• Strange Fire

  • The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship
  • By: John MacArthur
  • Narrated by: Maurice England
  • Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (722 ratings)

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Strange Fire  By  cover art

Strange Fire

By: John MacArthur
Narrated by: Maurice England
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Publisher's summary

In Strange Fire, best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur chronicles the unsavory history behind the modern Charismatic movement.

What would God say about those who blatantly misrepresent His Holy Spirit; who exchange true worship for chaotic fits of mindless ecstasy; who replace the biblical gospel with vain illusions of health and wealth; who claim to prophesy in His name yet speak errors; and who sell false hope to desperate people for millions of dollars? The Charismatic movement has always been a breeding-ground for scandal, greed, bad doctrine, and all kinds of spiritual chicanery. As a movement, it is clearly headed the wrong direction. And it is growing at an unprecedented rate.

From the Word of Faith to the New Apostolic Reformation, the Charismatic movement is being consumed by the empty promises of the prosperity gospel. Too many Charismatic celebrities promote a “Christianity” without Christ, a Holy Spirit without holiness. And their teaching is having a disastrous influence on a grand scale, as large television networks broadcast their heresies to every part of the world.

In Strange Fire, best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur chronicles the unsavory history behind the modern Charismatic movement. He lays out a chilling case for rejecting its false prophets, speaking out against their errors, showing true reverence to the Holy Spirit, and above all clinging to the Bible as the inerrant, authoritative Word of God and the one true standard by which all truth claims must be tested.

©2013 Thomas Nelson (P)2013 Thomas Nelson

What listeners say about Strange Fire

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Narration is terrible! Buy the e-book or book.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

No because of the narration. I would recommend they buy the book and just read it.

Here's the thing: I bought the book and the audiobook. I knew I would like the book because I watched and downloaded the Strange Fire Conference, hosted at Grace Community Church where John MacArthur (the author of the book) is pastor-teacher, and I both enjoyed the conference messages delivered by all of the speakers (including those two by MacArthur), and because I'm in the camp of Reformed Christian Theology and Calvinism. I also believe in cessationism. So, I was predisposed to liking the book, since I enjoyed the conference, agreed with the speakers at it, and am in the same theological "camp." I love the book.

I hate the narration. It's so bad that it's distracting, and I find myself going to the book to read sections of it that I just listened to via audio. I've had to do this so often, I've turned an 11+ hour book into one that is almost 14, and I'm just over halfway through with the audio. I don't know how else to say it, but this guy is not a good narrator: he doesn't read well, he confused several words that dramatically altered the meaning of the sentence ("compromised" in place of "comprised", e.g.), gives accentuation to words in strange places, and at other times is just dry. His narration does not engage me at all, and I think that is telling, because I listen to a lot of audiobooks.

I really wish John MacArthur, who narrated the unabridged version of his own book "Slave," would have read this book. If I wasn't on-the-go so often, I would have given up on the audio version and just read the rest of the book. But I don't have the time, so I'm slugging through the audio version. And this is really too bad, because I love the organized, very thorough, logical way MacArthur presents his arguments.

What other book might you compare Strange Fire to and why?

"Charismatic Chaos," also by John MacArthur.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

See above paragraph for "Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend?".

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

N/A

Any additional comments?

Great book, horrible narration. Skip the narration and buy the Kindle or hardcopy of this book and read it. You'll be glad you saved yourself an Audible credit, and you'll get 100% more out of the book/e-book than the narration.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Dowsing Strange Fire with Living Water

Very informative! MacArthur gives the historical basis for the Charismatic Movement i.e. where all these things come from. It’s so clear now that these aberrations are straight from the pit of hell.

The main point that I took away from this is that all these alleged signs and wonders do nothing except detract from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they don’t promote it. To most of these charismatic leaders the gospel is a footnote to appease their critics but what they’re really there to do is to put on a show and a circus for money. Likewise, most people come to see them to see a show and a circus and not to hear the Gospel that they might live.

It’s high time we as Christians take a stand against this blasphemy and wickedness that has infiltrated our churches. It’s everywhere just look anywhere online or on social media. It’s time to earnestly contend for the faith and fight these charlatans and false teachers so people may know the truth!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

edifyed!

The Canon of scripture is closed!
no new revelation.. just illumination!
Sola Sciptura!
thank you Jesus for your Word

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Cessationist view of the Gift' of the Holy Spirit

What I expected from John MacArthur. I respect John MacArthur, and his teachings. I own several of his books, and his commentary series. However his bias creates a lack of objectivity in his presentation. I agree with the premises that most Charismatic and Pentecostal churches are filled with problems. I agree that none, that I have seen, follow Paul's instructions for the exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However there is absolutely no biblical evidence for the cessation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Mr. MacArthur builds his case based on the charismatic churches flaws and then leaps to the conclusion that the gifts have ceased.

At least scripture wasn't pulled out of context to support his point. God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, and I have yet to find biblical support that they ceased after the apostolic age. As is pointed out in this book those gift's where given to point people to the Gospel and not for personal experience; with that I can agree.

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Christian must read.

Where does Strange Fire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Second best only to the Bible.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Strange Fire?

Hearing the origins and founders of the Charismatic movement.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hearing what the true work of the Holy spirit is.

Any additional comments?

This book is a must read for every Christian.

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9 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great points run to great extremes

There are so many points in this book that I agree with. However John throws the baby out with the bathwater by going to far in his condemnation. To say that praying for healing is the same as Benny hen is as ridiculous as Benny hen claiming to be a healer. The point alone brings into question if we should still take our sick to the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint their heads with oil… Or did that practice also end with the canon of Scripture?
Our church is currently struggling with these things… I was hoping that reading this would help understand the line between legitimate and illegitimate “charismatic”... instead John basically takes the approach of when in doubt throw it out.
I am open to the gift of tongues as literally described in the Bible… That does not mean I condone random ramblings as tongues.
So as I titled this review... great point run to great extremes.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Illuminating but unbalanced

Continuationists are harmfully and often inaccurately caricaturised. Unbalanced overly harsh and highly opinionated. If you read it, seek out a balanced counter view.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

It's informative.

I have many friends that have fallen under this devastating deception. I would recommend this book to anyone willing to read it. People need to know how subtly dangerous this deception is. Like the birds in the church it has crept it's way in...deceiving even the elect. I even fell into this deception for a brief time but I asked questions, did my research & God's word lit the way. Always give a reason for the faith that you have. This book contains helpful information about Satan's deception in the church. God's word never fails. God's word never turns up void. This movement discredits many claims in the bible then shrugs it off because of spiritual emotion. It's tragic.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Go Deep into Your Understanding of the Spirit

What did you love best about Strange Fire?

A fresh look at the role of the Holy Spirit and our relationship with Him.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I would have rather had the story told by the author himself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Only IF i could find the time.

Any additional comments?

Will have to read it in hard copy to make notes and study the text.

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Excellent book! Sound theology

As a newly born again Christian saved from the New Age I found myself at a Pentecostal Assembly of God church... it seemed biblical enough and sound teaching - until several months in when the pastor began emphasizing the speaking of gibberish- he was doing it in front of thousands of people- encouraging these mystical experiences —- my saved from the new age radar went off!—- the pastor was saying nonsense and encouraging or pressuring the congregation to copy him... - this all seemed more new agey to me vs Christian... now I’m no biblical scholar - but the Bible says not to speak tongues in a corporate setting without an interpreter (the pastor disregarded this)—- also - historically tongues were a real language not nonsensical babble... Strange Fire validated the nudge I had that the church I was attending was off a little in their theology- I’m aiming for the narrow gate- not the wide road. That Assembly of God Pentecostal church was off a lot- the Holy Spirit is logical- and reasonable not causing confusion or disorder. MacArthur knocked this topic out of the ball park! He fully exposed the fallacy of the modern Charismatic Movement with nothing more than history- scripture and logic.

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