Journal of Ministry Resources and Theology for Pentecostal and Charismatic Ministries & Leaders

Amazon.com Widgets

John MacArthur’s Strange Fire, Reviewed by Eddie L. Hyatt

| October 23, 2013 | 18 comments

In summary, may we not flinch or compromise our commitment to the ongoing, dynamic workings of the Holy Spirit in the Church and the world because of Strange Fire. At the same time, may we be diligent to address the errors and extremes that always creep in to any Spirit filled movement, whether the church in Corinth, early Methodism or the modern Pentecostal-Charismatic movement.

PR

Page 3 of 3«1 23

Tags: Biblical, cessation, cessationism, eddie, essay, fire, hyatt, John MacArthur, review, strange

Category: Spirit, Winter 2014

About the Author: Eddie L. Hyatt, D.Min. (Regent University), M.Div. and M.A. (Oral Roberts University), serves the body of Christ around the world by teaching with academic excellence and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He has authored several books, including 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity. His passion is to see authentic spiritual awakening transform the Church and impact the world in the Twenty-first century. www.eddiehyatt.com

Eric Jones says:

July 2, 2015 at 8:38 pm

Well praise God, I guess this means that we need to walk in love and continue to heed the admonition of the Lord through the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:1…..”Therefore pursue (relentlessly chase) love (God’s love) and desire (passionately burn for) spiritual gifts…”. Let’s us more importantly chase the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ in Mark 16:…..”….and these signs shall follow (chase after) those who BELIEVE…”….Praise God this an opportunity to chase God’s love and a sign of the last days. The world, Israel and the Church is on the verge of THE GREATEST outpouring God’s power in the Holy Spirit that the world has EVER seen. The Spirit of God is peaceful and He is also wild! God the Holy Spirit is the most passionate being next to the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father that you will ever encounter!!!! Hallejah rejoice people of God!

Pneuma Review says:

June 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

Invitation to readers: develop a TL;DR summary of this review.

Gene Mills says:

June 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

Years ago a fundamentalist associate gave me a copy of MacArthur’s, “Charismaric Chaos,” which I read. It struck me as odd that MacArthur, who is noted to be strong in the use of Scripture, barely used biblical references to support his view that cessationism was the proper approach to take when discussing gifts, etc. In another place he wrote, to my bewilderment, that a person who comes to faith in Christ will find it impossible to grow in correct doctrine if merely left alone with the Bible. So, although this man is a talented teacher and expositor he is certainly human with all the bias that comes with not having complete knowledge. Therefore, I agree that Charismatics / Pentecostals benefit from reading those with whom they may disagree in order to see themselves through the eyes of those that are in opposition to their strongly held views. MacArthur, in the end, though surely sincere about his minority opinion, is just that, an opinion in the very small minority, of the few fundamentalist enclave left. His is a battle already lost in the larger arena of Christian faith and we must move on and not fight again battles already won.

PastorDarius Walden says:

June 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

MacArthur is a modern G Campbell Morgan who was known for stating that the outpouring of the early twentieth century was “the last belch of hell.” This book is just an updated version of The Charismatics, written in 1978.

Betty Carolyn Nelms says:

June 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

I found it interesting that the add above these comments said Pin Sol BRAND Cleaner HaHa. I fit into all of this that he has come against and fear he has a reprobate or corrupted mind!
Those much more educated and well spoken can and have said it like it is and I for one appreciate those that take a stand for Biblical truth.
Betty Nelms

Eddie L. Hyatt says:

June 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

Years ago i heard Oral Roberts say, “Listen to your enemies. They will tell you things you need to hear that your friends won’t tell you.” One area where John MacArthur has something to say to us (Pentecostals and charismatics) is in our neglect of God’s word leading to a lack of discernment, manifested in the mindless pursuit of extra-biblical miracles such as gold dust, gems, angel feathers, etc. I have been in “revival” meetings where the audience was told to “turn your mind off.” I say, “Open your heart and leave your mind on.” The answer is not to dispense with the mind, for Jesus said we are to love God with all our mind. The answer is to renew the mind in God’s word as Paul admonishes in Romans 12:2, “then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Betty-Morris Nelms says:

December 8, 2013 at 2:56 am

I found it interesting that the add above these comments said Pin Sol BRAND Cleaner HaHa. I fit into all of this that he has come against and fear he has a reprobate or corrupted mind!
Those much more educated and well spoken can and have said it like it is and I for one appreciate those that take a stand for Biblical truth.
Betty Nelms

Pneuma Review says:

November 16, 2013 at 6:28 pm

Invitation to readers: develop a TL;DR summary of this review.

Randy Furco says:

October 29, 2013 at 6:23 pm

That is why I like the book, Kundalini Warning. Goes after the non-sense without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Eddie L. Hyatt says:

October 29, 2013 at 6:20 pm

Years ago i heard Oral Roberts say, "Listen to your enemies. They will tell you things you need to hear that your friends won't tell you." One area where John MacArthur has something to say to us (Pentecostals and charismatics) is in our neglect of God's word leading to a lack of discernment, manifested in the mindless pursuit of extra-biblical miracles such as gold dust, gems, angel feathers, etc. I have been in "revival" meetings where the audience was told to "turn your mind off." I say, "Open your heart and leave your mind on." The answer is not to dispense with the mind, for Jesus said we are to love God with all our mind. The answer is to renew the mind in God's word as Paul admonishes in Romans 12:2, "then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will."

Gene Mills says:

October 25, 2013 at 6:07 pm

Years ago a fundamentalist associate gave me a copy of MacArthur's, "Charismaric Chaos," which I read. It struck me as odd that MacArthur, who is noted to be strong in the use of Scripture, barely used biblical references to support his view that cessationism was the proper approach to take when discussing gifts, etc. In another place he wrote, to my bewilderment, that a person who comes to faith in Christ will find it impossible to grow in correct doctrine if merely left alone with the Bible. So, although this man is a talented teacher and expositor he is certainly human with all the bias that comes with not having complete knowledge. Therefore, I agree that Charismatics / Pentecostals benefit from reading those with whom they may disagree in order to see themselves through the eyes of those that are in opposition to their strongly held views. MacArthur, in the end, though surely sincere about his minority opinion, is just that, an opinion in the very small minority, of the few fundamentalist enclave left. His is a battle already lost in the larger arena of Christian faith and we must move on and not fight again battles already won.

Robert L Reyff says:

October 25, 2013 at 3:59 pm

Someone might be lucky if some strange fire doesn't start their tail on fire! Ha!

Dave Mills says:

October 25, 2013 at 3:03 pm

1978 "The Charismatics"!! That was the book that someone gave me to prove that the charismatic/Pentecostal movement was bogus. I remember a lot of outrageous anecdotes in that book like the story about a woman who claims that her dog barked in tongues.

I agree that there are some who identify as "charismatic" or "Pentecostal" are not perfect and many do not hold what I consider to be sound doctrine. However, the mistakes/errors/sins of some individuals are not sufficient to indict the entire group.

Tim Maples says:

October 25, 2013 at 2:39 pm

I've never read a John MacArthur book, but I thought the reviewer's book, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity was just awful.

PastorDarius Walden says:

October 25, 2013 at 1:21 pm

MacArthur is a modern G Campbell Morgan who was known for stating that the outpouring of the early twentieth century was "the last belch of hell." This book is just an updated version of The Charismatics, written in 1978.

Featured Authors

Amos Yong is Professor of Theology & Mission and director of the Center for Missiological Research at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena. His graduate education includes degree...

Jelle Creemers: Theological Dialogue with Classical Pentecostals

Antipas L. Harris, D.Min. (Boston University), S.T.M. (Yale University Divinity School), M.Div. (Emory University), is the president-dean of Jakes Divinity School and associate pasto...

Invitation: Stories about transformation

Craig S. Keener, Ph.D. (Duke University), is F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is author of many books<...

Studies in Acts

Daniel A. Brown, PhD, planted The Coastlands, a church near Santa Cruz, California, serving as Senior Pastor for 22 years. Daniel has authored four books and numerous articles, but h...

Will I Still Be Me After Death?

Archives

John MacArthur’s Strange Fire, Reviewed by Eddie L. Hyatt

Connect with PneumaReview.com

Recent Comments

Featured Authors

Recent Posts

Archives

John MacArthur’s Strange Fire, Reviewed by Eddie L. Hyatt

Related articles:

Connect with PneumaReview.com

Recent Comments

Featured Authors

Recent Posts

Archives