Authentic Fire: A Response to John MacArthur's Strange Fire Paperback – July 7, 2015

I just finished reading the Kindle version of this great book and I didn't want to rehash the many positive points others have expressed so well in their reviews here but I do want to emphasize some general points about the book that impressed me so as to get people with any interest in the debate motivated to purchase it. So here's my list:* It is a very good read with great educational value; it's one of those page turners where I felt excited to read further because of its many references (and quotes) to respected luminaries in Christian thought, effectively using their writings as rebuttals to Pastor MacArthur's attacks. Yet, I didn't want to just finish it to get it done; instead, I read it slowly and carefully so as to savor the great lessons provided and the spirit of the book.* It has both fine history lessons and New Testament exegesis.* I enjoyed how Dr. Brown wisely and maturely shows that people can emphasize different aspects of the Gospel message according to their natures (either to the intellectual pole or to the emotional pole of human experience) and how both sides need each other for edification and correction.* I learned a deal from the good, readable, concise overview of the debate between cessationists and continuationists (of which I am in agreement).* Perhaps the most important aspect of the book is the good will Dr. Brown exemplifies as he firmly and responsibly rebuts the sweeping overgeneralizations that Pastor MacArthur's camp has sadly been pushing. Dr. Brown shows how to argue with firmness in one's position and yet not to fall into demonization of the other side. He is both gracious and respectful - and appreciative - to those who have just accused his dear Charismatic tradition of not only being a false one but of also committing great evil. That's quite an outrageous attack to have to respond to but Dr. Brown shows how a Christian deals with such attacks: He doesn't ignore them but responds with love and charity and yet stands absolutely firm to his principles and convictions.In closing, I don't think Pastor MacArthur (and a number of his supporters) have done the cessationist side any favors with their mean-spirited, uncharitable attacks (in the name of Christian Truth!). And if I had to choose which side I would lean towards just by their expressed behaviors and attitudes, the Charismatic side would be the hands down winner in terms of showing how Christians should approach a controversial problem, issue, or area of disagreement.

Are charismatics Christians? Dr. MacArthur has his doubts about the vast majority of them. This is an extremely divisive position. Dr. Brown's reply in "Authentic Fire" is a book that needed to be written and I consider it a must read. Dr. Brown demonstrates that the Bible is very clear on these issues when the texts are interpreted in a straightforward way. The cessationist viewpoint is based on reading their experiences into the text, not on the sound exegesis scripture.In the 1st chapter, Dr. Brown highlights how Dr. MacArthur is calling for a "collective war" against charismatics. The language Dr. MacArthur uses to describe all charismatics needs to be read to be believed. If charismatics are truly not believers (I include myself here) and we are leading others astray, then strong language is needed. However, Authentic Fire demonstrates that this is clearly not the case. Dr. Brown did an amazing job in a short amount of time demonstrating the errors in Dr. MacArthur's statements from both a scriptural and historical perspective.One blogger Dr. Brown cited highlighted a certain pastor who has engaged in an "endless stream of smug, back-patting tweets-which receive self-congratulatory kudos from his fawning fans." This kind of attitude has no place within Christianity.In the 2nd chapter, Dr. Brown demonstrates that charismatics (including him) have been speaking out about the abuses and false teachings that have arisen within the charismatic movement. He has been addressing these things in writing, as have many others. Dr. Brown closes this chapter with an important thought. Many children who grow up in cessationist denominations are becoming atheists when they get to college. "When they grow up and go to college, they just take that next step and doubt ALL miracles, including those in the Bible." If there is a valid other worldly experience with God that Christians experience today, how badly do we need to seek Him for it! How we need to lead our children in seeking Him? We need all that He has for us! We desparately need to teach our children to seek all that He has for them!In chapter 3, Dr. Brown demonstrates clearly that the strange fire movement is blind to what charismatics are doing around the world. They only see the TBN charismatics and have not taken the time to get to know charismatics. He is careful not to accuse Dr. MacArthur of willful ignorance, but there is a clear massive blind spot in his thinking and knowledge of what is going on within the church.Chapter 4 is extremely important. This chapter demolishes some of the main arguments used to attack charismatics and demonstrates how they were based on the genetic fallacy. Much of the discussion at the strange fire conference engage in "guilt by association". In an excellent discussion, Dr. Brown demonstrates how this "cuts both ways". Reformed theology and dispensational theology can be argued against with the same line of reasoning. I do not agree with Dr. Brown's position on dipsensational theology :), but you can't write off an entire move of God because of a few bad apples early in the movement. You must use the same "weights and measures" when you analyze your own beliefs.In chapter 5, Dr. Brown goes through the ways to test whether or not a move is from God and the arguments that must not be used to say that a move is not from God that were developed by J. Edwards. There is a very important discussion in this chapter on the survey statistics that Dr. MacArthur used. I think you will find how this data was used to be both dissappointing and shocking.In chapter 6, Dr. Brown spends some time demonstrating the case that cessationism is scriptually untenable. A strong case can be made for the continuation of the gifts, and there is no clear case against it. What is clearly demonstrated is that cessationists are not approaching scripture in a straightforward way, but are interpreting the scripture in light of their experience.In chapters 7-8 and 10, Dr. Brown's emphasizes a need for unity among true Christians. How should we discuss disagreements on non essential issues? We need to look carefully at the way in which Paul addressed the Corinthians as a model. He goes through some historical examples of Christians attacking one another (such as the debate over the nature of Christ and the Baptism of infants). Dr. Brown's heart is that we need each other and we need to be working together.He also includes a chapter demonstrating that the God of the Bible is a God who is to be experienced (chapter 9). In this chapter, Dr. Brown discusses some ways in which God works today. Are we to reject all this as happenstance or even as demonic? There is also another important discusssion concerning how we respond to God in worship. Are we to reject Biblical forms of worship and only worship the way cessationists say we should? Should we worship with mind only or with our whole being?The appendices are also a must read. In the first appendix, Dr. Keener addresses miracle, prophecy, and tongue accounts around the world. He also addresses with firsthand knowledge the broad brushing of African charismatic Christianity. The Strange Fire conference committed some serious slanderous sins concerning brothers and sisters in Christ and they should repent. They accuse the charismatics of witchcraft in a broad brush way, without recognizing that their theology is not based on scripture, but based on the incorporation of the Western cultural antisupernatural bias into their Christianity.Charismatics need to continue speaking out against the false teachings within the movement. Cessationists rightly point out many grevious errors. However, cessationists are committing some serious errors of their own. Our God hates the sin of one who sows discord among brethren. We all need to work out our salvation with "fear and trembling".

excellent Biblical response to "Strange Fire" Book

In Authentic Fire, Dr Brown writes a comprehensive rebuttal to John MacArthur's Strange Fire. Done in a very clear, methodical way, Dr Brown takes the reader through a thorough debunking of many of the ideas that come from Strange Fire. This book is written respectfully, with a desire for truth to prevail and Jesus to be exalted. Highly recommended to those who both question and are convinced of the way Holy Spirit works in the world today. Thank you Dr Brown!

Very clear and balanced response to the attack on the Charismatic Movement by John Macarthur and others. Whilst agreeing that not all that has gone on in "Charismatic Circles" is of God (as would be true amongst any of God's people in any denomination) and at times there may well have been detractors planted by the enemy, the bulk of what has been happening is of God and is clearly Bible based. It would be ridiculous for Jesus to say we would do greater things when He went to the Father, and then withdraw the power to do them. If the promises of God were only for the early church leaders, why bother to tell us about them ?? And what is 1 Cor 12 & 14 all about ??. The gifts need to operate in an atmosphere of love - hence 1 Cor 13, but they DO NEED TO OPERATE. We do need to beware of the counterfeit, but why would there be counterfeit if there was not the genuine. I myself have seen a good number of genuine miracles today. I want to see more and am praying "Lord increase my faith". It is not about convincing folk to believe - as Jesus did masses of signs and wonders - yet few believed. It is about ensuring that there is no excuse. Jesus proved who He was. So did the Apostles. And we need to demonstrate the power of the gospel with signs. Like Michael Brown, I very much respect John Macarthur and use much of his excellent material, but cannot agree with the recent dangerous outburst which I believe is not bible based, and I an indebted to Michael Brown ffor laying out our defence so clearly from the scriptures.

Super Buch, inhaltlich klar und direkt, gut argumentiert und gründlich erarbeitet. Dr Brown kann man vertrauen.Super Service mit kindle und Amazon.de =;-)

Dr. Michael Brown has done a masterful job of defending the Pentecostal and charismatic faith. He did it in a humble way that still acknowledged the abuses that have happened within it. This was excellent!