I am not judging whether anyone in these movements is  saved or not – but I am judging whether the movements are Biblical.  Recently, John MacArthur held a “Strange Fire” conference, wherein he stated that Pentecostal and Charismatics were offering “strange fire” unto the Lord with their particular kind of worship. 

John MacArthur is not my idea of rock solid Bible teacher – as he apparently has taken the plunge into the New Age Bible pushers club.  That being said, I do agree with his basic premise about the movements.  He is facing a backlash of sorts, being called “unloving,” among other things.  The Christian Post has offered up a statement of sorts, with a handy list of things “you may not know about Pentecostals/Charismatics.”   I have added commentary in red.  Here goes:

1. Islam is not the fastest-growing faith family in the world. Pentecostalism is. While Islam has gone from zero in 610 AD to 1.6 billion today (1,403 years), Pentecostalism went from zero to (about) a billion from 1906 to the present day (107 years).  Indeed – this is true, and while many Christians that I know and love, obsess over Muslims taking over the world – the fact is- the merging of faiths, via “Charism,” will be the true One World Religion. 

2. Pentecostalism is quintessentially American. It began (although there were pre-shocks for centuries) in the multi-ethnic Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, Calif. It is arguably our most influential export of any kind.  Even more influential than Hollywood!

3. The churches planted by American mainline denominations (Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, UCC, etc) in the global South are overwhelmingly Pentecostal/Charismatic in their piety. For instance, a Lutheran from Ethiopia (Mekane Yesus) would certainly be considered Pentecostal if visiting here in the U.S.  Ecumenism!

4. Pentecostals/Charismatics are diverse. They run the spectrum range from Oxford/Cambridge blue bloods in the Kensington neighborhood of London to snake handlers in Appalachia. The current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is a product of the largest congregation in the Church of England, Holy Trinity Brompton, which is one of the most influential charismatic congregations in the world. And not just economically diverse. If you find yourself in a multi-cultural congregation in the U.S.A. on a Sunday morning, the overwhelming probability is that you are sitting in a Pentecostal worship service.  You do not need to be saved to speak in tongues.  Everyone is comfortable. 

5. Pentecostals are not anti-intellectual. The unofficial “Pentecostal Pope,” Jack Hayford of Los Angeles, is a Bible-scholar’s Bible scholar. Oral Roberts University, Regent Seminary (Virginia Beach) and Southeastern University (Lakeland, Florida) are some of the key centers of higher learning for the movement. The largest seminary in the Church of England (and perhaps the entire Anglican communion) is St. Mellitus Colleg/St. Paul’s Theological Center in London, spiritually godfathered by (Charismatic) Holy Trinity Brompton Church. They are now opening branches throughout the world.  The “spiritual experiences”  bind all these various denominations together – giving common ground, where before there was none. 

6. Pentecostals were the leaders in the ordination of women. Because they are less bureaucratic and more “gifting driven,” Pentecostals were the first (not liberal Protestants) to ordain women. Aimee Semple Macpherson was one of the first American mega-church senior pastors (Angelus Temple in L.A. seated 5,000 a service in its prime). What can I say?  Ordaining women is against Scripture, and on top of that – homosexual activists always piggyback on “women’s progress.” 

7. Most all U.S. mainline denominations and also Roman Catholics have large Charismatic minorities. In fact, there are more Charismatic Roman Catholics than there are total members in most all other denominations. Lutherans and Episcopalians were pioneers in the Charismatic movement (Larry Christenson and Dennis Bennet).  Interesting, that being saved by being Born again under the Blood of Christ is not what is being “pioneered.” 

8. The Jesus Movement (“Jesus Freaks”) led by Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Calif., more or less invented CCM (Christian Contemporary Music). As Calvary Chapel was (and is) a “small c” charismatic congregation, Pentecostal piety has been carried into virtually every congregation in the country that has ever sung a praise song or had someone raise a hand in worship.  As a professional musician, I could write pages and pages on the dangers of back-beats in Christian music.  Contemporary Christian Music is the first foot of the devil into your church.  Soon after that – the Bible used will be “updated” as well. 

9. Latinos are not overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. A very large minority is Pentecostal. When Latinos leave the Roman Catholic church, which they do in large numbers, the two directions are secular or Pentecostal. There are almost certainly Pentecostal Latinos in your zip code.  Yes, and what will happen to the culture in America with the unlimited immigration unfolding as I write this. 

10. A word about the “Word of Faith” (also Word Faith, or just Faith) movement. This is the segment of Pentecostalism which is most prone to excesses (name it/claim it). However, this movement is also quite diverse and driven by the central concept of “faith makes a difference.” Thus, they tend to take biblical promises about prayers of faith literally. This drives a rather sophisticated systematic theology first exposited in depth by Kenneth Hagin (the elder one) and continuing to be unfolded by Joseph Prince (Singapore) and others.  “Sophisticated systemic theology,” is code for obfuscation.  The Word of God is simple and pure enough for a child to understand. 

I have attended several charismatic prayer meetings for the purposes of research.  What I heard, could not be identified as a language – angelic or otherwise.  Repeating of particular non-words was disconcerting, as it bore a strong resemblance to Tantric chanting and other eastern worship methods.  Very, very dangerous. http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/spiritual-discussions/31858-mechanical-chanting-amp-speaking-tongues.html

A form of demonic speaking-in-tongues is experienced by witch doctors, pagan religions and occultists…

“So writes Missionary Alex R. Hay in his excellent book, What Is Wrong in the Church? This discerning writer continues:

‘There is a Mohammedan sect that speaks in tongues. It is simply the result of an emotional state that is not normal and not difficult to induce. The fact is that “The gift of tongues,” as it is known today, is still a common characteristic of primitive religions. (We refer to speaking in an unknown or “heavenly” language unintelligible to the hearers, not the speaking of living languages that appeared at Pentecost.)

As a child of missionary parents in an Indian tribe in Paraguay, we were accustomed to hear the witch doctors chanting in an unknown spirit language at their religious ceremonies or when treating someone was ill.”

SOURCE: The TRUTH about TONGUES and the CHARISMATIC movement, by Hugh F. Pyle, Sword of the Lord Publishers, Murfreesboro, TN 37133; 1989; ISBN: 0-87398–846-9; pg. 59

Matthew 16:4

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed.