Comments

Comments on the World Christian Scene

Evangelicals verses the Charismatics

Most of you have heard the joke about the tour God gave the Charismatics when they got to heaven. They came to a high wall and from the other side there was loud singing, the Charismatics asked God what the loud noise was, he said, 'shush its the Evangelicals they think they are the only ones here'. (substitute Catholics, Baptists, Reformed etc. etc. for Charismatics and Evangelicals).

Many years ago I heard someone say that with only the Spirit you blow up, and with only the Word you dry up but with the Spirit and the Word you can conquer the world for Christ. I think that there is a lot of truth in that.

Before Jesus died he prayed that future believers may be one (John 17:21). As I see it there are a lot of Evangelicals who are good bible believing Christians but deny that the gifts of the Spirit are for today and lack power in their lives. There are also plenty of Christians who believe in the gifts and the power and indeed have the gifts but who are not able to hold the power because their lives are not lived by the Word of God. It seems to me that if the Evangelicals who are devoted to the Word had the Spirit they would be stronger and if the Charismatics were more devoted to the Word they would be stronger and more effective.

There is certainly false doctrine amongst the Charismatics, the prosperity teaching on the last decade has had its excesses, I have witnessed this in America, a cursory study of the bible would be sufficient to see through these excesses. But was the Holy Spirit actually saying something to us through the teaching, surely He wanted Christians to be prosperous in order to give to the work of God throughout the world. In order to give a final outpouring of money into evangelism in the newly opened USSR and other work among the developing countries where the only hindrance to the spread of the gospel is workers and money. My experience of India has been that lack of money is a hindrance to the spread of the gospel. God is moving in the developing countries the West can be of help in this through the supply of money and resources.

The Evangelicals who deny that the gifts of the Spirit are for today are living in a false world, like Ostriches with their heads in the sand. The testimony of millions will testify against this, are they all deceived? Remember if there is a counterfeit there has to be the real thing too. The bible says 'do not forbid speaking in tongues' (1 Cor 14:39). Jesus said 'I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father' (John 14:12) do we believe this? Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. Raising the hands in worship is biblical (Neh 8:6, Ps 28:2, 63:4, 134:2, 141:2, 1 Tim 2:8).

The Charismatics need to get their house in order and clean up their act by living and preaching according to the word of God, and the Evangelicals need to stop denying the truth and the bible and get the power of the Spirit in their lives. Then the world will truly see Jesus through his church. Sound biblical teaching and the power of the Spirit are necessary in this age for the church to effectively witness to the world.

For an example of someone who was devoted to the Word of God and who discovered the Spirit of God see the books written by John Deere ('Surprised by the Power of the Spirit' and 'Surprised by the Voice of God') for the excesses of the Charismatics see books by John MacArthur Jr.

Lifting hands in worship

Toronto Blessing

I don't hold views either way on this but a friend of mine who is an elder made a comment that Isaac means laughter, and so we who share in the blessing of Isaac should laugh a bit more. Food for thought maybe. 7 Mar 98.

The Toronto Blessing

Deception in the Church- updated 19 March

The Toronto Blessing Discovery page - an excellent site giving all the Pro and Con links you could ask for

Background to the 'Holy Laughter' movement - Con as you might expect!

Books:

Charismatic Chaos by John F., Jr. MacArthur
Counterfeit Revival : Unmasking the Truth Behind the World Wide Counterfeit Revival by Hank Hanegraaff
The Coming Evangelical Crisis : Current Challenges to the Authority of Scripture and the Gospel by R. Kent Hughes (Editor), John, Jr. MacArthur (Editor), R. C. Sproul (Editor), John H. Armstrong (Editor), Michael Horton, Albert, Jr. Mohler
The Compromised Church : The Present Evangelical Crisis by John H. Armstrong (Editor
No Place for Truth or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology? by David F. Wells
Reformed Theology in America : A History of Its Modern Development by David F. Wells (Editor)

Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? (Four Views) by Richard B. Gaffin (Contributor), R. L. Saucy, Douglas Oss, Wayne A. Grudem (Editor), Samuel Storms (Contributor
Surprised by the Voice of God : How God Speaks Today Through Prophecies, Dreams, and Visions by Jack Deere
Surprised by the Power of the Spirit : Discovering How God Speaks and Heals Today by Jack Deere
The Beauty of Spiritual Language by Jack Hayford
Quenching the Spirit : Discover the Real Spirit Behind the Charismatic Controversy by William De Arteaga, William Deartaeaga, William Dearteaga
When the Spirit Comes With Power : Signs and Wonders Among God's People by John White
Empowered Evangelicals : Bringing Together the Best of the Evangelical and Charismatic Worlds by Rich Nathan, Ken Wilson
Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God by Gordon D. Fee

15 Sep 97 - updated 26 Jul 00

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