From time to time the Vineyard Movement has been subject to various criticisms. Position Papers aim to clarify inaccuracies and misunderstandings, and respond to these criticisms in a public way.

A response to Charismatic Chaos, the book written by John F. Macarthur, Jr. - by Rich Nathan.

There is a woman in our church who was diagnosed as having heart problems about five years ago. Her doctor prescribed heart medication for her condition. Unfortunately, the woman got sicker and sicker. She began to retain water, her skin began to crack, she was frequently depressed, and there were days when she could not get out of bed. Her physician tried a variety of medications, but the woman grew steadily worse. After four years of being treated for a heart problem, the woman went to another physician who flatly stated that she had no heart problem at all. In fact, the woman was a diabetic and needed insulin for her diabetes. After a very short time of taking insulin, the woman felt remarkably better. She was no longer depressed, she did not retain water, her skin cleared up, and she had a normal energy level again. This story, though true, serves as a parable for John MacArthur’s Charismatic Chaos (Grand Rapids: Zondervan 1992). MacArthur is like the first physician as he examines the charismatic movement. It’s clear to him that something is wrong with the charismatic movement. He sees some of the symptoms of illness, but he completely misdiagnoses the reasons for the illness. And his prescription is, frankly, designed to kill the patient.

Click here to read the entire paper in .pdf format: Position Paper #5

Power & Truth, a Response to Power Religion by Wayne Grudem

A response to the critiques of vineyard teaching and practice by D. A. Carson, James Montgomery Boice, and John H. Armstrong in Power Religion.

Click here to read the entire paper in .pdf format: Position Paper #4

The Vineyard’s Response to The Standard by Wayne Grudem, Ph.DA

Response to the Critique of John Armstrong in The Standard, a publication of the Baptist General Conference.

I wrote the following material to provide an alternative perspective on the Vineyard movement for readers of The Standard. The editor decided not to publish this material in The Standard. I am grateful that the Association of Vineyard Churches wanted to print and distribute this material for those who are willing to consider some other evidence before they decide that the Vineyard is the kind of movement that John Armstrong’s articles have portrayed it to be.

Click here to read the entire paper in .pdf format: Position Paper #3

The Vineyard’s Response to The Briefing by Jack Deere, Th.M, Th.D

The April 24, 1990 (45/46) issue of The Briefing, a magazine published by St. Matthias Anglican Church in Sydney, Australia, examined the ministry of John Wimber and the Vineyard. Dr. Jack Deere’s analysis of their claims reveals serious misrepresentations, false reporting, and erroneous methodology.

Click here to read the entire paper in .pdf format: Position Paper #2

Why I Respond to Criticism - by John Wimber

In the Summer 1988 issue of Equipping the Saints magazine I published an article entitled “Why I Don’t Respond to Criticism,” in which I reviewed my reasons for not responding to unjust criticism of my teaching and of the Vineyard. In this booklet I will describe why I recently changed my thinking about this important matter.

Click here to read the entire paper in .pdf format:: Position Paper #1