Strangers to Fire: When Tradition Trumps Scripture

This is an anthology of 35 essays by 26 authors of the Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Third Wave movements or non-cessationists of traditional denominations responding to John F. MacArthur's Strange Fire or cessationism and the abuse of the charismata in general. What others are saying about Strangers to Fire: Cessationism is no longer the default position of evangelical Christianity. This is partly due to the worldwide growth of the Pentecostal-charismatic movement, in which miraculous spiritual gifts play a prominent role. It is mostly due, however, to the biblical, theological, and historical errors of cessationism itself, errors that are patently refuted in this new anthology from the Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship. —George O. Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God (USA) The first half refutes MacAuthur’s position, point by point, and the second half includes various examples of a positive biblical theology. This is most gratifying. There are also a number of chapters on signs and wonders in church history, proving continuation. A general impression of the contributions from this gathering of scholars is that they are both competent in their academic fields and living witnesses to the ongoing charismatic presence of the Holy Spirit today. —Derek Morphew, Ph.D., Academic Dean, Vineyard Institute If only Reformed cessationists would read this book! In it world class scholars with integrity and clarity provide biblical and historical evidence that the Holy Spirit is the same yesterday, today and forever. Short of being convinced by an undoubted widespread outpouring of the Holy Spirit in signs and wonders in our own generation this book is as good as it gets as we wait for such. Surely any honest inquirer of truth will be persuaded of the thesis of these godly writers. —R. T. Kendall, D.Phil., Minister of Westminster Chapel, London (1977-2002) Strangers to Fire is the collective voice of respected scholars and Bible teachers . . .This blockbuster book will inspire and keep all of us on the right track to convey God’s unfathomable power to a desperate generation. —Larry Tomczak, best-selling author, and cultural commentator This anthology of thirty-five essays is a formidable apologetic for the present-day continuation of all the spiritual gifts; the articles are historically, exegetically and experientially oriented. Writers include lifelong “classical” Pentecostals, charismatics and “converts” to the continuationist understanding of spiritual gifts. Highly recommended for open-minded, open-hearted readers, as well as for continuationists as a most helpful reference book. —Anthony D. Palma, Th.D. This is more than a response to Pastor John MacArthur’s Strange Fire book. It is a robust collection of wide-ranging biblical, historical, and theological essays and articles . . . , exposing the errors of cessationism and making clear why the Bible mandates continuationism. Readers will also be surprised by some of the historical essays, documenting the Spirit’s work through the generations. —Michael L. Brown, Ph.D., This magnificent collection of essays answers the question: Are gifts of the Spirit for today? Anyone who is uncertain about what the Bible teaches about spiritual gifts or who teaches New Testament pneumatology will find the book of essays important and valuable. Truly the collection is a remarkable apologetic for the biblical view of spiritual gifts and can be expected to have a long and useful life. This book could not be more timely since it drives another nail in the coffin of John MacArthur’s bad stereotyping of Pentecostals and Charismatics in his new book Strange Fire. . . .The essays are well-researched and carefully written by a distinguished array of scholars who have seen fashionable theories of Scripture come and go, but none of the theories have diminished their confidence in the Spirit’s power and gifts for today’s church. —French L. Arrington, Ph.D.,