The following message was delivered at Grace Community Church in Panorama 
City, California, By John MacArthur Jr.  It was transcribed from the tape,
GC 90-52, titled "Charismatic Chaos" Part 1.   A copy of the tape can be 
obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412.

I have made every effort to ensure that an accurate transcription of the 
original tape was made.  Please note that at times sentence structure may 
appear to vary from accepted English conventions.  This is due primarily to 
the techniques involved in preaching and the obvious choices I had to make in 
placing the correct punctuation in the article.

It is my intent and prayer that the Holy Spirit will use this transcription 
of the sermon, "Charismatic Chaos" Part 1, to strengthen and encourage the 
true Church of Jesus Christ.

Scriptures quoted in this message are from the New American Standard Bible.



                         Charismatic Chaos - Part 1
                                     by
                               John MacArthur


We are going to embark upon a study of the Charismatic movement, the 
contemporary Charismatic movement that surrounds us in the Evangelical 
Church.  Back in 1977, to be exact, I preached a series on the movement, or 
maybe a little even before that year.  But a book came from it which I spent 
1977 writing.  That book was entitled, "The Charismatics."  And now we are 
about a dozen or more years beyond that publication, and I felt that it is 
time for an update.  And from this series will come another book entitled, 
"Charismatic Chaos."  I believe that book will be released sometime after the 
first of next year.  

So many Christians are confused by the theology and the experiences of 
Charismatic people.  And they have become so visible because of Christian 
television, radio, books, magazines, and because their ministries are so 
aggressive that we all are inundated by them through direct mail.  Television 
and the media has spread this movement, it has created for them a tremendous 
platform.  In fact, it is probably not far from the truth to say that most 
people would assume that Evangelical Christianity is what the Charismatic 
movement represents, because it is such an exposed movement.  

But we must deal with it in line with 1 Thessalonians 5:21, and that is to 
examine it carefully, to determine what is true and what is not.  Now as we 
embark upon this examination, I want you to know at the very outset, that I 
love my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, and I have no intent to convey 
anything other than love for them.  I think in the movement there are many 
who are not genuinely saved, and I am equally concerned about their 
salvation.  My purpose is not to debate them, pitting our theology against 
theirs, but to call them to the test of Scripture, to drop what Amos called 
the "plumb line," to see if they are straight with the Word of God.  

I have to say at the very outset that a rather powerful intimidation factor 
works against those who wish to deal with this movement Biblically.  To