Quenching the Spirit: Discover the Real Spirit Behind the Charasmatic Controversy

My biggest regret about this book is that I didn't read it sooner! This book is an effective theological defense of the revivals of the 1990s which attracted so much (negative)attention from heresy-hunters such as John MacArthur and the self-styled "Bible Answer Man," Hank Hanegraaff. DeArteaga has several important insights in this book. Perhaps the most important is his demonstration that Calvin's theology of cessationism (that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer operative in since the New Testament was completed) led to widespread disbelief and the rejection of Christianity that is in evidence in Europe today. America was spared this deadening effect of Calvinism to some extent because it became a refuge from non-Calvinist Christians fleeing Europe: Quakers, Mennonites, Pietists and the like. Calvin's cessationism was intensified by the 19th-century Irishman John Darby, whose ideas were picked up in the Scofield Bible. Due to the influence of this Bible, a century of fundamentalists believed that any healing or miraculous activity was of the devil, which is DeArteaga's definition of Phariseeism: ascribing the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil. Ironically, a century earlier the Calvinist preacher Jonathan Edwards wrestled with the strange manifestations he saw in the Great Awakening and decided that the revival, manifestations and all, were of God. Like the Great Awakening, the revivals of the 1990s (including the Toronto Blessing and the Brownsville Outpouring) clearly meet the standards of the Bible and Jonathan Edwards as being of God. However, just as the Great Awakening was quenched by Pharisees who ascribed the manifestations to the devil, so modern-day Pharisees such as Dave Hunt (The Seduction of Christianity), John MacArthur (Charismatic Chaos) and Hank Hanegraaff (Counterfeit Revival) threatened to quench the great move of God of the 1990s. DeArteaga exposes faulty reasoning in the arguments of the Pharisees even while praising the counter-cult ministries in general. In so doing -- and this is the books only major fault -- DeArteaga fails to realize that the very things for which he criticizes Hunt, MacArthur, and Hanegraaff: quotations taken out of context for maximum negative impact, sensationalizing the most extreme statements of revival leaders without any attempt at balance, fairness, or moderation, and using ridicule rather than reason to denounce leaders -- these very things were present in the counter-cult movement from the very beginning, pioneered as it were by "Dr." Walter Martin, the first self-called "Bible Answer Man" and present in almost all of his writing and speaking, whether his target was Mormons or charismatics. Furthermore, in an effort to be conciliatory against the counter-cultists, DeArteaga overlooks the fact that when Hanegraaff, for example, calls the ransom theory of atonement unbiblical, he is clearly being unbiblical himself; the New Testament in numerous places calls Christ

It appears that reviewers either hate this book or love it. I am in the latter group. This book put a lot of things into perspective for me and answered a lot of questions. I have read it at least twice in the last four or five years. Various members of my family have read it. I have given copies to friends. This book gives historical evidence that main stream denominational Christianity resists supernatural signs and wonders and workings of the Holy Spirit which were characteristic of the New Testament church. The intellectual challenge presented by the book is to be willing to lay down preconceptions of what Christianity is, to allow your worldview to change.

I held off getting this book because it was my (false) impression that the defense of the charismatic position had no biblical backing. I also trusted that Hanegraaff and MacArthur's caricatures of charismatics were the norm. It had not yet occurred to me that the case for biblical charismata has both biblical and historical evidence on its side. The Apostle Paul criticized the Corinthians for spiritual pride and lack of order but he never dismissed the manifestations as false nor did he tell them to cease pursuing them. DeArteaga quite capably states that the burden of proof lies with the opponents of the charismata to prove that the gifts are no longer active. In Quenching The Spirit, the author makes the case that charismatic critics have yielded to the spirit of the Pharisees time and time again throughout church history, repeatedly denying, allegorizing or explaining away tons of scriptures as well as ignoring various historical outbreaks of revival simply because they could not control living stones! This is one thorough scholarly defense, and is written with a peaceful pastoral heart and a love for the brethren which once again is in line with the biblical spirit. I would dock him half a star for calling Kenneth Copeland's take on Jesus as a god-man as "completetly orthodox" because in the same sermon Copeland says Jesus had to be a god-man "just like the first one" (Adam), but I honestly believe it was a simple oversight on DeArteaga's part since he quotes the whole section anyway so anyone can read it for themselves. DeArteaga's credentials (and extensive notes section) prove you don't have to commit intellectual suicide in becoming charismatic. He even gives quantum physics a moderate tackle in one chapter, correlating it with an idealistic view of faith. He neither brushes off excesses nor errors, but they are dealt with a kind apologetic. As are the critics of the movement I should add which is probably more than their judgemental rants deserve. See the sympathetic chapter devoted to critic Dave Hunt's life. There are no straw men nor is there any name-calling in this book. BTW, another plus: it has thick paper so your highlighter won't bleed through the pages when making notes!

Quenching the Spirit is a must have for any Christian library. What DID St. Paul mean when he wrote, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption"(NIV Ephesians 4:30)? Rev. De Arteaga provides a meticulously researched historical overview of this trap we humans fall into time and time again. Even the godliest Christians will sometimes have a little Pharisee within. The work of the Holy Spirit threatens our comfort zone. We love it when it's manageable. But as soon as God is clearly in control instead of us, that gets uncomfortable. Read this book and see there's nothing new about that. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."(NIV Hebrews 13:8) And so are we! By understanding what De Arteaga terms "Quenching the Spirit" we can gain historical perspective and ability to recognize when it happens today--hopefully avoiding it's pitfalls. Where do YOU fall within the spectrum of Pharisee to Charismatic?

The purpose of this book is to deal with the charismatic and Word of faith movements in a balanced way, as well as to defend it against calvinist detractors. the author shows the roots of the current movement in the larger context of the periodic revivals that have swept the country, starting with the great awakening. He deals with the involvement of Edwards with the great awakening and the opposition of Chauncy, showing the apostasy of Chauncy and his conversion to unitarianism while showing the similarity to the current opposition. Much of the book is devoted to showing the Word of Faith movement within the larger context of christianity. He crosses swords with many of the self annointed apologists who claim to be defending historic christianity, showing some of their personal deviations, labeling such men Pharisees. If you want a book that treats the charismatic and Word of Faith movements in a balanced manner while showing the historic roots of the Word of Faith movement this is a book well worth having. If you want a complete library, this is a book you must have!