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To: boatbums; Quix
The lies I think McArthur is spouting are:
1. He implies that pentecostalists/charismatics are only seeking for sensual, he says almost erotic contact with God
2. He states that there is non-existent or faulty biblical teaching among charistmatics and gives no proof for this and uses a blanket statement.
3. He incorrectly compares the charismatic/pentecostal movement to possession of people by unholy spirits (Zulus etc).

To reply to your questions:
1. How can they just turn it off and on at will? Isn't it supposed to be a manifestation of God's power as a sign?
--> I wondered this too, but Quix pointed out that this is because God seems to let us disagree or even reject him (Jonas comes to mind) -- God will follow us and even (as in J's case) pester us to allow Him to use us as weapons) -- he does not abuse us and does not treat us as robotons (again in Jonas's case, he could have forced him and Jonas was allowed to run away until he agreed -- God did not treat Jonas as a robot). The pentecostal experience seems to be not "turning off and on at will" but rather saying yes at a time when the Holy Spirit wishes to use you as a tool

2 --> I don't know,

3. What is passing as a legitimate manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the speaking of tongues can quite easily be faked,
--> True, but is that implying that all or most of the pentecostal experience is faked?

I think MacArthur makes a legitimate point about the similarities with what happens in a lot of Charismatic churches today and what happened in pagan worship
--> There are similarities, yes, but then the same argument is used or has been used to say that Christianity with it's dying and rising god is similar to any number of early pagan religions (from Baal to Osiris), that there are similarities does not mean they are the same (secular example: pyramids in Egypt and Mesoamerica does not mean they had contact, it's just an efficient way to build and copies mountains)

we should judge our experiences by the Bible and not the Bible by our experiences
--> I agree 100% with that, but no one is doing the latter.
327 posted on 11/29/2010 12:56:31 AM PST by Cronos (Et Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis (And the word was made flesh, and dwelt amonst us))
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To: Cronos

Thanks for your kind and apt replies.


336 posted on 11/29/2010 8:15:48 AM PST by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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