Posted on 08/26/2015 2:25:08 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The video has now gone viral, providing embarrassment for the charismatic movement and fodder for those who deny that the prophetic gifts are for today.
A self-proclaimed prophet from Scotland disrupted a Sunday morning service on August 16th as Pastor MacArthur stood behind the pulpit, rebuking him for teaching cessationism and for being divisive, announcing that he was a prophet sent by God.
Pastor MacArthur listened quietly before security removed the man, who continued to call for repentance as he was escorted out the door.
Pastor MacArthur then responded like a completely composed, totally unruffled, senior statesman, using humor and assuring the congregants that the security team would handle the intruder with gentleness.
He explained that this uninvited guest claimed that it is heresy to say that spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy have ceased and he added that, according to 1 Corinthians 14, the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets and if this man were a real prophet, he wouldn't have behaved that way.
Of course, if you read about what the prophets did in the Old Testament and even in the New Testament (see Acts 21:10-11), a disruptive act like this would be quite minor.
But I do believe in principles of order and honor, and Paul did instruct Timothy never to rebuke an older man (or, elder) but rather to appeal to him (see 1 Timothy 5:1). So, however you view this incident, it did make Charismatics look bad.
As Pastor MacArthur continued to speak, he said "it's a sad situation" and "of all the things you could get upset about" — before he was disrupted by a baby crying, leading to more humor and laughter, after which he called on the congregation to stand with him as he read the Word of God before preaching.
Obviously, I have a real problem with the way things happened, bringing reproach to the gifts of the Spirit in the presence of the entire congregation, not to mention the many thousands who have viewed the video since it was posted.
And I've seen some ridiculous online comments posted to other videos like this one: "I heard online that John MacArthur receive[d] the medical RFID chip/mark of the beast and the Holy Spirit left him."
We're supposed to take this stuff seriously?
But there's something else I have a problem with, and I've raised my voice about it for two years now, also reaching out to Pastor MacArthur publicly and privately to discuss or even debate the relevant issues.
I'm speaking about the extreme rhetoric used by my elder brother in his attacks on my colleagues in the Charismatic Movement, including some of the most saintly, Jesus-loving, Word-based, spiritually-minded people I know anywhere in the world.
I'm talking about charges he made loudly and publicly like this: "The Charismatic Movement is largely the reason the church is in the mess that it's in today. In virtually every area where church life is unbiblical, you can attribute it to the Charismatic Movement."
He claimied we have "stolen the Holy Spirit and created a golden calf and they are dancing around the golden calf as if it is the Holy Spirit. . . The charismatic version of the Holy Spirit is that golden calf . . . around which they dance with their dishonoring exercises."
Pastor MacArthur went as far as saying that we attributed "to the Holy Spirit even the work of Satan."
In short, he called the Charismatic Movement "a farce and a scam" that "has not changed into something good," claiming that it represents "the explosive growth of a false church, as dangerous as any cult or heresy that has ever assaulted Christianity." Accordingly, he calls for a "collective war" against these alleged "pervasive abuses on the Spirit of God."
He stated that "Satan's false teachers, marching to the beat of their own illicit desires, gladly propagate his errors. They are spiritual swindlers, con men, crooks, and charlatans."
And, he continued, "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. Claiming to focus on the third member of the Trinity, it has in fact profaned His name and denigrated His true work." (I document every quote, in context, in Authentic Fire.)
Although I do not know the man from Scotland who disrupted Pastor MacArthur's service, I suspect that what upset him was not so much the doctrine of cessationism but rather the aggressive and divisive way in which Pastor MacArthur has taught it, maligning many of God's choice servants and mocking those who worship the Lord in ways that are unfamiliar to him.
And so, once more, I appeal to my esteemed colleague, who has done so much good for the cause of Christ for so many decades and who has stood like a rock in the midst of spiritual compromise: Dear brother, you were gentle and gracious after that incident in your church. Would to God that you would display that same grace in your public differences with those of us in the Charismatic Movement — more than a half a billion strong — and would to God you would display that same grace and agree to sit down privately and discuss the relevant issues as men of God.
How can that not be to the glory of Jesus' name and to the good of His people?
Perhaps so, but Jesus also told us that the faith of many would wane.
Much of what I see within Pentecostalism, is so bizarre, that I do not think I can attribute it to God.
I know that when someone does that, that the first thing they’re warned about is attributing to Holy Spirit the works of Satan, the unpardonable sin.
But the problem is, in trying to avoid that, it leaves people wide open to all kinds of deceit. Anything and everything goes and people claim it’s all from God and how dare you question it when someone claims it’s from God.
You just have to take their word for it. Whether it really is from God or not. If you question it, you’re basically accusing them of lying and they get all bent out of shape over that. I’ve had people get mad over those who question someone’s claim that something is from God. We’re just supposed to take their say so on it.
It leaves no room for discernment at all.
So am I. I think God can use any method to get the truth out. I just don't actively seek out tongues and other things. John MacArthur, as you know, is a distant relative of General Douglas MacArthur. He is a good preacher, even if some people here don't think so. Is he perfect? No, but I used to occasionally listen to him on KFIA radio, in Sacramento, CA. I also used to hear others, like Raul Ruiz, Charles Stanley, and good devotionals from some great preachers from the past, like John R Rice, J Vernon McGee, Duane Spencer, who I met personally in San Antonio, TX.
My favorite, however, was Dr Walter Martin, the writer of "The Kingdom of the Cults" Maybe you know that he was with the Christian Research Institute, out of San Juan Capistrano, CA. I spoke to him on the phone, several times, on the Bible answer man program. Those were the days my friend. 😀😃😆
Does that remind you of any others? 😀😁😂😆
Just as with everything else of God the enemy can and does counterfeit “giftsâ€......I would go so far as saying that 99% of those claiming glossolalia do not have that gift as it’s presented today.
...”he is one of the biggest anti-Catholics around”...
Well the catholic church is one of the biggest anti-protestant groups around...and that history goes back hundreds of years to present.
How is Protestantism like Islam ? If there are no Jews at hand the Moslems subdivide and oppose themselves. If Jews become part of the environment some Muslims inevitably turn and cry "Here is a Jew" and try to turn the corporate wrath against the Jew. Similarly, Protestantism has continually split and devolved since its inception nearly 500 years ago. While engaged in internicene theological combat it is far too tempting to try to shift the attack against Catholics, no matter the fragmentation and incipient heresies threatening Protestantism. This is unprofitable. As an alternative, here is the Apostle Paul testifying there is one holy catholic church. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians, Catholic chapter four, in its entirety,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James
He will continue to preach the truth. In Canada, he might have been arrested. I suppose he wouldn't mind that.
I expect all of us to be tested - very shortly.
I agree with you. I have been saying for some time now that homosexuality will be the issue that starts the persecution and will separate the Christians from the world.
I’m sure the devil meddles sometimes, but I think most of any fakery going on is just plain old attention seeking, or wanting to “fit in” with everyone else doing it. Anytime people get together in large groups, they get that “crowd mentality” and can be real susceptible to that kind of thing.
**Thus, he is one of the biggest anti-Catholics around.**
I don’t know about that, but he doesn’t deal with Acts 2:38 if he can help it. I know that, because I used to listen to him while commuting to a second shift job for a few years in the 80’s and 90’s.
He’s got an authoritative personality to go along with his authoritative tone of voice. He has a lot of knowledge of the scriptures; right about some things, and wrong about others. But, his avoidance of Acts 2:38 proves that he hasn’t gotten past first base.
I agree...and some are told if they don't speak in tongues then they aren't saved....I've heard and seen enough of it in my travels to recognize it's not what is claimed. Had a neighbor one time all wrapped up in the Charismatic movement when it first came to town and split churches....good grief she wouldn't kill an ant infestation because she said they were God's creation...and when it came time to purchase a new refrigerator she had to check with their Pastor first. This stuff created havoc in our community when I was raising my kids....tremendous amount of emotionalism and just plain old "mob madness".
....”I expect all of us to be tested - very shortly”....
I found this over the past ten years in even bringing up the gospel message or mentioning God....people are very quick to “lash out” and not receptive to the things of God today.
There’s a great book GarySpFc recommended to me two years ago by JP Moreland named “Kingdom Triangle.” Highly recommended it if you are interested in hearing Moreland’s view on this subject. He handles it well given he has witnessed the Power of God which comes with the preaching of the Gospel; and he addresses what he calls excesses which MacArthur points to.
This is only the third part of the book. The first two are just as good.
I never got the impression MacArthur was a “my way or the highway” type of pastor. He does come across as sharply pedagogical.
Other than that I concur with your statements. I’ve heard too many third world missionary accounts of God’s Power coming with the Gospel to believe the hard cessationist view. Call me cautious but optimistic.
I have also seen some amazing things in my own life which the casual observer would conclude beats “the odds” and some say “lucky Irishman.” But we know better than that.
So yeah I’m with you. We are Theists not deists. God manifests Himself in our lives. He is active and is constantly building our faith as He conforms us to the image of His Son.
Good friend and brother in Christ attends a Pentecostal church. I asked him about the tongues. He told me his pastor runs the congregation in accordance with Scriptures. If someone is going to speak in tongues they better have someone there to interpret as stated by Paul.
You can pick out that 2/3rds easy. Most of them question the authority of Scriptures. The ones who don’t have orderly church services.
The NT is clear. If someone wants to speak in tongues it must be for all. There is the requirement of an interpreter. That tells me not everyone has that gift and require the interpreter. So how many of these churches follow that requirement? Probably very few do.
Well stated. I am cautious but optimistic. I believe the multiple reports from Muslim countries, Africa, Asia of miracles associated with spreading the Gospel.
**“unless you agree with how I interpret the Bible, then you are wrong and not a ‘true Christian.’”**
“Thus, he is one of the biggest anti-Catholics around.”
The quotes you relay are GreyFriar’s, not MacArthur’s.
I would wish to stand with MacArthur as an anti-Catholic.
GF- from what I have heard, JM believes in gifts from the Holy Spirit continuing, just not those that were intended exclusively for the Apostolic period.
You have "boldly gone where no man has gone before."
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