Currently in Books

Revival Wars

Walter Unger

Hank Hanegraaff. Word, 1995.

REVIVAL WARS

James Beverley. Evangelical Research Ministries, 1997.

Hank Hanegraaff's bestseller Counterfeit Revival is a devastating critique of the renewal movement associated with John Wimber, John Arnott, Randy Clark and others in the Vineyard movement and the now famous Toronto Blessing. Hanegraaf is best known as radio's "Bible Answer Man". However, there are many flaws in his analysis, and in Revival Wars Ontario Theological Seminary professor James Beverley convincingly takes him to task for both his uncharitable spirit and his inaccurate content.

Hanegraaff deals with complex theological issues, including visions, tongues, healing and prophecy. He explores historical debates about Jonathan Edwards, the Second Great Awakening, Shakers, Quakers and the rise of Pentecostalism. He delves into group dynamics, the occult, altered states of consciousness and socio-psychological manipulation. None of these topics is dealt with in any depth, yet Hanegraaff uses them to conclude that the Vineyard renewal movement is totally false. He even uses the acronym FLESH to describe it: Fabrications, Fantasies, Frauds; Lying Signs and Wonders; Endtime Restorationism; Slain in the Spirit; Hypnotism.

Since all the leaders of this renewal are fakes, Hanegraaff feels that he can resort to ridicule, of which there is a fair amount in his book. There is not a single phrase of appreciation for anything John Wimber or other Vineyard leaders have contributed to the church at large, such as the uplifting worship music which is used by charismatic and non-charismatic churches around the world. Beverley rightly asks: What does this say about balance and fairness? What does this say about concern for truth?

At the beginning of his book, Hanegraaff promises accurate documentation. Beverley correctly points out some glaring weaknesses in Hanegraaff's documentation. Counterfeit Revival has 46 references to what Wimber believes. Of these, half are from a 1981 tape series that Wimber himself no longer endorsed and that Vineyard no longer sells. Of the remaining 23 references, there is only one to material published since 1991. In fact, Hanegraaff refers to only six tapes (five dated before 1991), one magazine article that cites Wimber, one Public Statement from 1991, and Wimber's book Power Evangelism (to which there are only two references). The references are all negative.

What is not said by Hanegraaff (and this was widely publicized) is that Wimber publicly stated that his endorsement of the prophetic was the biggest mistake of his ministry. Furthermore, Wimber publicly disciplined Kansas City prophets Mike Bickle and Bob Jones for reckless prophetic speculation (and Jones for immorality). Wimber also urged the Toronto Airport Vineyard (site of the Toronto Blessing) to curb excesses; when the Toronto Airport Vineyard did not, he disassociated it from the Vineyard.

Beverley notes that although Hanegraaff's language is offensive, Counterfeit Revival does raise some genuine concerns about socio-psychological factors in revival. But this does not mean that Hanegraaff is right to dismiss the whole revival. There is not even a hint in Hanegraaff's book that the Spirit might be at work in these renewal meetings; it is all APES: Altered states of consciousness; Peer pressure, Expectations and Suggestibility.

As the most knowledgeable outside observer of the Toronto Blessing (see his <I>Holy Laughter and the Toronto Blessing, Beverley believes that "The evidence of positive spiritual growth through the ministry of Wimber is undeniable. Even with my many concerns about the Toronto renewal, there is no doubt at all of dramatic conversions and wonderful renewal out of these meetings. While Hanegraaff mentions only negative results from Toronto (and there have been many), he has not explored any stories of God's work."

In my opinion, <B>Revival Wars provides a much needed corrective to Hanegraaff's analysis. On the other hand, I fault him for choosing as a title for his book words which are as inflammatory as Hanegraaff's. The Bible Answer Man has long promoted himself as Commander-in-Chief in the war for truth, providing mounds of "ammo" for the battle (see back cover of Hanegraaff's Christian Research Journal. It is not surprising that Hanegraaff responded by calling Beverley's work a "counterfeit critique" (November-December, 1997, Christian Research Journal.

We would all do well to follow Augustine's maxim: "In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; and in all things charity." In fact, there are indications that Hanegraaff may be softening his approach to charismatic renewal movements. In the February, 1998 issue of Charisma magazine, he is quoted as saying he plans to "stop inflammatory rhetoric" when correcting churches he believes to be in theological error.

Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 37, No. 13 Home Page