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

John MacArthur

Nov 2013 · HarperChristian + ORM

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.

Ratings and reviews

The blood of Jesus not mentioned. Salvation of souls not mentioned. Fastest growing Christian family not mentioned. I wish you all spoke in tongues not mentioned. The millions of healings not mentioned. You need to be baptised in the Holy Ghost and fire. Dont just read the Bible live and receive what it says. The Holy Spirit... Greater than your theology, bigger than denominations, beyond all we can imagine, God's gift to the church and to you Debate about the Holy Spirit has been around for a long time. I

This book is very one sided, and ignores many other actual historical facts, constructing it's own story from bits and pieces of the whole. There is insufficient biblical proof in some of what this author claims, and he ignores vital, key biblical passages in his attempt to discredit the truth about the gift of tongues. I was hoping this book would be filled with complete historical facts about the Pentecostal movement, and how some have broken away from sound doctrine, however while reading, I realized that the author denounces doctrines that are very biblical as well. There is insufficient biblical citation in the book for all his claims.

I'm of the Oneness Pentecostal fellowship-born & raised. I've long had issues with the inferior position that the Scriptures has been given vs. "Holy Ghost" goofiness. So much flesh & sensuality has marked my experiences as well as many of the respected in the movement. Are there God lovers in the fellowship? Absolutely. But it's difficult to stay "spiritual" when the whole Christian experience is based on emotions. This book has helped me lay the Word against some of our everyday experiences.

About the author

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.