A friend asked me if I had read John MacArthur’s latest book, Strange Fire. What follows is my answer:
Well, I read bits and pieces but finally gave up. I have been in Baptist, Assy. Of God, 4 Square, Nazarene, Non-Denominational and Presbyterian churches since I’ve become a Christian and find that within each one, there are some precepts or dogmas that I do not line up with. I’ve also discovered that no matter which denomination we talk about, there are extremes. And that is what MacArthur has focused on in this book. Of course the people he listed are loose cannons, idiots, charlatans, heretics, etc. God will certainly sort the Wheat from the Tares on that final day or perhaps before that final day.
I do not understand devoting an entire book to this issue. It is clear that the Gifts of the Spirit has caused dissention and sides to be drawn over the years but has it taken away someone’s salvation? I think our time is better spent pointing people to the elements of Christianity that will shore up our faith, increase our love, teach us to pray and remind us of the fact we are new creations in Christ Jesus.
Just as I would not read a book telling me I have to be Baptized in the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, I don’t want to read MacArthur’s book pointing out the fallacies in what we call the Charismatic movement. Let’s write books and preach sermons that will unite the Body of Christ.
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