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When one looks at Scripture, comparing the teachings of popular charismatics, one will quickly see they do not speak according to the Word(Isaiah 8:20) and are false teachers deceiving many. Their quotes below are in purple.
"'Either You come down here and touch me, or I will come up there and touch You,' he prayed in desperation. Suddenly, his whole body felt like it was on fire. He began to laugh uncontrollably. Then he wept and began to speak in tongues. 'I was plugged into heaven's electrical supply,' he later wrote in his book, The Touch of God. 'And since then my desire has been to go and plug other people in'" (Julia Dulin, "Praise the Lord and Pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p. 22). -Rodney Morgan Howard Brown
God does not reward pride or arrogance(Psalm 10:4;31:20;59:12, Proverbs 8:13; 11:2;14:3;29:23, etc) even if God revealed himself to Brown, God would chastise a true child of God if he were disobedient(Hebrews 12:6-10). I'm not to say if Brown is a child of God or not, but will say he is a deceiver.
"The proof that this is a move of God is that when I leave, it doesn't stop" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.22). -Rodney Brown
Proof that this is a move of God is by the Word(Isaiah 8:20, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Hebrews 4:12, John 5:39) because the Word is all one needs to know the truth. Using Brown's logic, a worldly lover of many sins(Romans 1:29-32) could say adultery is from God because "when I leave, it doesn't stop". Certainly the world loves sin, and all follow it, and it doesn't stop!
"John Wimber takes a rather neutral approach to the more bizarre manifestations. 'There's nothing in Scripture that supports these kinds of phenomena that I can see, and I can't think of anything throughout the church age that would,' Wimber writes. 'So I feel no obligation to try to explain it. It's just phenomena. It's just people responding to God'" (Diana Doucet, "What is God doing in Toronto, 2/95, Charisma, p. 26).
Even leaders admit there is NO Scriptural precedence to these phenomena!
"Could this be the way God is bringing us into the final great revival before the return of Jesus? Whether it is or not, we can feel the Holy Spirit moving -- and we're going right along with Him! Don't stick your toe in to test the water! Don't wait! Jump all the way into this flowing river" (Holy Laughter, p. 159).
-Charles and Frances Hunter
Dont test the water? Does that sound Biblical? 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirits. Many other Scriptures tell us to be careful. In Acts 17:11 the Bereans didn't just take preaching as the truth just because someone told them so, they searched the Scriptures to validate claims!
"Howard-Browne disparages those who try to apply a theological test to his methods. 'You can't understand what God is doing in these meetings with an analytical mind,' he says. 'The only way you're going to understand what God is doing is with your heart'" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.26).
The ONLY way we can understand what God is doing is by our hearts? Like, what about the Word of God(as I showed above with Scripture)? Our experiences are SUBJECTIVE. The Word is OBJECTIVE. Jeremiah 17:9 says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
"The question we as believers must answer is this: Will we flow with the plans and purposes of God for this hour or will we hinder revival? I'm concerned that many are in danger of creating a false comfort zone for themselves. By the position they're taking, they are saying: 'I'm not sure about this present move. I'm just going to wait and see what happens.' But Jesus said, 'He who is not with Me is against Me' (Matt. 12:30, NKJV). Pentecost was not -- and is not -- an option. God considers us to be either for or against what He is doing at any given time" ("Flowing With Revival," p. 14).
This is a classic straw man argument. I will show you in another thread what Pentecost was all about, and compare it to what these charismatics claim their Pentecost is.
"Am I endorsing what I saw and experienced in Toronto? No, because I still don't understand much of it. Similar manifestations have occurred in past revivals; but I believe an experience should also be established in the Word of God. Furthermore, I'm concerned. First, I'm concerned that such a move of God has the potential to create a new group of 'spiritual elite' -- with those who have experienced strange manifestations wearing them like a badge of spirituality. Second, I'm concerned that the manifestations themselves could become so important that people who don't receive them through the power of the Holy Spirit will fake them -- as Simon the magician wanted to do in Acts 8. Finally, I'm concerned that a new denomination of shriekers, twitchers and laughter could spring up. Impossible, you say? Well, remember the Shakers and Quakers -- religious sects named after the phenomenon for which they were known" ("Floored in Toronto," 2/95, Charisma, p. 106). -Charisma publisher Steven Strang
Actually, I would have to agree with this charismatic's assessment for the most part!
"But his appeal is evident. It lies in his utter lack of slick evangelism. His simple style and genuine desire to unleash spiritual revival in America have caught the attention of charismatics who are eager to see signs and wonders" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.22).
We were called to live by faith(Romans 1:17, Galatians 2:20;3:11) and faith is defined as the substance of things hoped for, not seen(Hebrews 11:1-3).
"No one doubts that having vast numbers of listeners convulsed in laughter can make whatever is being said from the pulpit irrelevant" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.24).
So, even if what is being said from the pulpit was true, he would take man's experiences(eg:laughter) over the Word of God. I've already shown you leaders who say there is no precedence in Scripture for these phenomena.
"... After two meetings he was not impressed; during the third, Howard-Browne called him and three others out into the aisle and simply said, 'Be filled!' 'Boom! Down I went in the Spirit,' Williams says, 'and I started laughing, I laughed so hard for 20 minutes, my throat was sore the next day. I've been charismatic for 14 years, but I had dried out and grown tired. This refreshed me personally and changed my marriage.' So why would God use laughter to bring spiritual renewal? Williams says many people today need more than words -- they need a demonstration of God's power. 'Words have become meaningless in our society,' he says. 'Signs and wonders are what must recapture our attention'" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.28).
Words have become meaningless? So I guess, the Bible is just not good enough as it is alone for truth and conviction. Jesus told in Matthew 12:39 that an evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. Not to say that ANYONE that wants a sign from God has evil motives. The Word became flesh(John 1:1-14). Blessed is the man who has not seen Jesus but believes!(John 20:29). The charismatic movement does not line up with Scripture, and in fact contradicts Scripture in many places. Therefore it must be rejected as the Scriptures say.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24
"'Either You come down here and touch me, or I will come up there and touch You,' he prayed in desperation. Suddenly, his whole body felt like it was on fire. He began to laugh uncontrollably. Then he wept and began to speak in tongues. 'I was plugged into heaven's electrical supply,' he later wrote in his book, The Touch of God. 'And since then my desire has been to go and plug other people in'" (Julia Dulin, "Praise the Lord and Pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p. 22). -Rodney Morgan Howard Brown
God does not reward pride or arrogance(Psalm 10:4;31:20;59:12, Proverbs 8:13; 11:2;14:3;29:23, etc) even if God revealed himself to Brown, God would chastise a true child of God if he were disobedient(Hebrews 12:6-10). I'm not to say if Brown is a child of God or not, but will say he is a deceiver.
"The proof that this is a move of God is that when I leave, it doesn't stop" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.22). -Rodney Brown
Proof that this is a move of God is by the Word(Isaiah 8:20, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Hebrews 4:12, John 5:39) because the Word is all one needs to know the truth. Using Brown's logic, a worldly lover of many sins(Romans 1:29-32) could say adultery is from God because "when I leave, it doesn't stop". Certainly the world loves sin, and all follow it, and it doesn't stop!
"John Wimber takes a rather neutral approach to the more bizarre manifestations. 'There's nothing in Scripture that supports these kinds of phenomena that I can see, and I can't think of anything throughout the church age that would,' Wimber writes. 'So I feel no obligation to try to explain it. It's just phenomena. It's just people responding to God'" (Diana Doucet, "What is God doing in Toronto, 2/95, Charisma, p. 26).
Even leaders admit there is NO Scriptural precedence to these phenomena!
"Could this be the way God is bringing us into the final great revival before the return of Jesus? Whether it is or not, we can feel the Holy Spirit moving -- and we're going right along with Him! Don't stick your toe in to test the water! Don't wait! Jump all the way into this flowing river" (Holy Laughter, p. 159).
-Charles and Frances Hunter
Dont test the water? Does that sound Biblical? 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirits. Many other Scriptures tell us to be careful. In Acts 17:11 the Bereans didn't just take preaching as the truth just because someone told them so, they searched the Scriptures to validate claims!
"Howard-Browne disparages those who try to apply a theological test to his methods. 'You can't understand what God is doing in these meetings with an analytical mind,' he says. 'The only way you're going to understand what God is doing is with your heart'" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.26).
The ONLY way we can understand what God is doing is by our hearts? Like, what about the Word of God(as I showed above with Scripture)? Our experiences are SUBJECTIVE. The Word is OBJECTIVE. Jeremiah 17:9 says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
"The question we as believers must answer is this: Will we flow with the plans and purposes of God for this hour or will we hinder revival? I'm concerned that many are in danger of creating a false comfort zone for themselves. By the position they're taking, they are saying: 'I'm not sure about this present move. I'm just going to wait and see what happens.' But Jesus said, 'He who is not with Me is against Me' (Matt. 12:30, NKJV). Pentecost was not -- and is not -- an option. God considers us to be either for or against what He is doing at any given time" ("Flowing With Revival," p. 14).
This is a classic straw man argument. I will show you in another thread what Pentecost was all about, and compare it to what these charismatics claim their Pentecost is.
"Am I endorsing what I saw and experienced in Toronto? No, because I still don't understand much of it. Similar manifestations have occurred in past revivals; but I believe an experience should also be established in the Word of God. Furthermore, I'm concerned. First, I'm concerned that such a move of God has the potential to create a new group of 'spiritual elite' -- with those who have experienced strange manifestations wearing them like a badge of spirituality. Second, I'm concerned that the manifestations themselves could become so important that people who don't receive them through the power of the Holy Spirit will fake them -- as Simon the magician wanted to do in Acts 8. Finally, I'm concerned that a new denomination of shriekers, twitchers and laughter could spring up. Impossible, you say? Well, remember the Shakers and Quakers -- religious sects named after the phenomenon for which they were known" ("Floored in Toronto," 2/95, Charisma, p. 106). -Charisma publisher Steven Strang
Actually, I would have to agree with this charismatic's assessment for the most part!
"But his appeal is evident. It lies in his utter lack of slick evangelism. His simple style and genuine desire to unleash spiritual revival in America have caught the attention of charismatics who are eager to see signs and wonders" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.22).
We were called to live by faith(Romans 1:17, Galatians 2:20;3:11) and faith is defined as the substance of things hoped for, not seen(Hebrews 11:1-3).
"No one doubts that having vast numbers of listeners convulsed in laughter can make whatever is being said from the pulpit irrelevant" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.24).
So, even if what is being said from the pulpit was true, he would take man's experiences(eg:laughter) over the Word of God. I've already shown you leaders who say there is no precedence in Scripture for these phenomena.
"... After two meetings he was not impressed; during the third, Howard-Browne called him and three others out into the aisle and simply said, 'Be filled!' 'Boom! Down I went in the Spirit,' Williams says, 'and I started laughing, I laughed so hard for 20 minutes, my throat was sore the next day. I've been charismatic for 14 years, but I had dried out and grown tired. This refreshed me personally and changed my marriage.' So why would God use laughter to bring spiritual renewal? Williams says many people today need more than words -- they need a demonstration of God's power. 'Words have become meaningless in our society,' he says. 'Signs and wonders are what must recapture our attention'" (Julia Duin, "Praise the Lord and pass the New Wine," 8/94, Charisma, p.28).
Words have become meaningless? So I guess, the Bible is just not good enough as it is alone for truth and conviction. Jesus told in Matthew 12:39 that an evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. Not to say that ANYONE that wants a sign from God has evil motives. The Word became flesh(John 1:1-14). Blessed is the man who has not seen Jesus but believes!(John 20:29). The charismatic movement does not line up with Scripture, and in fact contradicts Scripture in many places. Therefore it must be rejected as the Scriptures say.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24
