This file takes minute or two to load--
there are slides and sound so turn on your speakers.
You can read the rest of my commentary below as you wait.
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Signs and wonders they seek. People get roped into performing these antics in several ways: (1) psychological pressure to "perform" in front of everybody, (2) Desire to please their leaders (3) evil spirits speaking through them as they take advantage of their departure from the word of God, (4) bewitching or hypnosis. When you empty your mind, bad things can happen. I've been in churches like this where this sort of thing can go on for extended periods of time. Just standing around--no preaching of the word, just moaning, groaning, or pep rally style like this.
A dear reader sent me videos of the Pensacola "revival" and it includes exceeding strange things--kids can't stop shaking even when they go to school, people falling out while simply introducing themselves, congregation being hypnotized by being told to keep looking at a banner (a big wavy flag at the front of the church), a girl that is supposed to be our intecessor with the Holy Ghost, unscriptural music, orchestrated meetings to heighten emotions, the preacher falling down, the preacher knocking people out, the preacher is glorified for his "annointing". I've read where unbelievers enjoy themselves at the meetings, people leave the meetings and drive off the road, and more...None of this is found in the Bible. A disciple of Jesus reads His word and obeys it! Am I saying that ALL Charismatics and Pentecostals are unsaved? No. I know a number of them who are saved and who are zealous of good works, but have not read and rightly divided the word of truth. They seek signs and wonders. The unbiblical antics are a disgrace to Jesus Christ.
One aspect of the Pensacola movement that is not often mentioned is the lust that can be excited by their unabashed activities. I've heard tell of folks fornicating on the grounds after the meeting. Think about it, you've got women falling out with dresses flying up and body parts flappin' in the wind. Then you've got those who have opened themselves up to sensual spirits. I saw a video where some people were dancing to some Hawiian music in church when one of the musicians TOOK HIS SHIRT OFF, stopped playing his instrument and started dancing. Another musician tried to step in front of him so the people couldn't see him. Whoa...
My pastor told us a story of another pastor who had an experience with a woman "speaking in tongues". She came into his church and said that they needed to speak in tongues. He asked her if she could speak in tongues anytime she felt like it. She said yes. He invited her into his office and stood behind her. He told her to start speaking in tongues. She started babbling. Then he said, "Spirit now manifesting, do you believe that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh?" The woman abruptly stopped speaking. She was confused. She tried it again and the man repeated the same question and she stopped babbling immediately--
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 John 4:2-3
Leaders of these wacky movements also have many strange visions and experiences. One leader said that the Beatles were annointed by God! John Lenon derided Jesus Christ!
The Bible says that the Holy Ghost will testify of Jesus Christ, not of Himself (John 15:26). But these people are always talking about the Holy Ghost--WHERE'S JESUS? What these people do glorifies them and dishonors the Person and work of the Holy Ghost. What you are hearing is chaos and God authors not confusion. Listen closely and hear the babble which they call speaking in tongues. The Bible says that the unbeliever will think us mad if we all do this at same time:
1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
The Bible also says that tongues ain't even a sign for a believer! But where do they do their tongues? In CHURCH where there is believers! They use tongues as a sign to show that they've received the Holy Ghost--but tongues ain't a sign for believers!
1 Corinthians 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not...
Some charismatics will tell you, "Well you don't have all the power 'cause you haven't spoken in tongues." Oh, so you have a bunch of extra power, uh? Exactly what are you doing for the Lord and how has this "power" manifested itself other than you sitting around babbling words that no one understands--while you ignore the Bible to boot?
People who are looking for these more physical, sensual, supernatural experiences seem to end up in three classes: (1) they get "it" and experience some wacky stuff getting further and further off base, (2) they never get it and are worried if they are saved or not (3) they get tired of all the antics they are expected to perform every Sunday.
One of our regular readers wrote to the Isaiah 58 Pentacostal site about this false doctrine and received this response.
My reply is that you're not "in Christ". You're an "unbeliever"... for "these signs follow them that believe" (Mark 16:16)Gary Savelli
Isiaah 58 Broadcast & Tracts
So now every Bible believer that doesn't follow their false, made-up doctrine ain't saved? Cults say that.
The following is an e-mail excerpt from a gentle reader who spent some time in the charismatic movement. I appreciate her willingness to share her experience with us--
"That Promise Keepers is poison I already knew, but now thanks to people like you, David Cloud, Steve Van Nattan and others, I am completely disabused of the desire to follow Charismatic practices. So much that appeared to be so spiritual and so many who appeared to be so gifted have no commandment or precedent in scripture for the things they do. Even when there is precedent, the scriptures are really wrested. We must seek the Lord, not experience. I have noticed that sound doctrine doesn't seem to be stressed, and liberty can include doing things that are prohibited in scripture. If God's word makes one uncomfortable or conflicts with one's carnal desire, than some seem to think that our loving Father exempts them from following His commands. Why? because He is more interested in their happiness than in their holiness. NOT SO!
"When I first began attending a charismatic congregation I was so impressed with the 'prophets', the prayer warriors, the leadership and the spirituality of the laity. So different from some of the Baptist practices. But things really got to be confusing when trying to apply scripture to areas like divorce, and suddenly the Word didn't mean what it says. Someone in leadership used being a new creation in Christ, old things having passed as an excuse for remarriage even though they were already believers when she remarried. I stayed confused, but have no one to blame but myself. I wouldn't have been as deceived as I was without my co-operation in the process. We deceive ourselves when we won't believe the truth. VERY DANGEROUS."
Home