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Quenching The Spirit: Discover the real Spirit behind the Charasmatic controversy
In recent years, several respected Christian authors and teachers have come against beliefs and practices of charismatics, the world's fastest growing Christian group. Now updated and revised, Quenching the Spirit gives the most coherent, well-documented response to date.With a brand-new chapter based on Han Hanegraaff and the CRI, and exciting new information, author William DeArteaga shows why the greatest threat to a move of the Spirit may lie within the church itself. Taking an honest look at the merits and mishaps of the charismatic renewal, DeArteaga answers your questions-whether you are suspicious of charismatics or you are one of them. Discover the real Spirit behind the charismatic controversy!
360 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 14, 2017
Every once in a while a book comes along that rocks your world. Quenching the Spirit did that for this practicing Continuationist.
This is a book that all Christians who have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives and have seen the reality of the gifts of the Spirit in the world today would benefit from reading. It would also benefit those who are "on the fence" when it comes to the question, "Are the gifts of the Spirit for today?" Cessationists could benefit from it as well if they have an open mind.
The book is well written, well researched and well argued. It brings a lot of insight and understanding as to how so many within the Evangelical world today have ended up subscribing to the disastrous and false doctrine of cessationism. Not only that, the author also shows how destructive this pernicious doctrine has been, both in the church and the work of the Spirit, but also to the unbelieving world we find ourselves living in today. Cessationism has encouraged and contributed to the rise of the secular humanism we see in Europe and even the Neo-Atheism plaguing the Western world today.
DeArteaga takes the reader on a journey through church history, highlighting the various doctrines, sundry movements, and the major players that have contributed and influenced the different camps and their views in the continuationism/cessationism debate. Unlike some books on Christian history, this one kept my attention from start to finish.
I was especially thrilled to hear of some of the important preachers and contributors who influenced the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, people that evangelical historians tend to ignore, downplay, or misrepresent in their recounting of history.
And I especially enjoyed his emphasis that one of the biggest problems in the church today is Pharisaism. I have seen this repeatedly. It amazes me how hard we are on the Pharisees of Jesus day, yet we are so blind to the many ways in which we Evangelicals and Fundamentalists act like them today.
DeArtenga also makes the case that many evangelicals today have moved away from faith-expectancy to an overemphasis on faith-doctrine. He shows how some of the secular philosophies have influenced the church and her doctrine. He even touched on quantum physics which surprised and delighted me.
He also (respectfully) challenged the three most vocal critics of the Charismatics / Pentecostals in recent history - John MacArthur, Hank Hanegraaff, and Dave Hunt. He shows how unfair they are in their hostile criticisms and how sloppy they are in their books and materials and radio programs when representing the views, and claims, and the positions of their doctrinal opponents. I almost feel embarrassed for these three popular authors. I feel especially sad for those that subscribe to their claims without even a salt-sized grain of doubt or skepticism.
In closing, this book helped clarify and bring understanding to this subject matter on levels I hadn't anticipated. I am forever grateful to the author for his contribution to the Body of Christ and the efforts he went through to produce this wonderful book. Can't recommend it enough!!
This is a book that all Christians who have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives and have seen the reality of the gifts of the Spirit in the world today would benefit from reading. It would also benefit those who are "on the fence" when it comes to the question, "Are the gifts of the Spirit for today?" Cessationists could benefit from it as well if they have an open mind.
The book is well written, well researched and well argued. It brings a lot of insight and understanding as to how so many within the Evangelical world today have ended up subscribing to the disastrous and false doctrine of cessationism. Not only that, the author also shows how destructive this pernicious doctrine has been, both in the church and the work of the Spirit, but also to the unbelieving world we find ourselves living in today. Cessationism has encouraged and contributed to the rise of the secular humanism we see in Europe and even the Neo-Atheism plaguing the Western world today.
DeArteaga takes the reader on a journey through church history, highlighting the various doctrines, sundry movements, and the major players that have contributed and influenced the different camps and their views in the continuationism/cessationism debate. Unlike some books on Christian history, this one kept my attention from start to finish.
I was especially thrilled to hear of some of the important preachers and contributors who influenced the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, people that evangelical historians tend to ignore, downplay, or misrepresent in their recounting of history.
And I especially enjoyed his emphasis that one of the biggest problems in the church today is Pharisaism. I have seen this repeatedly. It amazes me how hard we are on the Pharisees of Jesus day, yet we are so blind to the many ways in which we Evangelicals and Fundamentalists act like them today.
DeArtenga also makes the case that many evangelicals today have moved away from faith-expectancy to an overemphasis on faith-doctrine. He shows how some of the secular philosophies have influenced the church and her doctrine. He even touched on quantum physics which surprised and delighted me.
He also (respectfully) challenged the three most vocal critics of the Charismatics / Pentecostals in recent history - John MacArthur, Hank Hanegraaff, and Dave Hunt. He shows how unfair they are in their hostile criticisms and how sloppy they are in their books and materials and radio programs when representing the views, and claims, and the positions of their doctrinal opponents. I almost feel embarrassed for these three popular authors. I feel especially sad for those that subscribe to their claims without even a salt-sized grain of doubt or skepticism.
In closing, this book helped clarify and bring understanding to this subject matter on levels I hadn't anticipated. I am forever grateful to the author for his contribution to the Body of Christ and the efforts he went through to produce this wonderful book. Can't recommend it enough!!
September 12, 2019
Some very helpful history and insights, especially the emphasis on discernment. I'm encouraged by this book to go do more reading on and from Jonathan Edwards, as he seems to strike a great balance of appreciation for true revival and strong theological discernment.
This author has clearly done a lot of research and thinking about these topics. However, I think he tried to do too much in 300 pages. The thesis and intent of the book were not really clear to me, so it seems like he was trying to simultaneously present
a) a history of continuationist experiences,
b) his evaluations of the good and bad of those experiences,
c) a history of the cessationist critiques of those experiences, and
d) his critique of the critics.
The historical narrative was constantly interrupted by his commentary judging what was healthy and what was not, often without providing a clear framework for his evaluations or strong Biblical exegesis.
And I really couldn't get behind the chapter on "The Spiritual Side of Quantum Physics." Yes, of course we have an amazing Creator who has clearly left His marks all over creation, even in mysterious ways we don't and may never understand. But I just didn't trust this author to understand and explain something like quantum physics in an accurate way, let alone use it to explain spiritual and Biblical phenomena in the, I think, strange ways he did.
This author has clearly done a lot of research and thinking about these topics. However, I think he tried to do too much in 300 pages. The thesis and intent of the book were not really clear to me, so it seems like he was trying to simultaneously present
a) a history of continuationist experiences,
b) his evaluations of the good and bad of those experiences,
c) a history of the cessationist critiques of those experiences, and
d) his critique of the critics.
The historical narrative was constantly interrupted by his commentary judging what was healthy and what was not, often without providing a clear framework for his evaluations or strong Biblical exegesis.
And I really couldn't get behind the chapter on "The Spiritual Side of Quantum Physics." Yes, of course we have an amazing Creator who has clearly left His marks all over creation, even in mysterious ways we don't and may never understand. But I just didn't trust this author to understand and explain something like quantum physics in an accurate way, let alone use it to explain spiritual and Biblical phenomena in the, I think, strange ways he did.
September 21, 2019
This book is valuable because the author takes a different approach than just about any other on this subject that I've seen. How well he evaluates various charismatic movements and the opposition to those movements is another question. However, I don't think I have seen any other book tackle the pros and cons of charismatic movements with any sort of attempt at being even-handed.
March 9, 2009
This book is a coherent and well-documented response to the beliefs and practices of the Christian Charismatic sects. Provocative arguments in defense of Pentacostals. Interesting scrutiny & interpretation of American charismatic doctrine & practice from the Great Awakening through the 20th century. I don't agree with all of the author's positions and interpretations, but it does give the reader plenty to think about.
November 10, 2009
still reading -
February 12, 2011
Well researched and argued defence of the charismatic movements in the pat century.
July 26, 2016
learnt some good things, but the argumentative tone of the author wasn't a huge plus for me. Too biased.
November 15, 2013
Excellent book that stops cessationists cold. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews