Dr Paul Allen

1.   Dr. Brown opens the chapter with a story about James Robison and how he used to be judgmental, until Billy Graham told him to “spend time with other believers you’ve been taught to avoid” (Kindle Location 3482), which transformed him and those whom he reached out to.  Dr. Brown makes the subtle insinuation that John MacArthur avoids other believers because he doesn’t think they are other believers.  Dr. Brown then quotes himself in saying that Heaven will be “a great eye-opener and a great mouth-closer. You will be surprised to see many people there, and many people will be surprised to see you there”  (Kindle Locations 3486-3487), and comments about how people like Bill Johnson and Mike Bickle get condemned by some and praised by others. Dr. Brown proves that MacArthur doesn’t believe charismatics are believers by pointing to this now infamous tweet: "We're not trying to divide the body of Christ with this conference. We're trying to identify the body o

Sola Scriptura and Therefore Charismatic Author: Cripplegate. Dr. Brown opens Chapter 6 by recounting his testimony as to why he believes healings and tongues are for today. He begins by telling about his coming to faith in Christ when he was 16 at a Pentecostal church . However, expectations of healing and supernatural happenings that never really materialized in his immediate circles caused him disillusionment. He left the Pentecostal church in 1977 and began pursuing Reformed, cessationist theology, [ AF,  164]. Becoming influenced by such books as B.B. Warfield’s  Counterfeit Miracles,  he swiftly separated himself from his early experience as a Pentecostal. When his sister-in-law was miraculously healed of an elbow injury, however, even having her injury called out from an audience of thousands by the speaker, Brown began to reevaluate his hard-heartedness toward miracles he had developed from his cessationist leaning ways. He then experienced his own personal reviv

John Piper (theologian) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Several months ago, shortly after the  Strange Fire Conference , notable continuationist pastor, John Piper ,  responded to some of the claims of the conference  via his question-and-answer program,  Ask Pastor John .  Over the last couple of weeks, John MacArthur has begun responding to Piper’s remarks over at the  Grace To You blog .  These posts represent valuable, rubber-meets-the-road exegetical discussion as it relates to the cessation of the miraculous gifts, and it’s happening between two lifelong students of Scripture who many in our generation consider to be fathers in the faith. It’s surely an exchange you don’t want to miss. I want to devote today’s post to recapping what’s been said there so far. #1  Biblical Prophecy and Modern Confusion In the first post, MacArthur begins with some comments of appreciation for John Piper and his ministry, speaking of his gratitude for Piper’s friendship and part