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Throwing out the Holy Spirit with the Charismatic Bathwater

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Do not treat prophecies with contempt  - 1Thessalonians 5: 20 (NIV)

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.  - 1Corinthians 14: 39 (NIV)

It doesn't say be eager to prophesy for the next 28 years and then stop. The verse from Thessalonians is dealing with what the will of God is for us in Christ Jesus, why would God include not treating prophecies with contempt? Did His will change after the Apostle John died? Of course not. Now, I do not consider anyone to be a prophet but I have known people who moved in the prophetic. Not the clairvoyance nonsense that passes for prophecy today. Paul teaches that prophesy is for the edification of believers. What edifies believers more than the Word of God? The role of prophesy in the Old Testament was to convey what God was saying. Today we have the Bible so we do not need any additional revelation. However, there is no admonition against reinforcing what has already been revealed. I have seen prophecy used correctly which is to reiterate what sayeth the Lord or even apply it to our lives today. Not the false prophecies we see out of Kansas City or the New Apostolic Reformation. Those are abuses of prophecy. 

Likewise there is clear abuses when it comes to tongues. The Bible is very clear that the public display of tongues is speaking in other languages, as shown on the day of Pentecost. Paul teaches this is for the edification of unbelievers. Think about that for a second and it makes sense. If I am an unbeliever coming to a church and someone is able to speak to me in my native language that they do not actually know! Wow would that be proof of a move of God! But there is another manifestation of the gift of tongues. 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.   And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.  - Romans 8: 26-27 (NIV)

This is obviously talking about our private prayer language. That when we are at a loss in prayer, the Spirit will guide us and say what we need to say, through wordless groans. The early missionaries for the Assemblies of Gods testified that tongues helped them communicate when there were language barriers but somewhere along the way it seems these two manifestations got flipped. What passes for public tongues today can only best be described as what is supposed to be our private prayer language. Only that makes little sense too because there is no mention of interpreting private prayer language. No, what passes for tongues in Charismatic churches these days is an outgrowth of a very "showy" spirit that has infiltrated the church. It is a "look at me" spirit. It is the same spirit at work in the unbiblical "slain in the Spirit" manifestations and the need to have dancers and flaggers in fluorescent clothing distracting the body during corporate worship. I know that is a lot of sacred cows there but the Bible decides what is right and what is wrong. 

But just because American theology has become flawed does that mean the gift is no longer in operation? Of course not. We just do not see it being done correctly. It would not surprise me to hear tongues as being other languages in countries other than ours.

Then we move onto healing, one of the most abused gifts. Again, I believe that all healing is sovereign to God but He certainly can use people. I do not think someone is a "healer" anymore than they are a prophet but I have seen people move in the gifts of healing. I know pastors who have healing oriented ministries. These are Gospel-focused and not abusive (yes it can happen). Not everyone is Benny Hinn. But we see the egregious sins of fake healers such as Hinn and we want to cast aside any chance of anyone else being able to use a gift that the Bible teaches is given out as the spirit decides. Most of the arguments against this I have heard from cessationists revolve around using something that didn't happen to prove their point. It doesn't work like that beloved. 

Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.  - 2Timothy 4: 20 (NIV)

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Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to (more...)
 
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