Strange Fire Pentecostal Out of Bethel Redding Attacks John MacArthur - by Jeff Maples

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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Recently an interesting Youtube video surfaced featuring John MacArthur speaking about his appearance at a Conference in Latin America, in which he stated,

the people in the Hispanic world know about Jesus Christ, they know about the Bible, they know about God, they know about salvation, at least in some ways. They have Biblical terminology, because of the impact, historically, of the Roman Catholic church. But they don’t know Christ. And they don’t know the Gospel of Grace. And they don’t know the full revelation of Scripture.

As you know, adherents to strange fire theology (Pentecostals, charismatics, etc.), already dislike MacArthur, because MacArthur has thoroughly exposed their sickness for what it is–a rampant disease that spreads like cancer. (This sentence is constructed in a way that would make leftist rhetoricians proud. It's a shame that a Christian would use these techniques.

First, the author brands his detractors with a neologism. There is no such thing in theology as "strange fire theology." This is a deliberate diminutive, brandished like a bludgeon to beat down, not inform.

Second, he characterizes the criticism of MacArthur as dislike, which he cannot know.

Third, he describes his enemies as being sick.

Fourth, he attributes the increase of the charismatic membership to cancer. 

These are all classic label-and-dismiss tactics used by the political Left to marginalize their detractors. And yet we have here a Christian doing the same thing.)

Here to set the record straight, however, is one of Bethel Redding’s shining stars, and denominational swinger, (Another pejorative characterization, as if changing denominations is a strike against someone.)

Brandon Showalter. Showalter, the former Mennonite, Anglican, Assemblies of God…and Baptist is a musician whose melodies are inspired by the Holy Spirit…no really, he actually said that. Perhaps we should be putting his melodies in the canon of Scripture right under the Psalms? (A typical cessationist talking point is that all revelation necessarily is Scripture and must be included in the canon. It's a particularly strange requirement cessationists place on charismatics, because they exempt their own sermons from it.

Biblically speaking, there is a lot of revelation not included in the Holy Writ. King Saul prophesied so much that the people wonder if he was numbered among the prophets. No record of those prophecies. Phillip's four daughters were prophetesses. No record of those prophecies. Jesus did so many miracles that John wondered if all the books of the world could contain them. Agabus was a prophet, but he only appears twice in Scripture.  

Most egregious, the author points to no Scripture which articulates such a concept. We conclude it's a biblically ignorant statement.)

Anyways, Showalter pens this (satire?) piece in the Christian Post, lambasting MacArthur, (Irony alert. Read the link. There is no "lambasting." Showalter is considerably more mild in his rhetoric than Mr. Maples.)

and claiming that Hispanics actually do know Christ because the Pentecostals have been there rescuing them from Catholicism. He states:

Ignoring the well-documented explosion of Pentecostalism in Hispanic nations, Pastor John MacArthur believes that people in the Spanish-speaking world do not know “the true gospel.

Let’s be clear, Showalter is correct that Pentecostalism has been dominating the religious scene in Latin America, and as a matter of fact, in many areas Pentecostals now outnumber Roman Catholics. But what he fails to recognize is that what he thinks he’s defending, he’s only refuting. He states,

While is it indisputably true that the Roman Catholic Church has historically dominated the religious landscape in Central and South America, many scholars have noted that Pentecostalism has undergone a remarkable rebirth in the past several decades. According to a 2012 report from the U.S. State Department, approximately 43 percent of Guatemalans, for example, now identify as Protestant.

Well, according to another Pew Research poll, the vast majority of these so-called “true gospel”-bearers actually cling to the highly heretical Word of Faith theology–the “Prosperity Gospel.” As a matter of fact, up to 91% of professing Christians in Latin America hold to this false belief system–the system that’s so closely tied to Pentecostalism he’s defending. Shouldn’t Showalter be thanking MacArthur for ignoring that? (Notice how the author attempts to link Showalter's documentation of the growth of Pentecostalism with supporting each and every aberrant doctrine.

Further, it is spectacularly presumptuous to assert the salvation status of anyone. Mr. Maples should immediately repent.)

This comes as no surprise, though, since Bethel Church is one of the leading proponents of Prosperity theology. The Prosperity Gospel teaches that you can gain material wealth and health as a result of your faith, and if you don’t experience these things, your faith isn’t strong enough. (Can the author actually produce a quote or a link that demonstrates his assertion, either for Bethel Church or Showalter?)

We recently wrote about Bethel Music’s influence in the Christian-speaking world, and how their ideology permeates the vast landscape filled with church-goers and those who believe they’re glorifying God with flesh-feeding music filled with bad theology. (Another label-and-dismiss.)

MacArthur has criticized the contemporary Christian music movement, specifically Jesus Culture, also out of Bethel Redding, for being dangerously close to blasphemy while seducing the believer away from biblical truth. He states in response to one of their songs, Fill Me Up,

…that doesn’t have anything to do with Christianity, nothing to do with God. In fact, I’d be afraid to put my mind in neutral and start yelling out loud with that kind of sensual music saying “fill me up, fill me up, fill me up” among a group of non-believers, who would go from being kind of normal non-believers living in the kingdom of darkness, to being demon-possessed.

(The author seems content tossing around vague charges, but is reluctant to quote what he criticizes. Here's the lyrics:

You provide the fire
I'll provide the sacrifice
You provide the Spirit
And I will open up inside

Fill me up God
Fill me up God
Fill me up God
Fill me up

Love of God
Overflow
Permeate
All my soul

We're making no claim as to the doctrinal depth of this song. We don't even particularly like it. But that's a far cry from claiming it to be heretical or demonic. It clearly isn't. Unlike the author, we shall take the time to scripturally document our claim. 

Provide the fire: Mt. 3:11 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

Provide the sacrifice: He. 13:15 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name."

Provide the Spirit: Acts 2:38 "And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Open up inside: Re. 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

Fill me up: Ep. 3:19 "...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Overflow: Ro. 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Permeate: Ep. 3:16 "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being..."

MacArthur is right, this doesn’t have anything to do with God. (Despite the fact that the song includes the word "God" and several scriptural references...)

In fact, the vast majority of Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity or the true Gospel. (This is an egregious claim. Granting the author's premise for a moment, it is most certainly true that portions of charismatic doctrine and practice are untrue, mistaken, or improper, but this speaks nothing to the state of anyone's salvation. It is beyond the pale to insert one's self into the Judgment Seat and proclaim that because someone disagrees with the author, they are not saved.

We happen to disagree with the author, and we have painstakingly documented our position. But we have never claimed that someone is not saved because they disagree with our doctrine. That is arrogant and pompous.)

This pathetic attempt by Showalter to discredit MacArthur (Read the link again. There is no attempt to discredit MacArthur. Again we note the hyperbolic use of terminology Mr. Maples uses against his theological adversaries.)

is most certainly biased (Well of course! Opinions by definition are biased. Just like the author's.)

and well-deserving of scrutiny. His obvious attempt to defend his denomination’s fireplay (?? Fireplay?) should be followed up with a resounding “uh…no.”

While MacArthur has been exceedingly strong in his stand for biblical truth, sound theology, and discernment, (That remains to be seen. Sometimes, sometimes not.) 

Showalter is profiteering (Profiteering: a person who seeks or exacts exorbitant profits, especially through the sale of scarce or rationed goods. This claim is just dumb.)

from MacArthur’s statement to advance the acceptance of aberrant theology and those denominations that subscribe to it. (Pot and kettle, sir. You are using Showalter's article to advance your theology.)

Essentially what he’s saying is, “Hey, we’re Christians too, ya know!” But in reality, the vast majority are not. (Document the claim. How is it that they are not Christians? We want statistics, interviews, and whatever documentation that is needed to establish this claim.)

Cults desire acceptance among Christians. The Mormons tried it through Glenn Beck. The Seventh Day Adventists tried it through Ben Carson. And the Charismaniacs (Yet another pejorative characterization...)

will continue to push for it..through their music and emotionally captivating experiences. Sadly, many have bought into it.

MacArthur is right. The people in the Hispanic world largely do not know the true Jesus of the Bible. They know a false Jesus. They know both a Roman Catholic Jesus or a Word of Faith Jesus. Very few know the Jesus that saves the wretched, the poor, and the needy. They don’t know the Gospel of Grace. And they most certainly don’t know the full revelation of Scripture. (Whew. Quite a litany, wouldn't you say? Manifesting intellectual bankruptcy and spiritual arrogance, the author summarily dismisses the eternal state of millions of people based on his preconceptions and false judgments. Sacrificing these folks on the altar of doctrinal purity, he relegates them to eternal despair with nary a regret.

In the name of defending the truth he tells us lies about people he doesn't know. He presumes to dispense truth but claims his truth means everyone else is reprobate. He seems to believe that perfect doctrine is the point of salvation. And because he has his own errors, he himself is destined for hellfire if we believe his criteria.)

They know Strange Fire.