Counterfeit Revival: Looking For God in All the Wrong Places

Hanegraaff, Hank. "Counterfeit Revival: Looking For God in All the Wrong Places". Nashville: Word, 1997.

Hank Hanegraaff presents a telling work on the trend called “revival,” that is in fact no revival at all. Hanegraaff craftily guides us through the sections of his expose (in which he does not hesitate to name names) on this false sensationalism with the acronym FLESH, under which the chapters are found:

Part 1: Fabrications, Fantasies and Frauds.
Part 2: Lying Signs and Wonders
Part 3: Endtime Restorationism
Part 4: Slain in the Spirit
Part 5: Hypnotism.

While each section delves deep into the characteristics of so-called “revivalism,” the accounts found therein become repetitious, laborious and typical. In the 307 pages of this book, this reader found himself desiring to move on past recurring accounts of “holy laughter,” staged healings, animal noises, tongues, hoaxes and various states of so-called “Holy Spirit” manifestations, to the point of the book. Hanegraaff spends much time building his case, making certain the reader is without doubt as to what he is referring, but does little to make a point beyond saying these are the same features manifested during the First and Second Great Awakenings through the Azusa Street “revivals” to current TV evangelists in what amounts to be a movement of misdirected “religious affection.” While discernment is necessary in the gospel ministry, Hanegraaff does little more than tattling on “who” said “what” and “how” people reacted. In one sense, this is another history book with updated information.

This would be a good book for supplemental reading during a modern church history course; or, for one who seeks to understand the charismatic and Pentecostal waves that have surged through this country in years past. This book helps one understand how and where certain doctrines (though not the most important doctrines) are skewed and how people are deceived into false conversions and frustrated Christian living. Hanegraaff shows us masses of people who need the right gospel and correct biblical teaching. It is not until the final five pages of the Epilogue that Hanegraaff provides principles in escaping the tragedy of (so-called) “modern Christianity.”

If one could sum up this book in one instructive sentence, it would be, “Don’t covet the emotions—that’s idolatry.”