11
of evangelical Christianity."
39
He is a charter member of the American Society for Church
Growth. At Fuller he exposed over 1500 ministers to his paradigm through the Doctor of
Ministry program.
40
His earlier writings were both helpful and commendable gaining him
prominence in church growth circles. He states, "I have had the privilege of being involved in
leadership circles of worldwide evangelical Christianity for more than 30 years."
41
However,
Wagners metamorphose casts doubt upon his academic credibility.
42
His fixation on the
demonic, focus on numerical results, and his unquestioning acceptance of testimonies fitting his
paradigm falls short of responsible scholarly standards.
At least three areas of Wagners theology are faulty: Hermeneutics, Pneumatology, and
Demonology. A study of Wagners theology is problematic because of his focus on the
pragmatic elements of church growth. He does not claim to be a theologian, "My lifetime calling
is to world evangelism, not philosophy or theology."
43
Therefore his piecemeal theology must be
gathered from among his writings.
Wagner utilizes an experientially driven hermeneutic. Wagner believes that charismatics
have a more evangelistic approach to the Scriptures and sees the manifestations of Acts as
39
Rainer, 57.
40
Towns, 403.
41
Wagner, Confronting Powers, 14.
42
Wood, Laurence W. "Third Wave of the Spirit and the Pentecostalization of American
Christianity: A Wesleyan Critique." Wesleyan Theological Journal 31 (Spring 1996), 135.
"What is appalling is the careless manner in which the word research, is used. Wagner speaks of
his alleged research into the reports of healing and demon possessions, but there is no evidence
of research other than his own uncritical opinions which he offers without adequate support."
43
Ibid., 47.