“Strange Fire” is over and it is clear that John MacArthur gives very little credence to anything Pentecostal, and he truly despises anything Charismatic.

I’ve voiced my disappointment because it only divides the Body of Christ needlessly. I know MacArthur doesn’t it see it that way since he truly thinks most Charismatics aren’t even saved. So… there you go.

Yet, I DO want to give a bit of thanks for John MacArthur as well. When I was first in ministry and learning about expository preaching, he was the go-to model for me. I learned quickly to simply avoid any passage that was “Pentecostal” or “Charismatic” (like Acts 2 or 1 Cor. 12) because he would go off on a tirade. But the rest of the Scriptures… I was so in awe of his ability to dive into the depths of the Word and lead his congregation in the discipline of study.

I also give thanks because MacArthur was doing something in the pre-internet days that no good Pentecostal or Charismatic teacher was doing: he was giving away his teaching. For a nominal fee, I could “rent” cassette tapes to hear his messages and they gave permission to copy them off and keep a copy before you sent the originals back.

Here was a cessationist giving away the exposition of the text while Charismatics wanted you to buy their not-so-great books for a “seed faith offering.” I always admired that.

I don’t agree with MacArthur’s conclusions on Charismatics. I agree with a certain level of alarm that needs to be sounded over the goofy stuff, but I’ve always sounded that alarm.

But MacArthur IS in the Body of Christ and I want to extend to him what he doesn’t seem to care to extend to me… grace. Not because I’m “better” than he is, but because I genuinely give thanks for his example of faithful expository preaching and the example of long-term pastoral ministry I hope to provide at my own church. I could be mad at him, but I think I would rather give thanks… and still put in my request to have my “mansion” in heaven buitl next to his. 😉