A Summary of why I reject Pentecostal
Doctrine and Charismatic Renewal.
Pentecostalism is a fairly recent phenomenon in Christian
history beginning basically around the early 1900’s. Glossolalia had
occurred
sporadically throughout our history but has never been considered
normative for
all Christians until the Pentecostals came to give doctrinal primacy to
the
practice. All members of the body are to seek the ‘baptism in the Holy
Spirit,’
a second baptism, with the initial evidence being speaking in tongues
previously unknown to the speaker. This is one of the ‘distinctive
doctrines’ taught
by the Assemblies of God of which I was once a member and leader.
I wish to make clear that those who practice these ‘distinctives’ are still my brothers and sisters in Christ provided they believe in what I regard as the ‘essentials.’ The ‘Jesus only’ or United Pentecostals are not my brothers since they reject the doctrine of the trinity. (They also tend to be very legalistic.) The Word-Faith movement, which is very prominent among the tele-evangelists, is an odd blend of pantheism and theism clothed in Christian vernacular promoting a health and wealth gospel. These people should know better.
Charismatic movement began in the 1950’s and spread throughout the mainline churches. The movement has also been called ‘neo-pentecostal,’ they strive for a ‘charismatic renewal’ in the church. This movement was given its birth by the Pentecostal movement in the early 1900’s. Since they are related and have much the same emphases, baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, I often use the terms interchangeably. There are charismatics throughout all denominations and they seek to reform, the Pentecostals generally have formed their own churches. There are charismatics in my own church, the Church of the Nazarene.
Pentecostals also believe that the office of prophet is still open. God still directly speaks through those with that gift. Obviously, in practice this is a very powerful office. Teachers like Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland have said some very outlandish things when claiming to be speaking for God.
I intend to write a paper on the last Pentecostal book I read before leaving the AG church. It was given to me by my former pastor in order to convince me that the doctrines in Pentecostalism were true; The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke by Roger Stronstad. (He also wrote a book about every believer being a prophet which I have not read.) It didn’t have the desired affect; the book further cemented my opposition to Pentecostal teaching.
In order to make his case that charismatic experience (tongues, divine healing, and prophecy) should be normative practice for every Christian today, Stronstad began with very dangerous assertion that the church’s doctrines were already established and Luke set out to write a history of salvation to support these doctrines. This undermines the historical foundations of the Christian faith. Luke himself made very clear of what his intentions were in the first passage in both Luke and Acts. The implication that Luke ‘colored’ certain events to support existing practice is unacceptable and I believe untrue.
The Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles are books of descriptive history. If we were to take everything as normative, in Acts especially, the church would have a lot of changing to do because we, nor the Pentecostals, are anywhere close to what the church was in the apostolic period. I believe our doctrines were taken ‘out of’ history not that our existing doctrines were ‘poured into’ history. This is very subjective and I believe God would reveal Himself much more concretely. This belief probably arises from my study of philosophy that leads me to believe that God is not, nor could be, ‘fuzzy’ in how He reveals Himself to us. If this was their best argument, it didn’t work.
Here’s a ‘smattering’ of reasons of why I believe
‘Love
never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where
there are
tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass
away. For
we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the
imperfect disappears.’ 1 Corinthians
13:8-11 NIV
I believe that the languages spoken at Pentecost were real languages; they were understood by those around them. This was a genuine biblical miracle which served a purpose. Modern glossolalia has been studied by linguists and there are no instances of real language or syntax found anywhere. This is not miraculous and I believe is the psychological phenomena of ecstatic utterance.
I believe God closed the canon of scripture for a reason; to preserve the authenticity of His Word which has repeatedly withstood the test of time. I believe the whole process of bringing the 66 books together was divinely inspired and is now complete; perfection has come and is testable through the reliability and unity of scripture. We now have the Word and since I believe this true, there are no modern prophets. In fact those who have come forward in recent times saying they have heard directly from God or from one of His agents have given us Islam, Mormonism, and the Jehovah Witnesses. Modern day prophets have given a host a teachings that are not biblical at best, outright blasphemous at worst. http://members.truevine.net/arminian@truevine.net/masq.html
Teachers like Jack Hayford have claimed that
Christ has personally
met with him and said “The
Lord told me, ‘I’m preparing to do a new thing in the
earth,’” http://www.regent.edu/news/hayford.html Just
what this thing is, I have no idea and nor does Hayford. From what
I’ve read in the Bible, God is rarely so vague.
If we allow the new Word-Faith prophets with its ‘signs and wonders’ and ‘health and wealth’ evangelism to hijack Christianity, which I don’t think is possible since Christ will preserve His Church though we be few, Christianity we be unrecognizable a generation from now. Charismatic Pentecostals are vulnerable to these wolves in that they still regard the office of prophet as valid. The ‘postmodern’ invasion is having its impact as well.
My spending a little time with Kierkegaard shed a
little light
on what Pentecostalism is all about and about its intellectual roots; I
see a connection. The 'knowledge' of God is intensely personal so a
practicing Charismatic/Pentecostal will tell
you. Soren was very concerned that Christianity had become too dry and
intellectual. He sought to change that with what I think was with good
intention. To
this day, Pentecostal and Charismatics will tell you of their personal
testimony after they took the ‘leap of faith.’ I believe them; what
they
believe in is true and what they felt was real, but objectively they
couldn’t
tell you why because in that system there is no objective basis for
belief, it is primarily subjective. They
just happen to believe in something that is essentially true; Jesus is
the Son
of God and has the power to change lives. The outward signs such as
tongues
were mere ecstatic utterances induced psychologically. This 'blind
faith' and other 'postmodern' influences (coupled with the acceptance
of the doctrine of evolution) has had a profound
effect on the churches intellectual credibility in the world.
(see 1 Timothy 3:15)
I believe Christianity is objectively true and is grounded in objective history. I am passionate about this and my faith. I have no desire nor feel the need to ‘existentialize’ my faith in order for it to be more ‘personal.’ Profound changes have occurred in me as I grow closer to my Lord, Master, and friend, Jesus Christ.
Here are a few links to further explain why I
believe the
‘charismatic renewal’ is a corruption of the faith. With my stand for
arminianism and against ‘charismatic renewal’ I have become somewhat of
a
lightening rod for attacks. It is in good conscience that I stand up
for what I
believe is true and believe that this is my calling. It is my hope and
prayer
that I will do this in love, and that unity in the truth will result.
What I
have said is not intended to offend, but if it does I pray that you
investigate
the matter for yourself.
I urge, then,
first of all, that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all
those in
authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness
and
holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men
to be
saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and
one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in its
proper time. 1 Timothy 2:1-6
On Christians Criticizing Christians http://www.equip.org/free/DA050.htm
On the
Third Wave "New Apostolic Reformation"