John MacArthur’s work “Charismatic Chaos," Mystics, Pentecostalists, Liberals and Emergents, 21-4-

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We would add that these phenomena afflict in different ways: (AMiA), mainline liberalism (without the Pentecostalism), and Emergents. Some miscellaneous notes.

1. John MacArthur’s work “Charismatic Chaos” (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 21-40.

2. There are a number of unifying elements in Pentecostalism and charismaticism. Here's two unifiers (among others) (1) A post-salvation experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit. (2) Speaking in what they call “tongues,” more accurately described as modern day gibberish. This is debunked elsewhere.

3. Various questions present themselves to non-Montanist (non-Pentecostalist) Christians: Am I a second-class Christian? Why didn’t I get the gift of tongues (=gibberish)? Why no signs and wonders in my life? Why haven’t I heard “audible voices?” Or, like many of them, space trips to heaven?

4. This is not unique to non-Montanists. The same questions occur to many Montanists (=Pentecostals) who feel enormous pressure to “be spiritual,.” "to be Spirit-filled" or show other manifestations. We have testimonies on file to that end. They experience the impulse to exaggeration and even falsification.

5. Dr. MacArthur lists several bizarre reports from charismatics and their visits to heaven: Percy Collett, Dudley Danielson, Marvin Ford, Roberts Liardon, Aline Baxley, and Richard Eby. Pat Robertson’s 700 Club has been one conduit.

6. “Mysticism is a system of belief that attempts to perceive spiritual reality apart from objective, verifiable facts,” 35. Truth is received through intuition, feelings and internal senses. This appears to be governing principle for Montanists. Here, the Montanists are on the same page with Romanism. Both subvert the classical Christian position of Scripture as the governor of truth. Observe we did not say “may subvert” but, in fact, does subvert Scriptures as God’s means of Self-disclosure.

7. MacArthur gives us an historical review of Charles Parham’s Bethel Bible College wherein 30 students sought the “gift of tongues” in 1901. Also, Parham believed they were “foreign tongues” with a recognizable syntax, grammar, vocabulary and message. Several reportedly experienced this. Yet, later verification would require lexical and doctrinal adjustment--make it up as you go--of “foreign tongues” to mean an “heavenly language” (gibberish). No one raised the question as to demonic invasion and corruption. Given the adherence to mysticism and anti-intellectualism, correction makes Montanism difficult if not impossible for its devotees.

8. Pentecostalism often gets free passes. 1) Intimidation: the Pharisee trump card is played by its defenders. Other trump cards are: Divisive, Unloving, and Judgmental. 2) Cowardice in radio, TV, and magazine networks. 3) Cowardice by Pastors and national leaders. 3) The same dynamics (minus modern technology) were evident in the Arian developments of the fourth century vis a vis 8.1. Even Constantine the Great thought Athanasius was being divisive, judgmental and unloving. 4) There can be no peace and no truces with Pentecostalism.

9. Part One, 13-20, is found at the blog or Facebook at, respectively:

http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/03/john-macarthur-charismatic-chaos-grand.html

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