Charismatic Chaos

I bought extras to share with others. Order arrived on time. I would recommend this seller.

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.

As someone who has come out of the charismatic movement I really appreciate author's thorough biblical description of this departure from true Christianity. His research and evidence are irrefutable.

Although I vehemently disagree with McArthur on some things, he does a thorough, excellent job on this topic. He did his homework, & presented a solid polemic. I believe this is his best book.

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.

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.

MacArthur takes on a tough issue in this day when so much of the church is "charismatic." He has an excellent section showing the similarity of modern charistmatic and pre-Reformation Roman Catholic views of the Bible, namely, that instead of God's Word and everything else, there is a "sliding gray scale" from God's word to sort-of-God's-word to words-of-pretty-spiritual people, etc. Like the R.C. church, they want to put modern leaders on the same level as the Apostles, with the same level of authority, but they run into the problem that they can't do the same signs and wonders as the Apostles, and so they are forced to promote "sort-of" signs and wonders that pale compared to those of the Apostles, and "sort-of" inspiration of the words of their holy men.The issue of tongues is secondary. The book of Acts makes it clear that "tongues" in that day were real foreign languages, not babble. But the real issue is whether we are going to be students of the Bible or followers of men, even apparently holy men.This is not only "extremist" charismatics. I have known many charismatics and his descriptions fit them well. The charismatic churches very often slide into being authoritarian churches because of their view of authority and the Bible, and I have known people who were seriously burned by this.

Yo pensé que era de ser carismático y es de religión

Just started reading this book and am enjoying it.

This is a good book. A must read book to know the deceitfulness of charismatic movement. The author have wonderful arguments right from the Word of God. Highly recommended...

Thank you Mr MacArthur for this informative book. I've found it encouraging reading this, Sola Scriptura is an ideal rather than the norm these days in London, UK. My parents and many people I know have got caught up in this experiantial faith system that has replaced the sufficiency of scripture and although my parents are elderly and in not so great shape health-wise, they travel vast miles to visit one prayer warrior, healing ministry prophet, etc etc etc, and whilst they feel great having been there, they are still unwell and if anything, are getting worse. They listen to Joyce Meyers, Benny Hinn and such and they have been encouraged to have a faith where it is word affirmation power in the spirit which seems to be the driving force of their prayers. The name of Jesus seems to be a secret Power name in a formula which seems to view God as being a genie rather than the Almighty Creator, Consuming fire. My prayer is that they and hundreds who are surrounding themselves with this sort of teaching will come back to rely 100% on the Bible and see that God's Word truly is sufficient for all matters regarding the Christian faith and be encouraged to grow in that faith.I like the sections and divisions for the different chapters and the logical way you argue how the search for new, exciting, cutting edge, revelation seems to be the attraction for many followers in the charismatic movement. An almost dissatisfaction with the revealled word of God, possibly that it is too boring for certain people and therefore there must be more to it. I also like the way how you logically argue that therefore there are those who would gain from such dissatisfaction and how we are warned to beware. But the best thing i like about your book is the way that systematically, you use scripture to do just as 2 Timothy 3:16 instructs us Scripture should be doing in our lives. I feel very blessed for knowing the scriptures better and for learning the dangers of falling away from keeping Scripture as my foundation. Thank you again.My prayer is that they and hundreds who are surrounding themselves with this sort of teaching will come back to rely 100% on the Bible and see that God's Word truly is sufficient for all matters regarding the Christian faith and be encouraged to grow in that faith.

I really like it!!