Over at Tim Challies, MacArthur has been interviewed about the criticism that has surfaced of him following the Strange Fire conference. This is interesting for two reasons. Firstly because of his brief summary of his case, and secondly for an attempt to rein in some of what to many of us seem like clear statements rejecting charismatics wholesale. Regarding the arguments he choses I thought I would briefly address them here: What are the gifts? MacArthur believes that the gifts of... Read more
For those, like me, feeling a bit beat up by the shenanigans, this article shows how Packer and the younger MacArthur strike a much more conciliatory tone on charismatics: One of the wisest appraisals of the charismatic movement as a whole has come from the estimable J. I. Packer. Like John MacArthur, he is Reformed in theology and a cessationist in his understanding of spiritual gifts. Packer finds in the New Testament both a creedal and a moral test for... Read more
Tim Keller was asked about cessationism at about 49 mins in the video below. Interestingly he stated he was a moderate cessationist (or “80% cessationist”) himself. By which he meant that although he did believes some miracles have continued, he believes many reported miracles are not real. He made a very important point, that a fear of experience often accompanies cessationism, and he believes that hinders revival. I have said many times that my main quarrel with cessationism is not really... Read more
Today in our series addressing the Strange Fire book, we turn to the idea of worship. Lets jump straight into refuting the arguments used by MacArthur on this stubject: Argument: Charismatic worship is mindless, vacuous, and involves emptying your mind. Counter argument: This is not so much a biblical argument against charismaticism per see but an argument against craziness in worship, to which I say amen! Against those who claim we should empty our minds, or stop being so rational to... Read more
I was interviewed on the RE2 podcast about the recent Strange Fire controversy. I think listening to this will help you understand why I have been so concerned about this. At points in the podcast we also discuss Spurgeon, and historic cessationists who had a clear relationship with God. Here is how they introduced the episode: We talk with Christian blogger Adrian Warnock about John MacArthur’s Strange Fire book and conference. We discuss if MacArthur’s charges against charismatics are valid... Read more
Today, in the series responding to Strange Fire, we turn to the subject of tongues. Before I get to the arguments that MacArthur makes in his book, lets review the few Bible references that refer to the phenomena: Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (NB: most scholars believe this verse was not in the original) Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with... Read more
The vision of Patheos.com who are kind enough to host this blog is to “host the conversation on faith.” I outlined in my first ever post on the site why I was thrilled to join in. We really do live in a global village, and so it is vital that we learn how to really listen to each other, and show true respect. Sometimes that mutual respect and understanding is absent in conversations even with those in our own faith... Read more
The Reformers commandeered the printing press to great effect in the battle of ideas. In the past 20 years, Evangelicals have also invaded the Internet, publishing a multitude of gospel-centered blogs, sermons, and magazine sites. Unfortunately many of the generation that came before ours signally failed to colonise TV. I have now finished reading Strange Fire. I want to address the topic of what is on Christian TV before I get back to my series of posts aiming to counter... Read more
This morning we go into the second week of what has been a continuous run of blogging for me about the Strange Fire conference and book. I thought I would pause for a moment and outline again why I think this is so important, and why I have not finished yet! Firstly, there is the biblical question. I do passionately believe that cessationism is incorrect and rests on very flimsy Scriptural foundations. Today’s extreme form of cessationism risks squandering the... Read more
As I was growing up I had some sense that God was calling me to some form of mission. I had no idea that would involve writing a blog which is read around the world, and serving on the leadership team of a church with around 70 nationalities represented. But I had a sense I needed to learn something about cross-cultural ministry. I was raised in two areas of the UK which at the time were filled almost exclusively with... Read more
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