Posted on 04/09/2018 8:39:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Charismatic-Pentecostal movement finds itself at a critical juncture. On the one hand, our movement is arguably responsible for the greatest ingathering souls in Church history, with well over 500 million new converts in the last 50 years. On the other hand, abuses abound in our midst, from sexual scandals to financial impropriety and from unaccountable prophecies to doctrinal deviances.
It is high time that we do some self-policing. Better that we judge ourselves than be judged by the Lord (see 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 11:31-32).
I recently signed up to receive emails from a well-known "prophet," curious to see if he had changed his ways. (In the past, his fundraising methods were infamous.) Immediately, I received this appeal:
_____________________________________________
CLICK HERE TO SOW THE $80.18 for DEUTERONOMY 8:18
(Your urgent response is required)
MIRACLE MONEY is coming, discover WHEN now! PROFITABLE CONNECTIONS are yours, discover WHO now! GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES will be found, discover WHERE now!
_____________________________________________
And it got much worse after this, including stories of people who had suffered serious losses because they failed to respond to the prophet's word. What a horror. More horrible still, I'm sure hundreds or thousands of sincere but gullible believers wrote out checks for $80.18, even if they barely had a dollar to their name.
A critic of the Charismatic-Pentecostal movement, of which I am a joyful, committed part, emailed me a couple of years back. He pleaded with me to watch a segment from a recent broadcast of a famous TV preacher. I watched, and I was shocked. The critic was not exaggerating.
This prominent TV preacher brought a "prophet" onto his program and asked him to receive the offering. The prophet claimed to have received a direct, clear word from the Lord, warning of a major disaster coming that September, which was then just a few weeks off.
The good news was that if you gave an offering of $500, you, your children, and your grandchildren would be protected from this disaster, plus your debts would be cancelled and your body healed. And this was on national (and probably international) Christian TV.
How in the world did the stations allow this to air? And how could this prominent TV preacher allow this to happen on his watch? This is absolutely corrupt in every way.
Aside from the fact that no major disaster happened that September, it is complete manipulation to claim people must give a sacrificial gift to a particular ministry to be protected from a disaster.
What if they simply trusted God to protect them from this impending doom? And what if they could only afford to give $250? Does that mean only half of their family would be protected? Yet people wrote out their checks and donated their hard-earned money, believing the smooth talk of this slick prophet. I'd be surprised if he didn't receive a nice cut of the offering too.
But it's not only prophetic abuses we've had in our midst. One megachurch pastor slept with his brother's wife and fathered a child by her. Years later, that child, who thought he was the megachurch pastor's nephew, took his place as the new pastor of the church, only to find out that his "uncle" was his father. So, the leadership succession in this congregation went from the father to the son born out of adultery and incest.
Another megachurch pastor said that God told him he married the wrong woman. Seven days after his divorce went through, he married his new wife, continuing to minister without interruption. Ironically, it was the pastor who slept with his brother's wife who performed the wedding. May God help us to repent.
I absolutely believe in showing mercy, and I live by the kindness of God 24/7. I'm all for restoration, knowing that our God is a redeemer. And I'm the last one to throw stones at my fallen brothers and sisters, knowing full well that "there go I but for the grace of God."
But will we really see change if we don't preach the cross, don't preach repentance, don't call out sin, and don't call out disobedience? We will really see change if we major on the minors and minor on the majors? If we put personal revelation ahead of the Word of God? If we preach a gospel of financial gain? If we substitute flakiness for fullness? As Derek Prince wisely said, "Do not expect New Testament results without New Testament methods."
I personally believe that the best is yet to come and that what we have seen so far is nothing compared to what is coming in the days ahead – the greatest outpouring of the Spirit in the history of the planet. All the more, then, it is urgent that we get our house in order, that we quit celebrating doctrinal silliness, that we hold our leaders accountable, that we quit manipulating people out of their money, and that we show our Lord that we are ready to go to the next level in Him.
A dying world is watching and waiting. Heaven is looking down with interest. How will we respond? May we no longer play with holy fire. The flames of God are too sacred for silly games.
(Some of the material in this article has been adapted from my new book, Playing with Holy Fire: A Wake-up Call to the Charismatic-Pentecostal Church, just released this week.)
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Many aspiring Christians leave out one important step, the one thing He asks of us: repent of your sins. Repent. You are not "entitled" to salvation without repentance and humility before the law of God.
Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?Matthew 3:2
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.Matthew 3:8
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.Mark 1:4
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.Luke 13:3
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.Luke 24:47
and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.2 Corinthians 12:21
[Paul:] I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
So, the studies, prayers and meditations of the hearts of 2,000 years of Christian scholars are pale in comparison to Wikipedia? My child was writing for Wikipedia during freshman year in college.
If you even are born again, you might want to go back and read your posts here. You are working for the antichrist spirit which is rising in our midst. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Cor 1:18
Then yes, a mess was made.
When I am born again I hope to meet with Martin Luther and discuss the problems he had with Revelations.
What you believe is irrelavant. It is what has been handed down to us that is important knowing that the divine providence of God steers the course. Otherwise you come to your conclusion that there isn't anything different between the Bible and the Koran.
And, if you don't believe in divine revelation, then what exactly are you doing in church? Every believer is an example of divine revelation.
I would humbly offer that with your attitude you will not ever be born again. The broken and contrite spirit God will in no way cast out.
“Nestorians do not recognize the book of Revelations. Are they Christians?”
The Bible itself may sometimes be complicated and difficult to understand. But the Gospel message, revealed in the Bible, is simple.
2 Peter 3:16
...Some things [are] hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Matthew 18:3
[Jesus] said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
People are not saved or lost based on a perfect understanding of the Bible. Nor are they saved or lost by joining a particular group or subscribing to a set of doctrinal statements. Faith is not merely an intellectual pursuit. It is a matter of the heart.
So, you are asking the wrong question. The premise of your question is false. In other words, just your asking of it reveals that you have subscribed to erroneous and destructive ideas.
I do not know if you have an agenda or are seriously seeking the truth. If you are simply trying to win an argument, you will do so to your own destruction. And I can not help you. But if you want to know the truth more than proving you are already right, then perhaps what I have to say can be helpful to you.
The need to become a Christian is predicated on the fact that all have sinned. All are transgressors of the laws of God.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
James 2:10-11
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law
1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
Our sinful state means we are spiritually dead and separated from God.
Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
A person becomes a “Christian” by hearing and believing the Gospel which, according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and Mark 1:15 and related passages, contains the following:
1) The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins.
2) He was buried.
3) He rose again.
4) These things and the Gospel itself were foreordained by God and prophesied in the scriptures.
5) Christ was seen by many witnesses after He rose from the dead, and the New Testament contains eye-witness accounts proving He rose from the dead.
6) God commands all people everywhere to repent, and...
7) Believe the Gospel.
A person who does so is born again and is now a child of God.
A person who has not believed the Gospel is under divine wrath.
I have no interest in assessing people’s salvation by membership or non-membership in some particular group. My opinion on this is totally irrelevant. The issue is what Christ says about the state of their souls. And more importantly, for your sake, what does He say about the state of your soul? Have you repented of your sins and believed the Gospel?
Selah
I submit the purity of the Gospels, the perfection of the spoken Christ, do not require the chapter of Revelations. It is a book that scaremongers and greedy pulpiteers alike utilize to fill their pockets with something that cannot be known. I submit, Mark 14:30-33 alone is worth all the hobgobliny of Revelations.
Sorry, The Revelation will not be acceptable as your escape clause when you stand for judgment.
The self policing in the Charismatic-Pentecostal movement was addressed by theologian and book author JP Moreland in Kingdom Triangle. He is not a sensationalist. He too looked at the great evangelism of the movement but pointed out the same issues in this article. If you all have not read the book I highly recommend it. He addresses more than Pentecostal issues as he takes aim at our western culture, how to evangelize in a post modern society without watering down the Gospel and how our churches have become bubbles unto themselves. He also points out the great things going on and the brave souls of missionaries here in the US and overseas.
Well John received visions and from Christ.
The tares always grow among the wheat.
.. the enemy comes to sow tares. The Gospel of Grace is foolishness to them who are perishing. They look for escape clauses, as if they can connive their way into the wedding feast.
“Revelations... is a book that scaremongers and greedy pulpiteers alike utilize to fill their pockets with something that cannot be known. I submit, Mark 14:30-33 alone is worth all the hobgobliny of Revelations.”
There is a difference between someone who doubts the veracity of a text and someone who attacks and maligns it with vile insults.
The way a person knows he or she are a true believer in Christ is through the indwelling Holy Spirit who confirms this to us:
Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
The revelation of Christ to any person can only come by the work of the Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 16:17-18
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
The Holy Spirit leads those who have Him in their life to know the truth:
John 16:13
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
There are many witnesses confirming that the book of Revelation is the word of God and Spirit-inspired. Early church fathers identified John the apostle as the author. This comes from those who learned from Polycarp who was appointed bishop of Smyrna by John himself (and this is one of the seven churches to which the book was originally addressed).
Revelation is consistent with the entire Bible in terms of doctrine and prophetic imagery. It ties together the entire Bible and bookends it with the finality of the closing message:
Revelation 22:18-21
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
This carries with it the same authoritative finality with which the Hebrew scriptures concluded:
Malachi 4:5-6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.
Revelation is confirmed by the Holy Spirit to be the word of God to those who have the Holy Spirit indwelling them.
Luke 24:32
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
Because of Christ living in me through the gift of the Holy Spirit, I am deeply grieved when I sin, I long to know more of Christ and His word, and I recognize His voice. This is one way I know that Revelation is the word of God.
John 10:26-27
But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And by this same token I know you are not Spirit-led in this matter because you not only do not recognize the word of God, you attacked and maligned it. And the peril you are putting yourself in by doing so is incalculable.
John 5:39
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
The book of Revelation is a revealing of Christ, just as all scripture is. And it is writing that was divinely inspired, being written as the author was moved to write by the Holy Spirit, just as all scripture is.
Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 2:29
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:6
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:13
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:22
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 14:13
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Some important warnings concerning the Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not quench the Spirit.
Genesis 6:3a
And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.”
Matthew 12:24, 26, 28, 32
Now when the Pharisees heard [people asking if Jesus was the son of David] they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
[Jesus said,] If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?... If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
Jude 19
These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
We are to receive the Spirit, not grieve Him, not quench His work, not strive against Him, and certainly not blaspheme Him.
The ultimate answer to the question of the canonicity of Revelation is answered by the Holy Spirit Himself.
I also wonder if the claim of the number of converts as a result of the Pentecostal movement is accurate.
Because I certainly would expect to see a greater impact on our culture or world if that many people had actually gotten saved.
I can’t help but wonder if there was a lot of emotionalism and *professions* without there being actual salvation.
While cleaning out the basement today; I found an old picture of me.
I had hair and a beard (which I’d forgotten I had!) 1980 date
Wow!
You mean it DID before this time??
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