This is the final post in my series of posts which aim to refute every biblical argument MacArthur uses in the book Strange Fire. It won’t be the last thing I write on this subject, however, as I will be following the ongoing discussion and reporting on significant developments. I also have a couple more things I want to say more generally on this over the next few weeks. I have posted a review of this book on Amazon and I invite you to... Read more
Just a couple of hours ago John Piper has posted the following to SoundCloud. Highlights below. Piper strongly affirms that he has benefited from MacArthur’s ministry Piper confirms that he does indeed advocate obedience to 1 Corinthians 12:31, “earnestly desire the higher gifts,” 1 Corinthians14:1, “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy,” and 1 Corinthians 14:39, “earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues,” and personally tries to obey these verses especially when preaching.... Read more
The second part of John MacArthur’s interview with Challies has been released. You are encouraged to read it for yourself but here are the headlines, in which all except one are very sad for me to read: MacArthur refuses to agree that Baptism and Eschatology and the charismatic debate are secondary issues, but states that the charismatic issue is more significant. MacArthur denies that Muslims are being converted through dreams of Jesus. (See for example this). For the first time... Read more
There is a man who, for decades longer than most readers of this blog have been alive, has defined evangelicalism, inspired multitudes, preached the true gospel to millions, met with every president of the USA since the end of World War Two, and is in short without doubt the most respected evangelist the English-speaking world has ever known. I am of course talking about Billy Graham who has just turned 95. If you can watch this video without being profoundly... Read more
The online discussion of the charismatic gifts continues. I encourage everyone to watch my discussion with Steve Camp who is a friend of John MacArthur, and also to listen to the formal debate below between Michael Brown and Sam Waldron. I think anyone watching both of these interactions will be forced to conclude at a minimum that some charismatics clearly have a strong biblical argument. I’m not expecting every cessationist to convert. Rather that we can all learn mutual respect.... Read more
God works all things out for his sovereign purpose. One of the joys to me since the Strange Fire fiasco has been the way charismatics have actually been emboldened and have come together. When someone attacks a group they tend to rise up as one man to defend and in so doing a new camaraderie is formed. New alliances are sometimes formed also. It never ceases to amaze me how diffuse the body of Christ is. I’ve only recently discovered... Read more
The Strange Fire controversy has again highlighted the divisions that exist within the church over the charismatic issue. It concerns me that these arguments may futher eclipse a much more important question. That question is addressed in one of the chapters of my book Raised With Christ. In it, the rich heritage of experiential Christianity through the ages is discussed. Thanks to Crossway, for the first time that chapter is available to download here for free. Here is a brief... Read more
This is my conversation with committed cessationist, and friend of MacArthur,Steve Camp. We talked about Strange Fire, and to keep the peace was the moderator Rob Wilkerson. I really believe this is an interesting and fruitful conversation. You can view the archive here: In the meantime feel free to watch this podcast interview I recorded with RE2. Read more
I am nearing the end of my series on Strange Fire. It may feel interminable for some, but believe me when I get the bit between my teeth, sometimes I keep at it a lot longer than I will have done on this! Today I turn to an argument that MacArthur uses against the charismatic movement. He takes some of the odd things some people say and do about the idea of apostles today and rightly rejects that. But again... Read more
MacArthur’s argument against the gift of healing seen in his book Strange Fire is an interesting one to me. He seems to distinguish between the idea that God can and still does heal today in response to our prayers, and the concept of the gift of healing. (See James 5:14-15). He does this in several ways. Firstly, he believes that the “Gift” of healing was given exclusively to accredit the Apostles, something which as I said in a previous post,... Read more
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