Charismatic Chaos

The book arrived ahead of scheduled! I look forward to reading this book. John MacArthur is a powerful God fearing writer always seeking the truth. He exposes the lies of the Pentecostal,charismatic and Apostolic Reformation preachers and the damage they're doing to God's Kingdom. If you're attending a Pentecostal,charismatic or Apostolic Reformation church sometimes called a "seeker friendly" church you need to read this book. It will open your eyes and the truth will be revealed to you!! DO NOT fall for the lies read Johns book!!

Charismatics often paint Dr. MacArthur as the Grinch Who Stole Christmas (I know I did) - the kind of guy who just simply doesn't want them to have fun or doesn't believe the Holy Spirit exists or does anything today. After listening to quite a volume of his sermons on Charismatic issues and many other subjects, I discovered to the contrary that he has a tremendous love for God's people. In addition to his relentless passion to exposit the Bible verse by verse, he also has a heart and a burden to defend the Church against false doctrine by addressing the issues head on, something many pastors and personalities don't want to do for fear of offending people. To him, this has come at a cost of being dropped from radio stations, and much animosity from Charismatics (such as when Benny Hinn said that he wanted to "blow your head off with a holy ghost machine gun").I used to be the most hardcore Charismatic you'd ever met (that's not boasting, either). I grew up thinking that closeness to God meant getting "slain in the spirit," speaking in tongues, seeing angels and prophesying all day long. Both my parents had been to the Toronto Airport Vineyard in 1994/5 to get "the blessing," I had been to IHOP (for OneThing 2007) and was dead set on attending on Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (Redding, CA) upon graduating college.Then Todd Bentley came along with his Lakeland Revival. After watching the meetings online, his demeanor and showiness really didn't sit well with us. A little reading on the man opened up a whole world of Pentecostal/Charismatic history (the stuff their leaders don't teach you) that we couldn't deny. We ended up leaving the Church and spending months praying, reading the Word, repenting and reading testimonies/the history of the movement.Merely through reading history, I came to the conclusion that there were only 12 apostles, that the gift of tongues had ceased, etc (traditional "cessationist" positions), but I really hadn't worked out the theology of it.Years later, I came across a MacArthur sermon entitled "The Truth About Tongues." I went on to listen to some 35 odd sermons dealing with 1 Corinthians and the Charismatic movement today. He came to a lot of the same conclusions as I did, but also really helped me come to understand the role and purpose of the sign gifts in the establishment of the Church.I am a much different place in my walk with the Lord. As a Charismatic, I was always seeking experience after experience, thinking I'd get closer to the Lord, but never really getting there. I was always looking for the next teaching, the next revelation, the next experience. Worship was about how the music made me feel.Today, thanks to God's grace, I am in a much different place. I'm finally at peace in my walk with God - I have a burning desire to read the Word and see the Spirit's regeneration at work in my life as never before. I'm forever grateful the Lord delivered us out of that false system and into the truth of the Gospel and Dr. MacArthur's ministry has played a great part in that.From a former insider perspective, I can attest that essentially all the information in the book (that references history) is indeed factually accurate. Most of the references to movements, people and their teachings is more of a means to illustrate what the movement practices and teaches and should be viewed as such. There's a long and very scandalous history behind the whole Kansas City Prophets (involving strong-arming of Churches to get under Bickle's authority and un-repentant immorality and homosexuality of characters like Bob Jones and Paul Cain) which he doesn't cover (google the "Gruen Document" for more info).There's a lot that's happened since the wrote the book - the Toronto "Blessing" insanity, the establishment of the International House of Prayer (and all of their unique theology), spiritual warfare/dominionism, the teaching of Rick Joyner, "prophetic worship" "prophetic evangelism" "prophetic" painting, automatic writing, gold dust, "mantles" etc... As such, I wish he would update the book. Especially for those in the young reformed movement, I think this would be an invaluable book.

It definitely is a powerful piece to read the early theology wow it has really helped me grow in my walk with christ 2 thumbs up

I do NOT agree with the author's view on Salvation, however, that is not what this book is about. This book is about the chaos that charismatic Christians unleash, and MacArthur successfully dismantles their movement. The category of miracles such as instant healing and speaking in tongues is not happening in this Church age. Personal revelation is not happening in this Church age. MacArthur explains how and why miracles happened in Old Testament times and in the early church, and why they do not happen now that we have the completed Canon of Scripture. This is a must-read for every Christian.

Very well written. I learned a lot.

MacArthur does a wonderful job presenting issues in this book. He has done his homework as far as bible study, research, and presenting issues from all angles. I personally thank him for presenting the facts as they are. I wish I had this book many years ago when my mother, pastor, and others tried to point me in the right direction. They all tried to warn me of these things years ago when I went into Pentecostalism. However, I believe my learning "first-hand" has made me the person I am now. MacArthur's book bears witness to what I was told and what I have seen over the years in the pentecostal/charismatic movement. In closing, the teaching in this book is doctrinally-sound and a MUST for all those who want the truth from the biblical perspective. If someone is offended by what he says, it only means they need to get on their knees and pray for understanding and get in the Word more as well as do extensive research. I used to memorize verses when reading the Bible; but that is NOT the same as studying. Study involves research using dictionaries, commentaries, history, culture, etc. Again, this is an outstanding book!

This book was helpful in explaining the chaotic mess that goes on within these types of groups. It provided me with useful info on what some of my friends are exposed to within their conflicting lives.

In my opinion, John MacArthur is the most well read author, and theologian, next to R.C. Sproul. I have learned so much from his writings, and especially this book. I was raised in an independent pentecostal holiness church, and that is exactly what this book discusses. I can look back now and see everything as more of emotionalism than spiritualism. John MacArthur brings everything to the light BIBLICALLY. I was so enthralled with this book, I couldn't put it down. It's a very interesting read.