Counterfeit Revival

As a charismatic who has worked closely with Counterfeit Revivalists, this book has been crystal clear many of the questions that I have quietly pondered but never dared to publicly voice. I believe that all Christians should read and study this book as it will help you to discern if you choose to go into ministry.

Counterfeit Revival is a well-researched, accessible book that exposes the foundations of today's charismatic movement, traces religious "enthusiasm" through history (at least back as far as the Quakers, although other works take the lineage further back to groups like the Cathars and the Montanists), and notes how the modern charismatic movement deviates from historic Christianity. Critics may label the tone of the book "negative," but I spent a year traveling around Pentecostal churches (including those in the Assemblies of God, the largest, most "mainstream" Pentecostal/Charismatic denomination), and I can vouch for the impeccable accuracy of this book.The author, who is himself a moderate Charismatic, believes the excesses of the modern charismatic movement threaten the fabric of Christianity. I agree. If the Charismatic movement becomes identical with "evangelicalism," then in the 25 years, evangelicalism will not exist.

I feel that there is a lot of dissent in the Charismatic movement. "If you don't have the gift of tongues, either you are not a true Christian, or you are a Christian who will never reach their full potential in a relationship with Jesus." I struggled in my relationship with the Lord because the Charismatic movement was telling me that I didn't have faith in the Lord. I read Hinn, Copeland, etc. and gave them a chance and became dissillusioned and confused. I left to go to a evangelistic church to find that Jesus was willing to meet me right where I was at. My relationship with the Lord has become stronger and I am continuing to grow. Hank's book did not "bash" these counterfeits, the counterfeits bashed themselves through contradictions. The Lord is not a Lord of confusion. The counterfeits here remind me of the people who came two centuries ago in horse-drawn wagons to sell their "snake oil". The counterfeits put the glory on themselves, not the Lord. They claim that the Lord has anointed them, but I see no evidence of that through their ministries. Where does Kirkpatrick get off stating that the Lord was to strike Hank dead after being exposed as a counterfeit? Hank confirmed that my discernment was not wrong. I am really thankful that the Lord has used his servant Hank Hanegraaff to expose these counterfeits. The counterfeits work a lot on feelings, not the Word of God. The counterfeits manipulate the word to work for their own causes or to make them equivilent to Jesus in other people's eyes. It is really sad. I appreciate this book and will share it with friends who have been scarred through this counterfeit movement. Keep up the good work, Hank, we will continue to pray that the Lord continues to give all of us wisdom.

I want to add that this excellent book does not cover it all, I mean there are more general books such as Edgar's Satisfied by the Spirit, George Birch's Delivrance Ministry, McArthur's Charismatic Chaos, etc. These are good complements to Hanegraaff's excellent book.