The "Strange Fire Conference" by John McArthur is less than Biblical and somewhat erroneous. While I disagree with a number of the points in the Strange Fire Conference, I appreciate McArthur's focus of being Christ-centered. I believe all the speakers at the conference are godly men.
Testing Fruit
One reason that McArthur rejects what he calls the Charismatic movement is because of the fruit. He claims that the movement is carnal, worldly and chaotic and because of these things it cannot be from God. The Corinthian church disproves this. The church in Corinth was spiritually immature, carnal and often in chaos. However God gave them many spiritual gifts. The apostle Paul rebuked them strongly. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul wrote, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men?" In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul set forth some guidelines for prophesy, tongues and interpretations. He tells them to be more orderly so that they can edify their church. In 1 Corinthians 14:32-33 he wrote, "...the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."
Disappearing Ministries
McArthur teaches the idea that some ministries have disappeared. He claims that the office of evangelist, teacher and pastor have continued and the more miraculous ministries of apostle and prophet have disappeared. This an incorrect view of what they call current ministries. Many people in this world are spiritually blind. It sometimes takes a miracle for their eyes to be opened to the truth. We should pray that God will miraculously prepare hearts to hear the word of God. We should pray that we will speak exactly what needs to be spoken to draw people to Christ. When an unbeliever is saved and changed into a new creation, it is an amazing miracle. A healing is a miracle. When someone is saved for eternity, that is a greater miracle. Speaking in tongues is kind of amazing. When a sinner hears the truth and their spiritual eyes are opened, that is even more amazing.
Time Periods
Teachings of dispensationalism have good points and bad points. I think this teaching is often over emphasized. 2 Peter 3:8 says, "...one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." This is not only true because God knows the past, present and future. It is true because God created time. He doesn't need time to exist in space like we do. He does not need time to work. He easily exists outside of the time he created. God is greater than time which limits us.
Devaluing Pentecost
R.C, Sproul, speaking at the Strange Fire Conference, states that we are not properly valuing the Pentecost and the many miracles that ushered in the church age. The claim is that we do not place the apostles and their work on a high enough pedestal. We do not value them properly. Think about this statement by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1&2: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." This same apostle stated in 1 Corinthians 14:18, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:" This apostle who worked many, many miracles said that his focus was on Jesus and the cross. Paul provides us an example of valuing Christ - not miracles and apostles but valuing Christ. The importance of Christ is also emphasized in 1 John 4:1-3. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God..:Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God;..." Galatians 1:8 commands us to test the gospel and emphasizes the "grace of Christ". It says, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Deuteronomy 13:1-3 commands us to test the prophet. The emphasis here is not the prophet or the signs and wonders. The emphasis is God. It says, "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him,..." So, the Bible leads us to devalue the signs and wonders and value Christ.
Joni Eareckson Tada
Joni Eareckson is an incredible woman of God. She has tremendous faith. Everyone should take the time to listen to her or read her books. Her talk at the Strange Fire Conference was very sad. She went into detail about being paralyzed, having disease and excruciating pain. She talked about when she went to a Kathryn Kuhlman meeting to seek her healing. The lack of healing has been a great disappointment in her life. Perhaps she could call on her church elders. James 5:14 says, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;..."
Defining Tongues
I guess it is tradition to describe tongues as a means of spreading the gospel in other languages. The example given is usually Acts 2:1-12. In this instance they were able to proclaim the wonders of God in other languages to unbelievers. Three other possibilities for tongues are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:2&4 and I think they are more likely to occur. They are speaking to God, speaking mysteries and-self edification. "For he That speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries....He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;..." Practically speaking, it is probably most useful when you do not know what you should pray and you know that you need God's help. Romans 8:26&27 says, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
God In A Box
Living in the West, I think we have a certain uneasiness about miracles. We tend to be a bit suspicious of anything out of our understanding. For us, it may be easier to view God with limitations and a high degree of predictability. We feel more comfortable knowing exactly what God is going to do and what he is not going to do. We do not have an appetite for the unexplained. We want a God that is easy to comprehend like a coated pill that is easy to swallow. At this point, are we trusting in our understanding or are we trusting in God? If we are trusting in God, we should let God be God. Ephesians 4:30 says, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 says, "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order."
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