Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 10:1 (Spring 1997)
Article: The Gospel And Spiritual Warfare: A Review Of Peter Wagner’s Confronting The Powers
Author: John F. Hart

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JOTGES 10:1 (Spring 97) p. 19

The Gospel And Spiritual Warfare:
A Review Of Peter Wagner’s Confronting The Powers1

John F. Hart

Professor of Bible
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, IL

All those who are concerned for the content of the gospel should be equally concerned for the spread of the gospel. The purity of the good news of salvation is irrelevant if it is never preached, and therefore never heard and believed. It is precisely because the content of the gospel message is so precious and so liberating that Paul could affirm an OT thought, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom 10:15b, NIV). But someone must bring the good news of eternal life if people are to receive it. The apostle further explained, “And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (Rom 10:14b, NIV).2

But unknown to many Christians, some missiologists are spearheading a movement to drastically change the way Evangelicals think about the spread of the gospel. These changes primarily regard the inclusion

JOTGES 10:1 (Spring 97) p. 20

of new approaches to spiritual warfare as essential elements for world evangelism methodology.

Spiritual warfare is unquestionably a biblical concept. Every Christian wrestles against personal but invisible, wicked forces (Eph 6:12). Yet a large portion of modern spiritual warfare teaching derives its theology from empirical data and unbiblical sources. Combining evangelism and world missions methodology with these forms of spiritual warfare philosophy poses serious problems. Its hidden dangers lie in how some spiritual warfare teachings entice Christians into forms of “Christian spiritism” and other highly questionable practices. At the same time, valuable human resources for spreading the gospel may be misused so that the gospel itself is not preached.

These alarming trends are evident in Peter Wagner’s most recent book, Confronting the Powers. Are such stringent criticisms fair and honest against well-intentioned people like Wagner whose hearts long for reaching the world for Christ? Our intentions are to substantiate this criticism in the following review.

I. Background and Purpose for the Book

A. Wagner, and the A. D. 2000 and Beyond Movement

Confronting the Powers is a shrewd apologetic to counter recent criticism of the author’s strange approaches to world evangelization and prayer for the lost.

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