy life. He argued against subsistence and for a simple life. I was looking up at the mountain of money and trying to bring the wealthy down; he was looking down into the valley of despair and trying to bring the poor up.”[31]
Once he realized that the word prosperity meant having “enough for a healthy life,” Alexander realized that he agreed with Nwankwo. God wants people to prosper in that way. MacArthur wants readers to assume that prosperity means the greed of North American televangelists, who already have more than enough. Why not assume instead that Pew’s interviewees hold Nwankwo’s understanding of prosperity? Given that most of them come from poor countries, that would seem the more reasonable — and less uncharitable — assumption.
Indeed, when you consider that the prosperity gospel is not identical to Word of Faith theology and that the meaning of prosperity varies by context, it becomes easier to make sense of a point Pew raises but MacArthur ignores: Prosperity theology is prevalent among non-charismatic Christians too. “In all countries,” according to Spirit and Power, “majorities of all Christians believe that God will grant good health and relief from sickness to believers who have enough faith…. Many Christians around the world also believe that God will grant material prosperity to all believers who have enough faith, though this belief is somewhat less common, and held less intensely, than belief in God granting good health.”[32]
In summary, contrary to MacArthur’s description of it, the Charismatic Movement is not rife with heresy and immorality. A representative sample of charismatic belief and practice shows it to be orthodox, moral, pious, intensely evangelistic, and socially engaged. And while Word of Faith theology is indeed troublesome and demands a response, there is a better and more sympathetic way to understand the Charismatic Movement’s prosperity theology than MacArthur allows.
Exegesis of Scripture
Second, based on his exegesis of Scripture, MacArthur argues that contemporary manifestations of the spiritual gifts of apostleship, prophecy, tongues, and healing do not match biblical criteria. He says they are inauthentic, rising from some source other than the Holy Spirit. Based on those assumptions, he concludes continuationism is most likely false, and cessationism is likely true.
(Continuationism is “the claim that all the miracles and spiritual gifts described in Acts and 1 Corinthians are still available to Christians today, that prophetic gifts and signs and wonders were not unique to the apostolic era, and that there is no reason to believe one or more of these phenomena has ceased.”[33] Cessationism is the opposite claim.)
Pentecostals and charismatics may find themselves nodding in agreement with certain aspects of MacArthur’s argument. For example, I am sympathetic with MacArthur’s critiques of C. Peter Wagner’s views on apostleship, the notion of “fallible prophecy,” and Benny Hinn’s healing ministry. I don’t think these positions are representative of the Charismatic Movement. I also don’t believe arguments against them should count as arguments against the Movement as a whole.
Let’s take a closer look at MacArthur’s arguments regarding apostleship, prophecy, tongues, and healing.
Apostleship
MacArthur argues that, by definition, continuationists must believe that the spiritual gift of apostleship (1 Corinthians 12:28,29; Ephesians 4:11) is still available to Christians today.[34] As he reads it, the New Testament articulates three criteria of apostleship:
1. An apostle had to be a physical eyewitness of the resurrected Christ.
2. An apostle had to be personally appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. An apostle had to be able to authenticate his apostolic appointment with miraculous signs.[35]
MacArthur concludes: “These qualifications alone conclusively demonstrate that there are no apostles in the church today,” since no contemporary has seen Jesus personally, been commissioned for ministry by him personally, or has performed the number and variety of miracles that were performed by the New Testament apostles.[36]
Furthermore, he argues, Paul claimed to be the last apostle (1 Corinthians 15:8,9), so none came after him.[37] The apostles were “revelatory agents of God,” so unless we are willing to reopen the biblical canon, apostles do not continue to receive revelations today.[38] And Paul described the apostles as the “foundation” of the church (Ephesians 2:19,20) in a passage that “means nothing if it doesn’t decisively limit apostleship to the earliest stages of church history. After all, a foundation is not something that can be rebuilt during every phase of construction. The foundation is unique, and it is always laid first, with the rest of the structure firmly resting above it.”[39]
Taken individually and collectively, MacArthur thinks these lines of reasoning are fatal to contemporary manifestations of apostleship specifically and to continuationism generally. “To acknowledge [that apostleship has ceased] is to acknowledge the foundational premise on which cessationism is based. If apostleship ceased, it demonstrates that not everything that characterized the New Testament church still characterizes the church today.”[40]
Interestingly, in its position paper, “Apostles and Prophets,”[41] the Assemblies of God follows a similar line of argument to MacArthur’s and reaches a similar conclusion: “Since the New Testament does not provide guidance for the appointment of future apostles, such contemporary offices are not essential to the health and growth of the church, nor its apostolic nature.”[42]
Given that the Assemblies of God is the largest denomination within the Charismatic Movement — accounting for approximately one-eighth of the whole — the similarity of its reasoning and conclusion to MacArthur’s suggest that at least some charismatics adhere to a more qualified definition of continuationism than MacArthur lets on. Indeed, he admits that C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation “borrowed the apostolic emphasis of Latter Rain theology and incorporated it into his Third Wave teachings,” which means it’s not characteristic of either classical Pentecostalism or the charismatic revival in the mainline churches.[43] If that’s the case, however, then the cessation of the apostolic office is not fatal to continuationism, which some Pentecostals and charismatics define differently than MacArthur.[44]
Additionally, MacArthur’s criteria of apostleship need to be challenged. MacArthur seems to limit apostleship to “the Twelve and Paul.”[45] This overlooks crucial differences between the Twelve and Paul. The Twelve, but not Paul, were eyewitnesses of Christ “the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us” (Acts 1:21,22). The Twelve, but not Paul, are the foundations of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14).
MacArthur’s concept of apostleship overlooks the fact that the New Testament applies the term apostolos (“apostle”) to a wider group of people than the Twelve and Paul, including Barnabas (Acts 14:4,14); James and others, distinct from the Twelve (1 Corinthians 15:7); Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 2:6, cf. 1:1); and possibly Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:9, cf. v. 6). The New Testament does not say whether Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy were physical eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ. It does say, however, that prophets (rather than Jesus personally) appointed Barnabas and Timothy for ministry (Acts 13:2,3; 1 Timothy 1:18; 4:14). In his conflict with the false apostles at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11–12), Paul didn’t make use of either criterion 1 or 2, even though these would have been probative. (Indeed, if apostleship were limited to the Twelve and Paul, why didn’t Paul simply point out that the false apostles were neither the Twelve nor Paul?)
Finally, MacArthur’s concept of apostleship excludes at least two things that Paul considered fundamental: to “preach the gospel where Christ was not known” (Romans 15:14–22; cf. Acts 9:15,16; 22:21; 25:15–23) and suffering (2 Corinthians 11:16–33; cf. 1 Corinthians 4:9–13), which seem to be conjoined in Paul’s mind. Recognizing the connection between apostleship and preaching the gospel, the Assemblies of God’s position paper concludes that while the apostolic office may have ceased, the apostolic function has not.[46]
One final point: Though MacArthur makes much of the “foundation” argument in Ephesians 2:20, I’m not sure it’s as conclusive as he thinks. For one thing, he is asking that passage a question that it was not designed to answer. His question is, “Has the gift of apostleship ceased?” The question that passage was designed to answer is, “How are Gentiles saved and incorporated into the people of God?”
The only passage in the New Testament that explicitly asks when the spiritual gifts will cease is 1 Corinthians 13:8–13, and its answer is “when completeness comes,” i.e., the Eschaton. For another thing, and this cannot be stressed enough, “foundation” is a metaphor, and metaphors should not be pressed too far. If pressed too far, we would have to conclude that Paul could not be part of the church’s apostolic foundation because he described himself as a “wise builder” who laid that foundation in 1 Corinthians 3:10. Obviously, the builder cannot also be the foundation. And doesn’t Revelation 21:14 describe the foundation of the New Jerusalem, which is the Church, in terms of “the twelve apostles of the Lamb”? Obviously, Paul was not a member of the Twelve.
Prophecy
Regarding contemporary manifestations of prophecy, MacArthur argues that the Bible lists three criteria for identifying false prophets:
1. Any self-proclaimed prophet who leads people into false doctrine and heresy is a false prophet.
2. Any self-proclaimed prophet who lives in unrestrained lust and unrepentant sin shows himself to be a false prophet.
3. If someone declaring himself a prophet proclaims any supposed “revelation from God” that turns out to be inaccurate or untrue, he must be summarily rejected as a spokesman for God.[47]
With these three criteria in mind, MacArthur argues that “charismatics have made presumptuous prophecy a hallmark of their movement.”[48] As proof of this, he cites “the various heresies that are tolerated and even promoted within charismatic ranks” (criterion 1), as well as “the numerous scandals that continually plague the lives of the most visible and recognized charismatic leaders” (criterion 2), that he describes in Part 1 of the book.[49]
I’ve already demonstrated that MacArthur’s description of the Charismatic Movement suffers from selection bias and is therefore unrepresentative, so we can agree with his critique of some charismatic leaders’ theological errors and moral failures without thinking that they are representative of the whole.
Unfortunately, this selection bias also plagues his discussion of “inaccurate predictions” (criterion 3). Why should we assume that the inaccurate predictions of Mike Bickle, Bob Jones, Benny Hinn, and Rick Joyner — the examples MacArthur cites by name — are representative of charismatic prophecy?[50] Why should we agree with his statement, “From its inception by Charles Fox Parham to its most ubiquitous modern representative in Benny Hinn, the entire movement is nothing more than a sham religion run by counterfeit ministers”?[51]
The entire movement? Nothing more? Overbroad statements like this betray MacArthur’s weak grasp of the history of the Charismatic Movement, even as they reveal a well-honed skill at libeling an entire class of Christians.
At the end of the day, however, inaccuracy isn’t MacArthur’s real concern. “Not all who believe God speaks to them make prophetic pronouncements as outlandish as those broadcast by charismatic televangelists or the Kansas City Prophets,” he writes. “But they still believe God gives them extrabiblical messages — either through an audible voice, a vision, a voice in their heads, or simply an internal impression. In most cases, their ‘prophecies’ are comparatively trivial. But the difference between them and Benny Hinn’s predictions is a difference only of scale, not of substance.”[52]
His real concern, then, is the very possibility of “extrabiblical revelation.” He writes: “modern evangelicalism’s infatuation with extrabiblical revelation is … a return to medieval superstition and a departure from our fundamental conviction that the Bible is our sole, supreme, and sufficient authority for all of life. It represents a wholesale abandonment of the Reformation principle of sola Scriptura.”[53]
Others will have to determine whether MacArthur has interpreted the Reformation correctly. What needs to be pointed out is the simple fact that the Bible itself, on a number of occasions, reports that people prophesied without reporting what they prophesied. Where are the extrabiblical revelations of Israel’s 72 elders (Numbers 11:22–30); Saul, the “procession of prophets” surrounding Samuel, and “Saul’s men” (1 Samuel 10:5–7,9–11; 19:18–24); “the company [or sons] of the prophets” (2 Kings 9:1–13); the prophets who went down from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 11:27–30); the Antioch prophets Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen (Acts 13:1–3); Philip’s “four unmarried daughters” (Acts 21:9); or the Roman and Corinthian congregational prophets (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:28,29)?
Moreover, doesn’t the ministry of Jesus Christ itself point to the existence of extrabiblical revelation? Jesus Christ is “the Word [become] flesh” (John 1:14). Regarding His deeds, the Gospel says, “he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also” (5:19). Regarding words, Jesus said, “whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say” (12:50). And yet, John tells us, Jesus “did many other things as well” that are not recorded in the Gospels. Indeed, they are too numerous to put into books: “I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (21:25). Isn’t this the very definition of extrabiblical revelation?
The point is this: MacArthur demonstrates an (ironically) extrabiblical wariness toward extrabiblical revelation. His argument seems to be at odds with the Bible itself. This problem flows from his misidentification of canon and prophecy. The entire canon is prophetic (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21), but not every prophecy is canonical, as I just illustrated. Scripture is the kanon (literally, “measuring rod” or “rule”) against which all alleged prophecies must be evaluated, but it is not the sum total of all that God has said, is saying, or will say. Therefore, it is appropriate to “eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1).
Tongues
Regarding speaking in tongues, MacArthur argues that tongues-speech in the New Testament always involved speaking a human language, whereas tongues-speech today never involves speaking a human language. Therefore, contemporary tongues-speech is “gibberish” that has nothing to do with the New Testament spiritual gift. [54]
There are good reasons to doubt both prongs of MacArthur’s argument. Anecdotal evidence indicates that at least some contemporary tongues-speech involves human languages. For example, Global Witness to Pentecost by Jordan Daniel May compiles 88 testimonies from reputable sources where one person spoke in a tongue that a second person recognized as a human language.[55] Admittedly, such occurrences are rare. Nevertheless, if they happen, then what MacArthur himself considers biblical tongues-speech continues today.
More importantly, there are several reasons to question whether the New Testament teaches that tongues-speech is always a human language. According to MacArthur, “the only detailed description of the true gift of tongues in Scripture is found in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost — a text that clearly identifies this gift as the supernatural ability to speak genuine, meaningful, translatable languages” (Acts 2:4,6–11).[56] This statement is false. Acts 2 is not “the only detailed description of the true gift of tongues.” If anything, 1 Corinthians 12–14 contains an even more detailed description of tongues. Acts 2 is simply the only description that contains the detail that the tongues-speech of Pentecost involved human languages. A different understanding of tongues-speech emerges through a close reading of 1 Corinthians 12–14.
First, whereas Acts 2:6–11 assumes that tongues-speech is naturally intelligible to hearers, 1 Corinthians 12–14 assumes that it is naturally unintelligible to them. Paul writes, “anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit” (14:2). And, “when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?” (14:16). And, “if … everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (14:23).
Second, whereas Acts 2:6–11 assumes that the interpretation of tongues is a natural process in which a native speaker understands his or her own language, 1 Corinthians 12–14 assumes that it is a supernatural gift. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good … to still another the interpretation of tongues” (12:7–10). “For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say” (14:13).
Third, in 1 Corinthians 14:6,10–12, Paul analogizes uninterpreted tongues-speech (glossais) to an uninterpreted foreign language (phonon/phones). As Gordon Fee points out, Paul’s “use of earthly languages as a analogy in 14:10–12 implies that it is not a known earthly language, since a thing is not usually identical with that to which it is analogous.”[57] Unless there is a difference between tongues-speech and human language here, Paul’s comparison is tautologous rather than analogous.
Fourth, Paul’s reference to “the tongues … of angels” (1 Corinthians 13:1) may indicate that he and/or the Corinthians believed that tongues-speech could be angelic, rather than human, in nature. The Testament of Job, a roughly contemporaneous Jewish document, similarly refers to humans speaking angelic languages through the power of the Holy Spirit. This indicates that the notion of angelic languages was not unknown in Paul’s time.[58]
If these lines of reasoning are correct, then the fact that the majority of contemporary tongues-speech is not a human language does not count against its biblical authenticity.
One more point: MacArthur derides the use of a “private ‘prayer language’ ” as a form of “self-gratification.”[59] Given that tongues-speech is a gift of the Spirit, it would be more accurate to say that the Spirit is edifying the individual who speaks an uninterpreted tongue, rather than that the individual is edifying him- or herself. Granting that interpreted tongues-speech is more beneficial to the congregation as a whole, the question remains why individual edification is wrong. If it is right to edify others, how can it be wrong to be edified oneself?
MacArthur would answer that “Paul would never extol prayers that bypass the mind.”[60] But that is arguable. Paul states that uninterpreted tongues-speech “edifies” the speaker (1 Corinthians 14:4). Further, he states, “my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful” (14:14). Taken together, this seems to imply that Paul recognizes such a thing as a spiritual but nonrational form of edification.
MacArthur also cites Paul’s instruction that public tongues-speakers ask God to be able to interpret their tongues-speech (1 Corinthians 14:13,14).[61] But this is a rule for public tongues-speech. MacArthur wrongly applies this rule to private tongues-speech without noting Paul’s explicit, public-oriented reasoning. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul gives no rule whatsoever about private tongues-speech.
Healing
In chapter 8, “Fake Healings and False Hopes,” MacArthur argues: “Faith healers like [Benny] Hinn claim to be able to replicate the healings of the apostolic age. In reality, their shenanigans have none of the characteristics of the actual New Testament gift of healing.”[62] While conceding that “the Lord still answers prayer and works in providential ways to heal people according to His will,” he nonetheless concludes, “there is no evidence that miraculous healings are occurring today as they did during the apostolic age.”[63] More bluntly: “The apostolic gift of healing has ceased.”[64]
Several points are in order by way of response. First, Pentecostal and charismatic readers can agree with elements of MacArthur’s critique of Hinn without thinking that Hinn’s ministry is characteristic of the broader Charismatic Movement. Once again, the problem of the representativeness of MacArthur’s argument rears its head.
Second, obviously, we agree with MacArthur that the Lord still heals people according to His will. The difference between us, I would venture, is that we believe this happens more often than does MacArthur.
Third, the statement that “the apostolic gift of healing has ceased” is ambiguous. If by that phrase MacArthur means the apostles’ gift of healing, then he may be correct, especially if the apostolic office — as opposed to apostolic function — has ceased. But Paul does not list the apostles’ gift of healing in his list of spiritual gifts. He talks more broadly about “gifts of healing,” where the focus moves from the one performing the healing to the one receiving the healing. In that sense, apostolic gifts of healing — i.e., the gifts of which the apostle Paul spoke — have not ceased at all.
Conclusion
In this review, I have made — and I hope sufficiently documented — three claims:
1. Pentecostal and charismatic readers of Strange Fire will agree with John MacArthur on numerous points of doctrine and several critiques of the Charismatic Movement.
2. MacArthur’s description of the Charismatic Movement suffers from selection bias, resulting in a portrait of the movement that is unrepresentative of the whole. A representative portrait shows that charismatics are orthodox, moral, pious, evangelistically intense, and socially engaged.
3. MacArthur’s critique of the contemporary spiritual gifts of apostleship, prophecy, tongues, and healing contains some valid points. But the figures he cites as representative of charismatic opinion are not. His definition of continuationism does not track with how many charismatics understand their own continuationist hermeneutic, and his biblical criteria for the gifts are not as definitive as he seems to think they are.
That being the case, I think a revision of MacArthur’s indictment of the Charismatic Movement, which I quoted at the outset of this essay, is warranted:
Charismatics now number more than half a billion worldwide. The gospel that is driving those surging numbers is the good news that Jesus Christ is the world’s Savior, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and soon-coming King. What we are seeing is in reality the explosive growth of a church that self-consciously patterns itself along New Testament lines, as vibrant as — if not more so than — any revival in the history of Christianity. The Charismatic Movement was an outpouring of the Spirit of Jesus Christ from the outset; it has not changed into something bad since.
This alternate description of the Charismatic Movement doesn’t mean that it is perfect or beyond criticism. Even the Church in the apostolic era had plenty of bad actors, theological errors, and moral failures. But it does mean that, on the whole, the Charismatic Movement is of God.
Rather than cutting down the Charismatic Movement, root and branch, John MacArthur should have written Strange Fire to help charismatic Christians prune the errant and spiritually unfruitful branches from their otherwise orthodox and moral root. Instead, he confused branch with root and consigned both to the flames.
“Love for the truth, without any lack of personal charity, is what motivates me to write a book like this,” MacArthur writes.[65]
What a strange “truth” that falsely describes Pentecostals and charismatics! What a strange “love” that fails to see one’s brothers and sisters in the faith as coworkers in gospel ministry!
P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
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Endnotes :
[1] Assemblies of God, “Statistics of the Assemblies of God (USA).” Accessed online at http://agchurches.org/Sitefiles/Default/RSS/AG.org TOP/AG Statistical Reports/2012/Online Stats 2012.pdf.
[2] I am using the terms charismatic and Charismatic Movement in this review as John MacArthur does, to refer to “the entirety of the classical Pentecostal, Charismatic Renewal, and Third Wave Movements”; John MacArthur, Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship (Nashville, TN: Nelson Books, 2013), 263n2.
[3] Ibid, xvii.
[4] Ibid, 81–82, passim. On pages 231–232, MacArthur sharply distinguishes between the Charismatic Movement and “reformed charismatics” or “evangelical continuationists.” The former is “teeming with false teachers and spiritual charlatans of the worst kind,” while the latter consist of “Christian leaders who have proven their commitment to Christ and His Word over the years.” He says he wrote chapter 12, “An Open Letter to My Continuationist Friends,” to warn them about charismatics, believing that “the continuationist position exposes the evangelical church to continuous danger from the charismatic mutation.” Given that MacArthur lumps classical Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Renewal Movement, and the Third Wave Movement together under the rubric of “Charismatic Movement” (263n2), the logical conclusion is that MacArthur does not consider charismatics to be his “brothers in Christ and friends in the ministry” (231). As a classical Pentecostal and Assemblies of God minister, I find this conclusion unsettling. The Assemblies of God is a founding member of the National Association of Evangelicals, and other classical Pentecostal denominations are also members in good standing. MacArthur’s remarks thus seem to betray sectarian tendencies. If, on the other hand, he believes that classical Pentecostals are Christian siblings and ministry partners, he should state that clearly and upfront, rather than making an ambiguous statement in the book’s final chapter.
[5] The major methodological problem with Strange Fire is that it paints an unrepresentative portrait of the Charismatic Movement. Other problems include ad hominem arguments, tendentious use of sources, the fallacy of composition (attributing errors of this or that charismatic to charismatics generally), and a reductionist historiography of the Charismatic Movement. Regarding the last point: MacArthur traces the entire history of the Charismatic Movement to Charles Parham. By discrediting him, MacArthur thinks he has discredited it: “The ‘new Pentecost’ of the Charismatic Movement could not have been more different [than the original Pentecost]. It grew out of the deficient soteriology of the Holiness Movement; it was marked by inconsistent eyewitness testimony; it produced counterfeit religious experience; and it was initiated by a disreputable spiritual leader. Such factors call its legitimacy into serious question” (28). MacArthur seems unaware that there are Pentecostal denominations, such as the Church of God, that trace their origins to events preceding Parham. Moreover, he ignores Allan Anderson’s warning about ignoring the multiple, multinational, and multicultural origins of Pentecostalism, outlined in An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), 166–183. Given that MacArthur cites Anderson’s book several times (41, 266n17, 267n32, 268n46, 269n51, 271n63, 276n60, 283n41, 284n57, 285n63), his refusal to heed Anderson’s warning is inexcusable.
[6] Consider these bombastic statements from the Introduction of Strange Fire: “To claim He is the one who empowers self-willed, whimsical, and unbiblical worship is to treat God with contempt. That’s why the many irreverent antics and twisted doctrines brought into the church by the contemporary Charismatic Movement are equal to (or even worse than) the strange fire of Nadab and Abihu. They are an affront to the Holy Spirit, and therefore to God Himself—grounds for severe judgment (cf. Heb. 10:31)” (xi). “The ‘Holy Spirit’ found in the vast majority of charismatic teaching and practice bears no resemblance to the true Spirit of God as revealed in Scripture” (xii). “By inventing a Holy Spirit of idolatrous imaginations, the modern Charismatic Movement offers strange fire that has done incalculable harm to the body of Christ” (xiii). “In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders of Israel blasphemously attributed the work of the Spirit to Satan (Matt. 12:24). The modern Charismatic Movement does the inverse, attributing the work of the devil to the Holy Spirit” (xiii). “They have become like the Israelites of Exodus 32” (xiv), that is, idol worshipers. “In spite of their gross theological error, charismatics demand acceptance within mainstream evangelicalism” (xiv). “The results of that charismatic takeover [of evangelicalism] have been devastating. In recent history, no other movement has done more to damage the cause of the gospel, to distort the truth, and to smother the articulation of sound doctrine. Charismatic theology has turned the evangelical church into a cesspool of error and a breeding ground for false teachers” (xv). “Like a deadly virus, it [i.e., charismatic theology] gains access into the church by maintaining a superficial connection to certain characteristics of biblical Christianity, but in the end it always corrupts and distorts sound teaching. The resulting degradation, like a doctrinal version of Frankenstein’s monster, is a hideous hybrid of heresy, ecstasy, and blasphemy awkwardly dressed in the tattered remnants of evangelical language. It calls itself ‘Christian,’ but in reality it is a sham—a counterfeit form of spirituality that continually morphs as it spirals erratically from one error to the next” (xvi).
[7] For a good example of how cessationists, Pentecostals, and charismatics can debate one another without calling into question the other’s Christianity, see Richard B. Gaffin, Robert L. Saucy, C. Samuel Storms, and Douglas A. Oss, Are Miraculous Gifts for Today: Four Views, ed. Wayne A. Grudem (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996).
[8] MacArthur, Strange Fire, 39; cf. Jonathan Edwards, “The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God,” in Jonathan Edwards on Revival (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1965), 75–147.
[9] Downplayed, not denied. While a classical Pentecostal would emphasize the empowerment of the believer by the Holy Spirit, MacArthur emphasizes that—in the words of a subtitle in the chapter on Scripture—“The Spirit Empowers the Scriptures,” Strange Fire, 226–228. The shift in emphasis from the empowerment of a person to the empowerment of the Bible seems to me to betray MacArthur’s wariness toward extrabiblical revelation.
[10] Ibid, xvii.
[11] Ibid, xvii.
[12] Ibid, 60. One of MacArthur’s sources is a Wikipedia article, “List of Scandals Involving American Evangelical Christians” (6, cf. 264n4). MacArthur concedes: “A Wikipedia entry may not be authoritative in its use of doctrinal labels, but it serves as an accurate barometer of public perception” (6). He fails to ask whether the “public perception” is itself accurate, which renders his use of Wikipedia moot.
[13] Ibid, 65.
[14] National Cancer Institute, NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms, s.v. “selection bias.” Accessed online at http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=44087.
[15] Gary B. McGee, People of the Spirit: The Assemblies of God (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 2004).
[16] The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Spirit and Power: A 10-Country Survey of Pentecostals (Washington DC: The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 2006). Accessed online at http://www.pewforum.org/2006/10/05/spirit-and-power/.
[17] MacArthur, Strange Fire, 14, 52, 58–59, 268n44, 285n62. The additional studies cited are John L. Allen, The Future Church: How Ten Trends Are Revolutionizing the Catholic Church (New York: Doubleday, 2009), 382–383. and Paul Alexander, Signs and Wonders: Why Pentecostalism Is the World’s Fastest Growing Faith (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2009), pp. 63–64.
[18] Pew Forum, Spirit and Power, 6.
[19] Ibid, 6.
[20] Ibid, 8.
[21] Ibid, 20.
[22] Ibid, 29.
[23] Ibid, 29.
[24] Ibid, 29
[25] Ibid, 31.
[26] MacArthur, Strange Fire, 13.
[27] Ibid, 14.
[28] See General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, The Believer and Positive Confession (August 19, 1980). Accessed online at http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_4183_confession.pdf.
[29] Pew Forum, Spirit and Power, 30.
[30] Paul Alexander, Signs and Wonders: Why Pentecostalism Is the World’s Fastest Growing Faith (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2009).
[31] Ibid, 66.
[32] Pew Forum, Spirit and Power, 30,31.
[33] MacArthur, Strange Fire, 96.
[34] Ibid, 91.
[35] Ibid, 92.
[36] Ibid, 92.
[37] Ibid, 93–94.
[38] Ibid, 94–96.
[39] Ibid, 96.
[40] Ibid, 103.
[41] General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, Apostles and Prophets (August 6, 2001). Accessed online at http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_4195_apostles_prophets.pdf.
[42] Assemblies of God, Apostles and Prophets, 10.
[43] MacArthur, Strange Fire, 90.
[44] E.g., “Pentecostal churches believe they are apostolic because (1) they teach what the apostles taught, and (2) they share in the power of the apostles through the baptism in and fullness of the Holy Spirit, who empowers their lives and ministries. They believe what matters is not a contemporary apostolic office but apostolic doctrine and power.” Assemblies of God, Apostles and Prophets, 1–2.
[45] E.g., MacArthur, Strange Fire, 94,99.
[46] E.g., “The function of apostle occurs whenever the church of Jesus Christ is being established among theunevangelized”; also, “Thus, within the Assemblies of God, persons are not recognized by the title of apostle or prophet. However,many within the church exercise the ministry function of apostles and prophets. Apostolic functions usuallyoccur within the context of breaking new ground in unevangelized areas or among unreached people.” Assemblies of God, Apostles and Prophets, 10,11.
[47] MacArthur, Strange Fire, 106–108, passim. Emphasis in original.
[48] Ibid.
[49] Ibid, 109.
[50] Ibid, 109–113.
[51] Ibid, 113.
[52] Ibid, 113–114.
[53] Ibid, 116.
[54] “Today, nonlinguistic, irrational gibberish remains the de facto explanation for charismatic babble”; and “the glossolalia practiced by today’s charismatics is a counterfeit that by every measure falls short of the gift of tongues described in the New Testament.” Ibid, 136,137
[55] Jordan Daniel May, Witness to Pentecost: The Testimony of ‘Other Tongues’ (Cleveland, TN: Cherohala Press, 2013). For other examples, see Del Tarr, The Foolishness of God: A Linguist Looks at the Mystery of Tongues (Springfield, MO: The Access Group, 2010), 401–403; and Craig S. Keener, Acts: An Exegetical Commentary, Vol. 1, Introduction and 1:1–2:47 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012), 829nn419–420.
[56] MacArthur, Strange Fire, 138.
[57] Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1987), 598.
[58] So Fee, First Corinthians, 630, building on R. P. Spittler, “Testament of Job: A New Translation and Introduction,” in James H. Charlesworth, ed., The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Volume 1, Apolcalyptic Literature and Testaments (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1983), 835, 865–866.
[59] MacArthur, Strange Fire, 154.
[60] Ibid, 150.
[61] Ibid, 150.
[62] Ibid, 162.
[63] Ibid, 176.
[64] Ibid, 176.
[65] Ibid, 232.
Tags: Apostleship, Assemblies of God response, Healing, John MacArthur, Prophecy, prosperity gospel, Strange Fire, tongues
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