Charismatic Chaos [Paperback]

John F. MacArthur (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 18, 1993

The charismatic movement has had a profound impact on the Church, but one of its legacies has been confusion and clouded thinking. Here, MacArthur calls for biblical evaluation and analyzes the doctrinal differences between charismatic and non-charismatic Christians, and endeavours to find answers which unite them to questions which divide them.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The charismatic movement of the past quarter-century has made an impact on the church unparalleled in history. But one legacy of the movement is confusion and mushy thinking. In Charismatic Chaos, John F. MacArthur calls for biblical evaluation and analyzes the doctrinal differences between charismatics and non-charismatics in the light of Scripture. "My principal concern," writes John MacArthur, "is to call the church to a firm commitment to the purity and authority of the Scriptures, and thereby to strengthen the unity of the true church." To tough questions that seem to divide, Charismatic Chaos provides tougher answers that strive to unite. This book tackles such questions as - Is experience a valid test of truth? - Does God still give revelation? - Prophets, fanatics, or heretics? - Does God still heal? - What should we think of the Signs and Wonders movement? - Does the Bible promise health and wealth? --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, president of The Master's College and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. Grace to You radio, video, audio, print, and website resources reach millions worldwide each day. Over four decades of ministry, John has written dozens of bestselling books, including The MacArthur Study Bible, The Gospel According to Jesus, The New Testament Commentary series, The Truth War, and The Jesus You Can't Ignore. He and his wife, Patricia, have four married children and fifteen grandchildren. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco (February 18, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310575796
• ISBN-13: 978-0310575795
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (147 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,423,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four grown children and fourteen 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 2,000 English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, audiotapes, and CDs by John MacArthur.
John is president of The Master's College and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Best-selling titles include The Gospel According to Jesus, Truth War, The Murder of Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

134 of 150 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does being a Charismatic have you confused?, December 6, 2004

By 

RDtoo "Some guy in Detroit" (Detroit) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Charismatic Chaos (Mass Market Paperback)

I was faced with a spiritual crisis in my life a decade ago. I was raised Lutheran, but had got involved with Pentecostals/Charismatics in my teens. For years I attended meetings and watched as people danced, shouted, laughed and other forms of activity all taken place by way of the Holy Spirit, or so they said. I despised them for it as I never saw this reality in my own life. In truth, I really did not want to start shouting and dancing around the room. I longed for the quietness and reverance of my old Lutheran Church where I had learned to love God, but I was now told that they were not led by the Holy Spirit. I discarded the notion and continued attending Pentecostal meetings never really enjoying them, but figuring this is the way we were supposed to worship. I walked in confusion as people seemed to get messages from God anywhere and everywhere, even sitting on the toliet. I never experienced this. All I ever came away with was guilt and misery. I came to the point of wondering if God was even there. I picked this book up and found that there were good reasons that I was not enjoying the Pentecostal experience. Reading Charismatic Chaos was liberating for me. I was fianally able to bid farewell to the whole Charismatic thing without guilt and go back to the Church I grew up in where I re-discovered my love for God. I would not condemn Charismatics and neither does MacArthur. I do view the Charismatic movement as being based on extreme emotional experiences, which may or may not be from God. If you are Charismatic and confused this book may help. God Bless.

113 of 131 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sad but true, February 14, 2001

By 

www.DavidLRattigan.com (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Charismatic Chaos (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a charismatic, and so naturally I disagree with MacArthur's views about whether the miraculous gifts have ceased. I also agree with those reviewers who point out that what John (for whom I have a great deal of respect; in fact he is one of my favourite Bible teachers) does is to highlight only the abuses he finds.

Unfortunately, there is far too much of this abuse going on in charismatic circles, and if charismatics themselves do not publicly acknowledge the current state of the movement, then it is left to anti-charismatics like John MacArthur to do it for them, and that means an awful lot of unfairness and bias along with it. The sad state of affairs is, though, that even when charismatic leaders do speak out on these things, they almost invariably (in my experience) tone the whole thing down as if it really is just a minor problem, or paint a picture of a charismatic movement of which just the fringe has gone overboard, and try and disassociate themselves, and the circles in which they move, from the problem.

The reality is that it is not just something on the fringes of charismatic movement: I am inclined to agree with John that what we are witnessing is indeed 'Charismatic Chaos'. It is hard to be a charismatic/Pentecostal in a day when being such is increasingly defined by whether you jump on the latest bandwagon, be it the 'endtimes revival' bandwagon, the 'Toronto blessing' bandwagon, or the 'apostles and prophets' bandwagon.

MacArthur does indeed cite abuses, but much of the time he is highlighting preachers and practices that are at the very heart of modern charismaticism. If charismatics continue to dodge the issue, people like John MacArthur will make themselves heard.

67 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Please research both sides of this issue!, July 1, 2005

By 

J. Nedelec (British Columbia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charismatic Chaos (Mass Market Paperback)

Before deciding whether to believe what you have been taught, I strongly urge everyone to research BOTH sides of this issue. Read this book, and also read another book such as 'Healing The Sick' by T.L. Osborn, before making any decision of how you want to believe. It's the best book I've found on the subject and I doubt very much if Mr. MacArthur has read it.

John MacArthur is very correct on many things. I appreciate the work he has done on this subject. However, he is also very much incorrect on several issues in the Charismatic movement. For example, he says there is nothing in Scripture supporting how some people 'fall down' under the power of God. In my own research I have found 21 scriptures so far supporting that.

Some Charismatics are indeed way out there! Mr. MacArthur admits that he does mention mostly about the extremists in the movement. I agree with him about these types.

Mr. MacArthur teaches that miracles were a "temporary sign gift for the authenticating of the Scriptures as the Word of God", but never do I find anything in the Scriptures that support that belief.

I'm also wondering how Mr. MacArthur can teach that such scriptures like Eph 6:11-18, 1Pet 5:7-9, and James 4:7 show US how to deal with the devil, but says that other scriptures that commission us to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons like Mark 16:15-20 are not for us, but were only for the disciples. To me this passage in Mark is a perfect example of what WE are supposed to do. And if you preach the gospel, you must also heal the sick and cast out demons because it is all there in one breath in the Great Commission! They all go together! Mr. MacArthur wants to pick and choose which scriptures he thinks are for us today and which are not. (2 Tim. 3:16 "ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction....")

Many Charismatics do indeed test doctrine by experience instead of the reverse, but he may not label all Charismatics as doing such. I am a Christian who believes as Mr. MacArthur does PLUS I believe that miracles are still for us today as the book 'Healing The Sick' by T.L. Osborn will thoroughly prove from Scripture. There are literally hundreds of scriptures that support this that John MacArthur did not quote at all, such as 1 Peter 2:24 and Psalm 103:3 which when checked in the original Greek mean physical healing, to be made whole.

I would like to say a word about a little girl's faith. Mr. MacArthur mocked the fact that God answered the prayers of two little twelve-year-old girls to raise their pet Chicken from the dead! Now who is he to judge the faith of a little child! With God anything is possible, and nothing is too hard for Him. (Mat. 19:26; Jer. 32:17) And I bet he doesn't even know that 'There Is Eternal Life For Animals'! This is the name of a Scripturally based book by Niki Behrikis Shanahan and is one very important book that every Christian should have!

Too many people do not take God's Word seriously. When you do this you can experience, yes experience, God's love like nothing on this earth. So please research BOTH sides before making any decision for yourself.