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    Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship
    Unavailable
    Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship
    Unavailable
    Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship
    Ebook502 pages32 hours

    Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship

    By John F. MacArthur

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    About this ebook

    In Strange Fire, bestselling author and pastor John MacArthur chronicles the unsavory history behind the modern Charismatic movement.

    What would God say about those who blatantly misrepresent His Holy Spirit; who exchange true worship for chaotic fits of mindless ecstasy; who replace the biblical gospel with vain illusions of health and wealth; who claim to prophesy in His name yet speak errors; and who sell false hope to desperate people for millions of dollars?

    The charismatic movement has always been a breeding-ground for scandal, greed, bad doctrine, and all kinds of spiritual chicanery. As a movement, it is clearly headed the wrong direction. And it is growing at an unprecedented rate.

    From the Word of Faith to the New Apostolic Reformation, the Charismatic movement is being consumed by the empty promises of the prosperity gospel. Too many charismatic celebrities promote a “Christianity” without Christ, a Holy Spirit without holiness. And their teaching is having a disastrous influence on a grand scale, as large television networks broadcast their heresies to every part of the world.

    In Strange Fire, MacArthur lays out a chilling case against the modern Charismatic movement that includes:

    • Rejecting its false prophets.
    • Speaking out against their errors.
    • Showing true reverence to the Holy Spirit.
    • Clinging to the Bible as the inerrant, authoritative Word of God and the one true standard by which all truth claims must be tested.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateNov 19, 2013
    ISBN9781400205189
    Author

    John F. MacArthur

    Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker. He has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four married children and fifteen grandchildren. John's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in seven countries. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly two thousand English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, and digital recordings by John MacArthur. John is chancellor of The Master's University and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Bestselling titles include The Gospel  According to Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, Slave, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.

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    Reviews for Strange Fire

    4/5

    67 ratings7 reviews

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    • 1/5
      I have serious doubts as to the author of this book being a born again christian.
    • 5/5
      Another excellent book by Pastor. John MacArthur concerning the chaos made by the Pentecostalism and Charismatic theology. I am always wondering how some of our Pentecostal brothers/sisters take that in and embrace it. During my seminary time, I met some of the Pentecostal pastors and classmates who used to tell me, "Our denomination abused so many, and we don't force anyone to speak in tounges,"

      The Church NEEDs to be reformed again more than ever!

      2 people found this helpful

    • 1/5
      Although I like some of Johns sermons he is dead wrong on the spirtual gifts. Dr. Michael Browns response to this book “authentic fire” demolishes the false teachings in this book

      5 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Outstanding biblical antidote to the Satanic poison of charismatic chaos.
    • 4/5
      This is a sharply criticized book but it primarily points to the rampantly unbiblical word of faith movement, which needs to be exposed as heretical. He does address charismatics who preach the true gospel but his biggest argument to them is that they are lending credibility to the Benny Hinns of the world.
      You may not agree with every word but you should read this book.
    • 4/5
      I should probably state upfront that I am a MacArthur fan, although I don't agree with all of his views. I read "Charismatic Chaos" a few years ago and found it really helpful in trying to find the correct path through the maze of charismatic confusion that seems to be everywhere. I remember being astonished by just how much error had crept in to mainstream evangelicalism and even into what I had thought were trusted sources. I shouldn't really have been surprised as of course the confusion is predicted in the Bible but the enemy is clever in his schemes.

      "Strange Fire" is an updated and in my view more comprehensive read than "Charismatic Chaos." It addresses the issues of modern day tongues speaking, prophesy, health and wealth prosperity teaching and healing ministries. MacArthur uses scripture to definitively show how the "gifts" being exercised in charismatic circles and now even in mainstream churches bear little or no resemblance to the true gifts experienced during the New Testament era. He leaves no room for confusion or doubt clearly stating a Biblical position on each topic.

      In perhaps his boldest move he concludes by writing an open letter to continuationist Pastors and Preachers in mainstream evangelicalism (including John Piper who is frequently quoted) encouraging them to effectively "get off the fence." He details the damaging effect that holding a continuationist position is having on the attempts to stem the tide of charismatic chaos.

      I highly recommend this book to anyone involved in a charismatic church or one that is sympathetic to charismatic practice. Also to anyone who is or has become confused about any of these issues due to experiences they or others have had. This book will provide clarification and help from the only worthwhile source; the Bible.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      John MacArthur doesn't pull any punches. He thinks the charismatic movement is dangerous. Strange Fire is his plea with the modern church to rethink the Charismatic Movement through the lens of Scripture.MacArthur always writes with clarity. Strange Fire is no exception. MacArthur builds both a biblical and historical case against the Charismatic Movement. He goes all the way back to the start, tracing the the suspect origins of the movement. He follows the line through the heretical thought of E.W. Kenyon and those that followed him to develop the Word of Faith Movement. Hardly any television preacher is left unscathed by MacArthur. Like I said - he doesn't pull any punches.This book is a must-read today. Any believer, whether conservative, liberal, or full blown Pentecostal, will benefit from this book. The explosion of the Charismatic church in the developing world as well as here in the U.S. makes this subject one of utmost importance. If you are a proponent of the charismatic movement, MacArthur will challenge your thinking. If you are a skeptic, MacArthur will help you understand what is at stake. If you are against the Charismatic Movement, MacArthur will arm you with biblical information that will help you warn others against the excesses of the movement.Did I mention that MacArthur doesn't pull any punches? He even takes a swing at one of my favorite authors, Wayne Grudem. Grudem's Systematic Theology is a staple in my library. I give them away to young preachers like Tic Tacs. I think it is a phenomenal work that should be read and digested by every believer. But Grudem is open to the continuation of the charismata, and MacArthur firmly believes that is an untenable position. In fact, MacArthur ends the book with an open letter to his brethren that still view the gifts as operative. Overall, I think this book is strong. If it has a flaw, it's that at times it is too strong. MacArthur can be guilty, in my opinion, of writing in a scathing fashion. I sometimes wonder if he wouldn't help his cause more my writing in a more pastoral tone. Still, this book is excellent and I highly recommend it!

      2 people found this helpful