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Strange Fire

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desmalia

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I missed the evening one today, but will catch it on Youtube tomorrow, hopefully. So far it has been a fantastic conference. They are not bashing orthodox believers who are continuationists, but are calling them to make a strong stand against so much of the garbage that's out there (especially the IHOP, Redding Bethel, Toronto Blessing groups that are now growing exponentially). It's really disappointing that people like Grudem and Storms are still standing behind some of these false teachers.

The influence in Africa, South America, etc. is so heartbreaking. It is definitely a war because these heretics are promoting all this seeker-friendly/felt need/prosperity gospel garbage in the name of our Lord and Saviour. We all need to be making a stand, not sitting back and watching it happen.

This subject is very much the elephant in the room for believers who are growing and learning in the faith, particularly in the reformed tradition. Personally I attend a church where the senior and assoc. pastors are reformed leaning, but also come from Pentecostal backgrounds and are continuationists (though don't promote charismatic practices). I'm hoping and praying that they will both continue to distance themselves from the Pentecostal teachings they grew up with, and that seems to possibly be the case, the more they come to understand and embrace reformed doctrine.
 
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Apologetic_Warrior

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Last night I was giving thumbs up to the Calvinists at: John MacArthur, Strange Fire and Blasphemy of the Spirit

I have to say this, I do believe his blasphemy comment, was too general, maybe a bit over the top. There was albeit small attempt at balance, but broad sweeping generalizations create misunderstanding. Pastor MacArthur is a bold man willing to lay it on the line, but did he not come close to attributing to Satan the (so called) works of the Spirit in the Charismatic movement? That is personally not a position I would want to put myself into publicly especially as a teacher/Preacher, ever. It is different to call out specific teachers/leaders of the movement and obvious specific instances where man is playing the religion game. Maybe I am in a minority here, but I try to avoid making judgments (specifically attributing spiritual works to Satan), even where a display of a spiritual gift may be iffy. God knows, God will be the judge of us all, the phonies and frauds will have to answer to God for their abuses and manipulation. I understand Pastor MacArthur's statements though, come from cessationist position, and I imagine it is the more historical position throughout Church history, which is a strong point. I will go out on a limb and say I think the Sola Scriptura argument against continualist position is weak, because to make the argument, Solo Scriptura must be set forth, which is self-refuting, contradicts secondary authorities of creeds, confessions, articles, not to mention referencing any extra-biblical writing as having any kind of authority, it undermines the work of the Spirit in inspiring (however differently it may be) the Reformation and Reformers in their teaching and writings. So we should take heed how we make arguments for Sola Scriptura, which is...dare I say it...an extra biblical principal in itself. What a mess I've caused now...
 
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JM

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Osage Bluestem said:
Why?
Click to expand...

I was being sarcastic. Piper was called out for supporting some of the early charismatics and prosperity gospel preachers.

I think MacArthur is a little cranky at times. He even took a shot at paedobaptism if twitter is quoting and reporting Strange Fire accurately. It was mentioned that MacArthur might do a conference contra paedobaptism.


jm
 
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JM

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AW, I have Gill as my avatar, Spurgeon latter took his old pulpit. We just need someone to use John Rippon's image and we'll have an unbroken line of baptist apostlic succession! lol (Rippon was in the pulpit between these two giants of the faith)
 
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desmalia

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The only thing I heard him say about that is comparing his differences with Sproul over paedobaptism with his differences with Piper over continuationism. It was a very light moment during a Q&A session and the point was to clarify that he does not see either as reasons to break fellowship with a brother. I seriously doubt he'd do a conference refuting padeobaptism because it's not something that's infiltrating and causing such damage in so many churches the way the charismatic practices are.
 
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InspiredHome

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Apologetic_Warrior

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InspiredHome said:
In case anyone is interested, here is a link to an article from American vision`s Joel McDurmon from this morning regarding the conference.

Reckless Fire: MacArthur’s strange conference - The American Vision
Click to expand...

I have not been able to listen to the whole conference, only a few bits and pieces, after reading Joel's article, I will take back every positive comment I have ever made about MacArthur, and I do hope R.C. Sproul will withdraw his charity and support. I am thankful to have not invested much time and money with MacArthur's ministry. Strange Fire turned out to be a back fire.
 
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Apologetic_Warrior

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This article by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon is a MUST READ: A Puritan's Mind » Strange Fire – by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

a teaser...

"Secondly, We should understand that in Worship, there is a right “drawing near to Christ” where we sanctify His name and regard Him as holy. God will not accept lame sacrifices. They are strange fire. Deut. 15:21, “And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.” If God is that strict in the Old Testament, how much more is it applicable to the New Testament and the worship given to the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we exempt from offering strange fire in our worship? No, not at all. It is relatively easy to offer up the lame sacrifices of an indifferent heart, or indifferent mind? In our singing, though the sounds pass through our vocal cords, out of our mouths and in to the air, are we really engaged and joyful in song? Most of the time I would imagine we are ready for the next song without even knowing what we sang in the former. And what about the unfocused mind or tired body in prayer? Or the wandering thoughts which plague us while hearing the Word? Oh no, friend, we are very susceptible to offering up strange fire, and it is a wonder why God has not dealt with us in the same way. But there is a reason why we have not been carried out of the worship service in our cloaks – it is my third point."
 
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