I think it's very unfortunate that many MacArthurites seem ready to burn bridges with Messianic Jews over the charismatic issue. Why can't they have a civil debate with Brown? Sadly, this is not an isolated example:
As I write these words, the Holy Spirit is moving mightily around the earth, saving lost sinners, bringing rebels to repentance, healing sick bodies, setting captives free, and above all, glorifying the name of Jesus. According to Pastor John MacArthur, however, this is actually “a farce and a scam.”
In his new book Strange Fire, he claims that this work of the Spirit actually represents “the explosive growth of a false church, as dangerous as any cult or heresy that has ever assaulted Christianity,” and he calls for a “collective war” against these alleged “pervasive abuses on the Spirit of God.”...See More
I'd have a hard time debating with someone who publishes the kind of nonsense he published on charismanews. Not to mention that, from what I heard of his "Calvinist Call-in" with which Dr White interacted, he won't interact very seriously with the other side of the fence. (I'm not a MacArthurite)
Dr. Brown doesn't seem like a good person for this debate because 1) he doesn't really exposit good arguments for his position and i.m.o. he undercuts himself with some bad arguments (as seen in his Charismanews article) 2) is not a very good debater (see Thomas's comment as I concur). Matt Slick at least seems to have some decent arguments.
I don't think the MacArthurite camp would give much more than the TeamPyro silly triumphalist arguments in return anyway so a debate between bad arguments and bad arguments doesn't seem helpful.
I wonder why cessationists like Vern Poythress http://www.frame-poythress.org/modern-spiritual-gifts-as-analogous-to-apostolic-gifts-affirming-extraordinary-works-of-the-spirit-within-cessationist-theology/ or Kevin DeYoung http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2013/10/18/the-puritans-strange-fire-cessationism-and-the-westminster-confession/ were not invited.........
I agree with you that Brown isn't necessarily the best choice to spearhead this debate. But I was making connections between Brown's charismatic Messianic Judaism and MacArthur's Dispensationalism. Given that Dispensationalists are Zionists who espouse the endtime restoration of Israel and Jews coming to faith in the Messiah (=Jesus), the belligerent treatment that Brown has received at the hands of some prominent MacArthurites strains that alliance.
I'd have a hard time debating with someone who publishes the kind of nonsense he published on charismanews. Not to mention that, from what I heard of his "Calvinist Call-in" with which Dr White interacted, he won't interact very seriously with the other side of the fence. (I'm not a MacArthurite)
ReplyDeleteDr. Brown doesn't seem like a good person for this debate because 1) he doesn't really exposit good arguments for his position and i.m.o. he undercuts himself with some bad arguments (as seen in his Charismanews article) 2) is not a very good debater (see Thomas's comment as I concur). Matt Slick at least seems to have some decent arguments.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the MacArthurite camp would give much more than the TeamPyro silly triumphalist arguments in return anyway so a debate between bad arguments and bad arguments doesn't seem helpful.
I wonder why cessationists like Vern Poythress http://www.frame-poythress.org/modern-spiritual-gifts-as-analogous-to-apostolic-gifts-affirming-extraordinary-works-of-the-spirit-within-cessationist-theology/ or Kevin DeYoung http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2013/10/18/the-puritans-strange-fire-cessationism-and-the-westminster-confession/ were not invited.........
I agree with you that Brown isn't necessarily the best choice to spearhead this debate. But I was making connections between Brown's charismatic Messianic Judaism and MacArthur's Dispensationalism. Given that Dispensationalists are Zionists who espouse the endtime restoration of Israel and Jews coming to faith in the Messiah (=Jesus), the belligerent treatment that Brown has received at the hands of some prominent MacArthurites strains that alliance.
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