Dr. Michael Horton’s “Power Religion," Third Wave Pentecostalism, and Classical Christianity, 61-88

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1. Dr. Michael Horton’s “Power Religion” (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1992). An essay by John Armstrong enttiled “In Search of Spiritual Power,” 61-88. A soft critique by a Baptist without exegetical, theological or confessional depth, Rev. Armstrong nonetheless offers interesting notes on Third Wave Pentecostals. Quite poorly, Armstrong is not anti-charismatic we are told. We are surprised by Dr. Horton's inclusion of Rev. Armstrong. We'll chalk it up to youth. This book is near 20 years old. Things have become worse.

2. The first wave: original Pentecostals in the early 20th century. The second wave: the charismatic movement of the 1960-1970’s. The third wave: the signs and wonders movement. Their dogmatic and eclipsing focus is “power healings,” “demonic deliverances,” and “words of knowledge” as immediate revelations. The third wavers require affirmation of a pro-Pentecostal worldview. TBN bills and advertises these three movements as their history.

3. The “Vineyard Movement” was a part of this as advanced by Peter Wagner, John Wimber, Kansas City Prophets, John Paul Jackson, Jack Deere (former Professor, Dallas Seminary), Paul Cain, and Bob Jones.

4. For the third wave Pentecostals: (1) The miracles in Jesus’ day are normative which Wimber calls the “calling cards of the kingdom.” John Wimber and Kevin Springer, “Power Evangelism” (San Fransisco, CA: Harper & Row, 1986), 109. (2) There are fits of holy laughing, shaking, extreme terror, visions, being drunk and slain in the spirit, barkings and other things associated with revivalism. (3) Healing and prophecy are learned, teachable and reproducible techniques. (4) The insufficiency of Scripture for doctrine, worship and piety. (5) The by-passing, suspension, and avoidance of critical thinking. Such is equated with “unbelief.” (6) The by-passing, suspension, and avoidance of the Gospel with signs, wonders, and conversions for those apart from and without the Gospel. (7) The radical Arminianism. (8) Pragmatism without the Bible. (9) Anecodotal rather than Biblical theology. (9) Uncontrolled, undisciplined, uncritical, and uninformed exegesis, theology, confessions, liturgies or histories inform the movement, it's thinking, worship or piety. It is chaotic and has opened itself, ministries and followers to demonic influence and governance.

5. Pentecostalism is a neo-Montanist movement. Third Wavers are mere extensions of the first two waves of enthusiasts, ignoramuses, and utopians. No peace and no truces can be made with these opponents of Biblical Christianity.