JOHN MACARTHUR: THE SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE?

(21) John MacArthur explains Continuationist vs. Cessationist. - YouTube

There are many disturbing factors connected with the ministry of John MacArthur (Grace to You). GTY errors include Calvinism, the false pre-trib rapture, cessationism, a bloodless gospel, and the claim that it is permissible for Christians to take the mark of the beast during the great tribulation. If that is not enough, GTY has been accused of “awful patterns of siding with abusers and endangering victims". {1} In 2021, The Master’s University and Seminary (TMUS), where John MacArthur is chancellor, withdrew its membership from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). {2} The irony of MacArthur's millionaire lifestyle and the obscene amounts of money paid to his associates, including Kory Welch, MacArthur's son-in-law, is common knowledge. {3} It is no exaggeration to say that the prosperity and gross hypocrisy of MacArthur and his associates are on a par with the many prosperity hucksters they criticize. {4} False doctrine inevitably leads to bad practice, and GTY appears to be no better than Hillsong or any other abusive church.

The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. (Ezekiel 34:4).

MacArthur's blatant distortion of the scriptures - Were "the signs of an apostle" limited to the apostles?

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. (2 Corinthians 12:12).

The blatant falsehood that the sign gifts (charismata) e.g. prophecy, languages (tongues), healing and miracles were limited to "the signs of an apostle" is a distortion of the scriptures. MacArthur bases this assertion on a single verse of scripture (2 Corinthians 12:12). However he fails to account for various passages demonstrating that charismata were not limited to the apostles. MacArthur's failure to present a balanced argument exposes his utter lack of objectivity and his blatant abuse of the scriptures. (1 John 4:1). 

Whilst signs, wonders and mighty works were indeed confirmation of the apostles' ministries, the sign gifts were also evident amongst various other believers i.e. Stephen and Philip who were deacons, and also Ananias. 

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. (Acts 6:8).

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform. With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:5-8).  

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. (Acts 10-19).

Based on 1 Corinthians 12:3, MacArthur argues that the charismata manifested at Corinth were a throwback to the mystery religions they (presumably) practiced prior to becoming Christians. It is difficult to determine how factual this assumption is, but whether it is true or not, there are no grounds in 1 Corinthians to reject genuine charismata. The undeniable teaching of Paul is that he affirmed genuine charismata:

..earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. (1 Corinthains 14:1).
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. (1 Corinthains 14:5).
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:26-33).

Paul's teaching includes "varieties of gifts" amongst the congregation at Corinth. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31 cf. Romans 12:6-8). These additional passages indicate that the Holy Spirit apportions charismata "to each one as He determines". (1 Corinthians 12:11). Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: 

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). The scriptures give no indication that any of the sign gifts have ceased or that anyone has the authority to pick and choose which gifts to accept or reject. 

MacArthur: "You see, everything that was culturally a part of their life, because they were carnal, manifested itself in their church. Do you see? So, if all of that is there, why wouldn’t we assume that the pagan style of religion would also manifest itself in their assembly under their carnality? Of course it would. That is precisely what happened. The world’s religion came right in, infiltrated the life of the church, and they began to do the things within the confines of Christianity, with new definitions and new terms to try to make it look right, that they were doing essentially before they ever knew Christ and calling them gifts of the Holy Spirit." {5}

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). 

Further evidence affirming charismata is attested in the early Church Fathers e.g. Justin Martyr, Ireneaus, Tertullian, Origen, Novatian and Cyril of Jerusalem. {6}

Two extremes - hyper charismania and cessationism 

Having witnessed various abuses within charismania a number of years ago, I can understand why many believers have become cessationists. However, cessationism is an unbiblical extreme. My contention is that God is still very much at work within true believers. 

The apostles laid hands on the believers in Jerusalem in order that they would receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17 cf. Acts 19:6). The Holy Spirit bestows gifts as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11). Various false teachers within the NAR lay their hands on people in order to allegedly transmit an "anointing" or a "mantle", or they practice necromancy in the form of grave sucking, the object being to suck up the alleged anointing of various dead teachers. Biblically, the focus is always upon the Holy Spirit and not on the men supposedly transmitting or receiving spiritual gifts. Just as we should reject cessationism, we should also reject presumptuous self-appointed modern apostles and prophets who go beyond what is written and who teach grievous error. (1 Corinthians 4:6).

The scriptures put various safeguards into place regarding the practice of charismata.

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:1-4).

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (Corinthians 14:25-33).

In the area of personal guidance, it is my view that the Lord undoubtedly speaks to His children. I have often had what might be called a check in my spirit regarding various false teachings and teachers. The Lord has often reminded me of specific verses of scripture that relate to false teaching. There have been times when I have felt uncomfortable when I was about to pursue a course of action that was not in God's will. I believe that this kind of guidance, although often not spectacular, is the Lord actively guiding his children. The great tribulation is a time when charismata will be critical! Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21:14-15).

1. Former Elder at John MacArthur’s Church Confronts Pattern of Endangering Abuse Victims (julieroys.com).
2. Master’s University & Seminary Withdraws from Financial Accountability Group (julieroys.com)
3. Grace To You Awards Lucrative Contract Annually to John Macarthur's Son In Law's Firm - John Macarthur Cult Watch Forum (forumchitchat.com)
4. The Prosperous Lifestyle of America's Anti-Prosperity Gospel Preacher | The Roys Report (julieroys.com)
5. Concerning Spiritual Gifts, Part 1 (gty.org)
6. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOHN MACARTHUR: CONTINUATIONISM VS CESSATIONISM (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)