Great post. I am a 61 yr old former pastor and I have severe CPTSD. MacArthur is very wrong on this. It’s also not the only thing he is wrong on. And he’s not the only one wrong on this. I have family members that disbelieve my CTPSD. His stance on this is shameful.
It makes me sad, too, Jon. Especially as a mom with a son who was diagnosed with ADD at just 8-years-old. It’s unequivocally the correct diagnosis, it’s definitely not his fault, and medication, which has been very closely monitored and appropriately prescribed by his pediatrician for nearly five years now, has not damaged his brain. Quite the opposite, in fact. The medicine allows my son to focus and concentrate on his school work, daily tasks, and even deepening his relationship with Jesus. My son loves the Lord, and he loves reading his Bible. His lack of concentration is not a spiritual issue for him, although it certainly has potential to affect him spiritually. And while the medicine is not a cure or a perfect solution for my son’s ADD symptoms, it is extremely helpful. And I praise God for it!
I appreciate your candor, bravery, and respectful approach in boldly disagreeing with this highly respected Christian leader. I pray more people will read your book and seek Jesus, our source of truth for all the complicated and nuanced issues we face in this broken world.
I recently found that Andrew Wommack also believes that mental illnesses are spiritual and that if you are in Christ and operating in the Holy Spirit you cannot suffer from mental or emotional illness. How do we reconcile these beliefs and allow them to be a leader in our faith walk? Also, McArthur does not believe that we as Christians receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit, that this was only for the early followers of Christ.
That is not correct about John MacArthur not believing that we as Christians do not receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I think he might have even written a book about being filled with the Holy Spirit, but see the link below, he writes a lengthy article where he emphatically advocates for Christians to be infilled with the Holy Spirit.
I typed “John MacArthur infilled with Holy Spirit” into Google and this was the first thing that came up.
Baseless claims against people whether you agree or disagree are unfair, and it’s not that hard to verify.
MacArthur is by my extensive a cessationist and also by all of my research they do not believe in the infilling of the Holy Spirit in Christians. They believe that the Holy Spirit exists but the miracles of the New Testament were used to show non-believers that the Apostles taught truth and was use to build and strengthen the first church. Maybe read "Strange Fire" for clarification.
Does your extensive research involve clicking on the link I provided where you can read it straight from MacArthur that he believes all Christians should be infilled with the Holy Spirit?
Do you understand that a Christian can still be filled with the Holy Spirit and be a cessationist?
Every single person I’ve ever heard “accuse” (like it’s a bad thing) someone of being a cessationist, they do not have a correct understanding of the definition of what a cessationist is, and by your response, it sounds like you don’t either?
Yes, Strange Fire is one of my favourite books, read pages 203-205, again this verifies in his own words Christians should be filled with the Holy Spirit!? Sounds like you’re talking about miracles signs and wonders being performed through people, which is different to being infilled with the Holy Spirit.
I’m not sure you have done extensive research and looked at both sides impartially and then reach a conclusion based on Scripture?
You sound indoctrinated, and obviously you didn’t click the link nor have you read Strange Fire, set yourself free and think for yourself, please check these sources.
I am not going to continue this thread reason being your accusation that I have been indoctrinated. So no further contact with you will be appreciated. Otherwise I will have to block your rude comments. You are intitled to your opinion but you are not intitled to spout nonsense about me.
Hi Paula, I’m sorry, please accept my apology. I should not have said you sound indoctrinated, if I could remove that from my comment I would. Understand if you don’t reply, take care.
Great post. I am a 61 yr old former pastor and I have severe CPTSD. MacArthur is very wrong on this. It’s also not the only thing he is wrong on. And he’s not the only one wrong on this. I have family members that disbelieve my CTPSD. His stance on this is shameful.
It makes me sad, too, Jon. Especially as a mom with a son who was diagnosed with ADD at just 8-years-old. It’s unequivocally the correct diagnosis, it’s definitely not his fault, and medication, which has been very closely monitored and appropriately prescribed by his pediatrician for nearly five years now, has not damaged his brain. Quite the opposite, in fact. The medicine allows my son to focus and concentrate on his school work, daily tasks, and even deepening his relationship with Jesus. My son loves the Lord, and he loves reading his Bible. His lack of concentration is not a spiritual issue for him, although it certainly has potential to affect him spiritually. And while the medicine is not a cure or a perfect solution for my son’s ADD symptoms, it is extremely helpful. And I praise God for it!
I appreciate your candor, bravery, and respectful approach in boldly disagreeing with this highly respected Christian leader. I pray more people will read your book and seek Jesus, our source of truth for all the complicated and nuanced issues we face in this broken world.
“The medicine allows my son to … even deepen his relationship with Jesus.” Yes!!!! What a gift. Thanks for sharing that.
I recently found that Andrew Wommack also believes that mental illnesses are spiritual and that if you are in Christ and operating in the Holy Spirit you cannot suffer from mental or emotional illness. How do we reconcile these beliefs and allow them to be a leader in our faith walk? Also, McArthur does not believe that we as Christians receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit, that this was only for the early followers of Christ.
That is not correct about John MacArthur not believing that we as Christians do not receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I think he might have even written a book about being filled with the Holy Spirit, but see the link below, he writes a lengthy article where he emphatically advocates for Christians to be infilled with the Holy Spirit.
I typed “John MacArthur infilled with Holy Spirit” into Google and this was the first thing that came up.
Baseless claims against people whether you agree or disagree are unfair, and it’s not that hard to verify.
Link to article: https://www.gty.org/library/articles/45FILLED/what-does-it-mean-to-be-filled-with-the-spirit
God bless you.
MacArthur is by my extensive a cessationist and also by all of my research they do not believe in the infilling of the Holy Spirit in Christians. They believe that the Holy Spirit exists but the miracles of the New Testament were used to show non-believers that the Apostles taught truth and was use to build and strengthen the first church. Maybe read "Strange Fire" for clarification.
Does your extensive research involve clicking on the link I provided where you can read it straight from MacArthur that he believes all Christians should be infilled with the Holy Spirit?
Do you understand that a Christian can still be filled with the Holy Spirit and be a cessationist?
Every single person I’ve ever heard “accuse” (like it’s a bad thing) someone of being a cessationist, they do not have a correct understanding of the definition of what a cessationist is, and by your response, it sounds like you don’t either?
Yes, Strange Fire is one of my favourite books, read pages 203-205, again this verifies in his own words Christians should be filled with the Holy Spirit!? Sounds like you’re talking about miracles signs and wonders being performed through people, which is different to being infilled with the Holy Spirit.
I’m not sure you have done extensive research and looked at both sides impartially and then reach a conclusion based on Scripture?
You sound indoctrinated, and obviously you didn’t click the link nor have you read Strange Fire, set yourself free and think for yourself, please check these sources.
All the best, Paula 🙂
I am not going to continue this thread reason being your accusation that I have been indoctrinated. So no further contact with you will be appreciated. Otherwise I will have to block your rude comments. You are intitled to your opinion but you are not intitled to spout nonsense about me.
Hi Paula, I’m sorry, please accept my apology. I should not have said you sound indoctrinated, if I could remove that from my comment I would. Understand if you don’t reply, take care.