So Many Charismatic Casualties (False Prophecies, Promised Healings That Never Came, etc.)

Have you been burned by a false prophecy? Did you lose your faith when a promised healing never came? Have you had it with flaky teaching in the name of "new revelation"? If so, you are not alone. There are more Charismatic casualties than many of us would care to admit.

But let me start here with an honest confession. My own experience in Pentecostal-Charismatic circles has been far more positive than negative. I have worked with the same leadership team for more than 20 years. I have had the privilege of serving with men and women of integrity all around the world – I'm talking about Pentecostal-Charismatic leaders around the globe.

I was saved in a Pentecostal church in 1971 and transformed by an outpouring of the Spirit in 1982. I was on the front lines of the Brownsville Revival from 1996-2000, and grads from our ministry school are bearing amazing fruit around the world. And while I have seen my share of scandals and false prophecies and leadership abuses and weirdness, it has been the exception far more than the rule.

Sadly, for many others, the opposite has proved true. For them, there is little or nothing good in the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement. They have been hurt or confused or abused, causing some to reject the move of the Spirit today and causing others to lose their faith entirely. My heart breaks over all these Charismatic casualties, and it is high time that we set our house in order.

I recently read a book critiquing the movement, and in my opinion, it was totally over the top in its criticisms.

Putting aside the scriptural errors I found in the book, it painted a terribly caricatured picture, one that was so exaggerated it was hardly recognizable to me. Yet as I read reviews to the book posted by readers, I saw that many of them were adding their hearty Amen. The picture it painted was all too familiar to them.

I'm aware, of course, that every church (or ministry or denomination or leader) has its critics. You can find horror stories everywhere, and if a church or ministry is big enough, you can find lots of negative reports from those who were allegedly burned by that church or ministry. But when you hear the same story over and over again from people from varied backgrounds, you know that something, somewhere is wrong.

When it comes to the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement, there is no shortage of amazing stories of what the Lord is doing in virtually every nation on the planet. This is truly a stunning, Jesus-exalting, multi-generational work of the Holy Spirit. I see no way to deny that for a split second.

Even more importantly, based on Scripture, I find it indisputable that the gifts and power of the Spirit are to continue in operation until Jesus returns.

But that doesn't minimize the damage that has been done in the name of the Spirit, and there are all too many casualties because of unchecked abuses. Out of love for the Lord and love for His people, we need to step higher.

Although my new book, "Playing with Holy Fire", just came out a few days ago, I'm already seeing a pattern in the reviews being posted by readers.

One reader wrote, "Dr. Michael Brown's very timely and balanced work really addressed where I am right now: disillusioned and heartbroken over the abuses of the contemporary church (this goes beyond the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement, though it is centered there). Furthermore, he encouraged my heart, showing me that I am not alone, and providing a Biblical way forward."

Another commented on Facebook that reading the book was bringing them healing from the negative experiences they had in our circles. Still another wrote, "As a former cessationist who was a cessationist BECAUSE of the abuse I saw happening in exercising the Holy Spirit's gifts, it concerns me too. Both because these abuses keep a very large section of the church away from desiring and pursuing something God wants them to have, but also because it harms our testimonies among unbelievers. This book will definitely be going to the top of my reading list!"

Other pastors and leaders are saying, "At last! These abuses needed to be addressed."

So, while I rejoice in what the Spirit is doing around the world, I grieve over the many who have been hurt and disillusioned because of human error and human sin and human carelessness. Truly, we have been given much by the Lord. And that means that much will be required of us.

May we walk worthy of the Holy Spirit's high calling. And may the name of Jesus be exalted, not tarnished, by our lives and ministries as Pentecostal and Charismatic believers.

imardmd1: He coveyed it hust fine in the Greek. (Post #268)

He (Paul, as a regenerated disciple personally taught by Jesus Messiah and ordained by Him and gifted by Him to the churches as one of the primary Apostles; Ephesians 4:11)

conveyed (then was guided by the Holy Spirit to infallibly and inerrantly transmit in the words and syntax of the Koine Greek dialect, and in his^(Paul's) own style)

it (the Will of God)

just fine (exactly)

in the Greek (what He wished those expertly trained in the Koine--whether then or now, and for all time forever--to read, understand, and preserve without modification)

Elsie: Then since Greek is the language of GOD; it would behoove True Believers to learn it, read it, speak it and LIVE it.

Yes, that is true, but as you know, even in one's own birth language, let alone an assimilated one, a human (being finite) may not perfectly understand what is being transmitted, therefore we need to have teachers in it to more perfectly explain the exactness of it so the import does not fall upon dull ears, so to speak. How much more so when one seeks to learn the precise essence of God's Will from a translation of the New Testament Greek into another language of another time and another culture.

Even in football, there is (supposedly) only one rule book, but endless ways of putting it into action and playing it out, with referees to interpret the rules and keep the action within bounds and without rioting.

But what, then, if you tried to play a game of soccer with the football rule book? Even with the same assembly stadium, the same-sized field, with the attempt to move the ball from one end to the other, without the same rule book both the competitors, the observers, and even the same referees would find themselves in a great fracas, never able to achieve the objectives.

Elsie: Then accusations against the KJV only crowd would be silenced; right?

I would hope so, but no matter the language, though a person legitimately commits oneself to be a disciple of The Author of the Game, the beginner still needs a more mature experienced teacher to keep the play and the objective in sight. Even if one understands the Greek language adequately, thus needing no translator, an interpreter (one who can give you the meaning and keep you within bounds) is still needed; as well as a pastor-elder (coach) to keep the team working together; and deacon-ministers to maintain the facilities, clean the uniforms, and feed the participant platers and observers.

But regarding the rule-book, the Bible, the Ruckmanite/Riplinger flavor of KJV-only "purists" would throw away the original rule-book and insist that theirs is the only "inspired" (in English!) text to use. Their position is simply asinine, one to be rejected.

The person who believes that the KJV/AV--which is in one of the "new tongues/languages" (see Mark 16:17 and its context, a new tongue not even on the horizon at the time this Gospel was written), though imperfect and uninspired, is one of the best platforms from which to learn how to be a saved dedicated genuine player/disciple, and who wants to start playing nicely according to the rules, that person knows that realistically a student of the language of the original rule-book, the Holy Writings as inscripturated, is required when questions of interpretation of the English and of the underlying Greek come up.

And actually, not one of the uninspired translations is entirely adequate by itself that play may be conducted without quarrels appearing.

(Whew!)

======= segment 4 =========

2. The sealing of Scripture was a logistical necessity; whereby the gifts given at Pentecost are weapons of spiritual warfare, necessary for the building, continuance and maintanence of the church; as John teaches: "the antiChrist is already in the world".

I don't know what you are talking about when you use the term "sealing the Scripture," and I suspect you don't know, either. But if you think you do, you'd better explain it with Biblical references, and not just bandy it about. If you are referring to the conclusion of the giving of the Written Word(s) of The God, which is what happened when Beloved John finished writing down the last verse of the Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse in the Greek), and finished that Book with "Amen," then it was also the point of giving of the last word of the entire collection of the progressively supernaturally revealed Books detailing the sum of His Will, The Greek word τελειον (teleion), an adjective meaning perfected, completed, finished, ripely mature, is neuter in gender and refers to the word βίβλος (biblos), the noun, also neuter in gender, meaning a written book, a roll, a scroll. When John finished his inspired book, it also meant that the entire writing of Holy Scripture was finished, and therefore the Book of Books, the entire progressive revelation had come to an end and was a finished thing, a τελειον βίβλος. That is indisputable. The verse 1 Corinthians 13:10

οταν δε ελθη το τελειον τοτε το εκ μερους καταργηθησεται (Textus Receptus or UBS)

when But^postpositive has come the completed^thing then the partial^{(incompleted) thing} will cease/be done with/pass away (my off-hand translation)

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (KJV/AV)

Here, I believe the plain sense is that τελειον specifically refers to the Written Word and εκ μερους refers to the orally delivered tradition including oral prophecies, spoken words of wisdom/knowledge, and vocally interpreted messages in foreign languages, a tradition that never was completed because The Spirit did not have it written down for posterity. But these tools were used in the planting of the early churches an in the recruitment of early disciples and their instruction. They have not continued sincre the full revealed will/testament/covenants of the Lord were finished and made available.

One of the primary tenets of hermeneutics is that when the plain sense makes common sense, then seek no other sense; and that is the position that many good Biblical scholars and commentators take. It is one that I also think is common and sufficient for a solid saving faith and praxis, thus so do I.

3. Cessationists such as yourself miss an important, if ominous, event that correlates with the sealing of Scripture in the First Century.

Again, sealing meant to wrap up, bind, close to examination with a literal or figurative official impression against reopening. That is not my concept of what God's Word is about, for it is now open to all. So until I hear otherwise, I refuse and rebuke such a concept that I have never previously heard of.

The only thing about which I am a "cessationist" is the addition of the supererogative work of adding fallible unscriptural prophecies, words of knowledge, or utterings unintelligible to any man or beast. Otherwise, with my faithful Old Sword, a personal fellowship with My Heavenly Father and His Begotten Son, my Lord, and His Active Indwelling Guiding Discerning Holy Spirit, I am good to go, without all these other unspiritual and questionable imaginative frills.

Please do not refer to me as a "Cessationist." It is inaccurate, demeaning, and unloving in the agapaoh or phileoh sense.

The spirit of antiChrist also came about in the First Century, and you need the full armory of the gifts of the Spirit in the church for this reason.

I do not know what your list of such "gifts" are as referring to spiritual warfare. The spiritual functions given to various members of the local churches is for the planting, watering, and growth of the assemblies. They are variously distributed according to the prescribed assignment of The Spirit. On the other hand, the panoply of personal accoutrements possessed by each and every regenerated believer is described in Ephesians 6:10-20, of which the only offensive weapons are the memorized and Spoken Word (ρημα = hrayma) of God, effective prayer, and proclamation of The Gospel as a herald and ambassador of the kingdom of Christ.

I have all those concepts, abilities, and training.

What other "more charismatic" attributes do you think the believer needs? Read/pry into/predict someone else's mind and intents as you seem inclined to do? uncover privileged communications? private life? future? I don't think so.

======== end of segment #4 ========

Of course it is, and some of that is necessary. A lot of Greek words, especially verbs, require more English words to render the equivalent Greek words. I think I have copied this our before, but here we go again:

Where the grammar is ambiguous or whether it is capable of being literally translated in a variety of ways, in most cases a translator must make as much a theological as a grammatical decision. There are many places where this kind of interpretive interaction with the original text is unavoidable; and every translator, regardless of his commitment to a particular translation philosophy understands this.

This does not mean, however, that all translations are equally interpretive. Generally speaking, the formal equivalence translator intrudes his interpretive opinions only where the necessity of making grammatical decisions forces him to do so. By comparison, the dynamic equivalence translator tends to be relatively unrestrained in his theologizing. What the formal equivalence translator does only as a matter of necessity, the dynamic equivalence translator often does as a matter of choice.

(snip)
The more that the concern of the translator shifts from formal linguistic correspondence between text and translation to produce 'equivalent effect' in the mind of the modern reader, the more necessarily interpretive translation becomes. As Nida acknowledges, 'The translator is often inclined to be more interpretive on the basis of such a formula [i. e., dynamic equivalence] than if he attempts to stay closer to the actual wording of the original.

Martin, Robert P. "Accuracy of Translation: The Primary Criterion in Evaluating Bible Versions with special reference to the New international Version" Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA (1997) pp. 42,43

I have to say, the NIV doesn't come out very good in this scholarly publication. It is definitely not recommended as a study Bible for the serious reader.

It is probably unwise to use them as pulpit Bibles or as pew Bibles, because doing so they are invested with the aura of the church.

The NIV is not worthy of becoming the standard version of the English-speaking world. Its accuracy is suspect in too many ways.

ibid. p. 70

What you save them with is what you save them to, eh, Els?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.