Pentecostal vs Charismatic - Part 1

PENTECOSTAL VS CHARISMATIC PART ONE Copyright 1985,1993,2001,2007 Crossroads Full Gospel International Ministries All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Short extracts may be used for review purposes. Except otherwise stated, Bible quotes come from the King James Version. 1611 Elizabethan English is updated in some cases to reflect present terminology, without changing the true meaning of the word. Extracts from “The Expositor's Study Bible” are identified as E.S.B. Copyright © 2005 Published by, and the sole property of, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, Baton Rouge, LA, and extracts from the Swaggart Bible Commentary series are identified as S.B.C. Copyright © World Evangelism Press® Extracts from the Amplified Bible are identified as Amp. Old Testament Copyright © 1962, 1964 by Zondervan Corporation. New Testament Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Extracts from the New International Version are identified as N.I.V. Copyright 1973,1978,1984 by The International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Also used: The New Testament: An Expanded Translation (Wuest) translated by Kenneth S. Wuest. Copyright © 1961 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bracketed comments following some scriptures assist the reader in understanding the intended meaning of these verses We acknowledge the additional works of the various Scholars and Bible Commentaries used in conjunction with the College material. This is not to say that we agree with all their theology, but we certainly value their contribution to the Body of Christ. Published by: Crossroads Publications 10681 Princes Highway Warrnambool Victoria 3280 Australia CONTENTS PENTECOSTAL VS CHARISMATIC......................................1 MODERN CHARISMATIC METHODS AND APPROACHES.....................................................................7 RELATIVISM.....................................................................15 MUSIC................................................................................16 THE DECEPTION OF SUCCESS RATHER THAN VICTORY...........................................................................20 PENTECOSTAL TEACHING VS CHARISMATIC TEACHING........................................................................25 PENTECOSTAL VS CHARISMATIC The spiritual narcotic of darkness permeates the Church world, with false doctrines feeding fleshy lusts for self-rule and material possessions. In the following sections, we endeavour to briefly address some of the heresies which are currently flourishing and are diverting Christians from sound Biblical truth. As Paul warned the Pastors from Ephesus: ACTS 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God (to shepherd the people), which He has purchased with His own Blood (at great price). ACTS 20:29 For I (Paul) know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ACTS 20:30 Also of your own selves (from within) shall men arise, speaking perverse (distorted and corrupt) things, to draw away Disciples after them (rather than Christ). Today more and more Pentecostal churches and ministries have become Charismatic in nature while remaining Pentecostal in name. We as Christians really need to know and understand the fundamental doctrines of the Bible in order to recognise the difference which is implied by these two terms. The difference between these two terms is not always easily discerned by a superficial glance at a ministry or church. However we can know by their doctrines and the application of these doctrines - in other words, the way the people concerned walk and apply their faith (or so-called), and how much of the love and power (the graces) of God flow in their churches and lives (1 Corinthians 1:24-30). Let us state from the beginning that there are vast differences between Biblical Pentecostal fundamentalism (adherence to the core fundamentals of the Word of God) and the modern Charismatic movement that has swept into the Church in the last few decades. 1 We, in this study, are not addressing heresy in the mainline churches, which, incidentally, dominates the seminaries around the world, especially those in the USA. Here the major school of thought endorsed is based on the heretical doctrine called “Higher Criticism” which invaded America in the 1920’s. According to this view, the Bible is not the infallible, authoritative, revealed Word of God. Rather it is man’s search for God, and therefore it is filled with myth, legend and superstition. Proponents of this view believe that the Bible is to be studied, not to be believed and obeyed but to be analyzed, dissected and criticized. The result is that the scriptures lose their authority, and the churches which bring these apostates into their pulpits then deny the virgin birth, the Resurrection, the miracles of Jesus and the Second Coming, etc. They may then teach: “Christ is one of the ways to God, for God is everywhere,” and “Man is innately good - there is therefore no need to be born again and no need to repent of sin.” Note: This is a “liberal” approach to the scriptures. The word “liberal” describes those who don’t take the Bible literally, especially in regard to fundamentals. True liberals, because of this, are not saved. Without the virgin birth, the Deity of Christ and His bodily Resurrection, there can be no salvation. Instead man seeks his own way of “redemption.” Consequently, these apostates centre their doctrines around man instead of God and produce such teachings as the false doctrine of self-esteem. With twisted thinking, man becomes his own god, to rule and do as he sees fit as long as he feels emotionally comfortable with his actions. Such are fools! “. . .Let us state from the beginning that there are vast differences between Biblical Pentecostal fundamentalism and the modern Charismatic movement. . .” In this short study we will identify and discuss some false and heretical doctrines that can lead to apostasy within the so-called Pentecostal churches. Now it is a serious thing to call a church or individual an “apostate.” It is also a serious thing to give a false gospel which engenders false hope. For example, to teach directly or 2 indirectly that once you are truly saved, you can never forfeit your salvation is definitely heretical - the kind of heresy (false teaching about God and His Word) that can lead to apostasy (a falling away from the faith). This is because it distorts and interferes with the Biblical doctrine of man’s sin and the Blood of Jesus. Yet in fact many, many of the churches that say they are Pentecostal do this very thing. The truth is that many are lost because they have been taught this false gospel of forgiveness without repentance e.g. “God will understand the position I am in (my sin) and He will not hold it against me.” Even if by never addressing this issue from the pulpit, these churches in fact are teaching by omission that all is well in the next life if you say “Yes Jesus, You are Lord.” But the Bible says not all who say “Lord Lord,” will be welcomed into heaven (Matthew 7:22-24). If this demonic doctrine is promoted in the churches, you can rest assured that many are unsaved and undelivered, having violated the boundaries of salvation through a lack of repentance. This makes many in these churches, who have fallen from grace, apostates. We must then wonder are these churches apostate churches? There are other false doctrines within the Charismatic world that fall into this category, and sometimes there is a fine line between false doctrine and heretical doctrine that leads to apostasy. The recent Pentecostal outpouring that really began to change the Christian Church originated around 1900. Since then the Pentecostal Church has evangelized the world with the goal of enriching the Kingdom - both with souls, and in bringing the holiness of God into men’s lives through the direction and power of the Holy Spirit. Many members of the mainline churches were Spirit-baptized and were called “Charismatics.” They stayed within their mainline structures and often conducted separate and additional Charismatic meetings for those concerned. The Charismatic movement itself had its beginnings around 1960 with the introduction of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit into many mainline churches. Certainly this was God beginning to wake people up to His holy Pentecostal standard - the Spirit Baptism and the power which is available through this grace. After 10 years or so, it became apparent that many of the people who were Spirit-baptized were not prepared to leave their comfortable mainline surrounds. 3 They wanted the blessings of the Cross without changing their lifestyles or setting aside their loyalties to particular churches or denominations, no matter how little of God’s Word and Anointing were to be found in these places. Many compromises took place or were encouraged. For example, “If we have agape love, we will just overlook our differences,” or “We are staying here to change our church from the inside . . . ” (which never happened). Many meetings then turned into acceptance meetings which contained an overwhelming feeling of brotherhood with little or no mention of repentance or salvation. The focus was and still is “brotherhood in Christ,” to the detriment of truth and doctrine. “. . .The truth is that many are lost because they have been taught this false gospel of forgiveness without repentance. . .” We are told in scripture to be in unity, but this is not what can be termed the unity of man. Rather it is “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3) - not worldly peace, but peace with God. While fostering and promoting the unity of man, a church can become sterilized in a toxic shell of ecumenicalism and therefore insensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Unity of man is not scriptural but rather worldly and fleshy - and it will cause God’s principles and truths to be compromised. Let us make this fundamental statement: Truth forsaken at the expense of unity of man is nothing more than evil treason against God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. At the beginning of the Charismatic movement there were teachers and preachers who became sidetracked and forsook the proper rules of scriptural interpretation. Faulty hermeneutics (or no hermeneutics) then resulted in much doctrinal error which produced a weakened form of Christianity that had its base and roots in emotionalism and “success.” This rickety foundation has then been espoused in the last few decades by Pentecostals. False doctrines have thus seeped into the Pentecostal Church to weaken it and produce a worldly, fleshy focus which its proponents back up with 4 wrested (twisted) scripture. These doctrines have served to influence even once devout Pentecostals. As a result, the pure doctrines once held tightly by the Pentecostal Church, e.g. the Cross and the Blood, sanctification, holiness, dedication to God and the building of the Kingdom through evangelism, were soon put on the shelf. What took their place was a plethora of doctrine concerned with “blessing.” In other words, the measure of your success in the Lord is to be determined by your numerical and material increase, whether this be the value of your assets or the numbers in your church. Guided by this kind of success-based approach to Christianity, which incidentally is called “the prosperity doctrine,” we have to conclude that Noah, for example, was a failure. He only had eight souls, including himself, after preaching the entire time he was building the Ark (2 Peter 2:5). He and many others after him, who suffered and died for their faith, would likewise be considered failures. The suffering and death of the Apostles, for instance, is viewed in these terms. “Prosperity focused” Christians say, “If they had had more faith, these terrible experiences would not have come upon them!” Then they who supposedly now have more faith owing to “progressive revelation” (greater revelation of the Bible since it has been written!!!) are considered to be functioning at a higher spiritual level. What nonsense! Note: Out of the prosperity teaching has emerged the “seed” doctrine. This simply teaches that for the purpose of increasing personal riches, one has only to plant dollars as seed (to give to the Lord’s work) in order to reap a harvest of a hundred fold - possibly a hundred times the value of the “seed” planted. What a great investment for the greedy! Many preachers, churches and ministries have climbed aboard this doctrinal bandwagon and preached it hard, so stirring up the lusts in people’s hearts for temporal treasures. The leaders of these movements now seek through this teaching to own large houses, expensive cars and even private jets. These kinds of paraphernalia then, they ignorantly think, testify to the overwhelming blessing of God in their lives, and His approval of their doctrines and lifestyle. (But the Word says we shall be known by our fruits, not our gifts and certainly not our belongings : Matthew 7:20). 5 “. . .Truth forsaken at the expense of unity of man is nothing more than evil treason against God. . .” Unfortunately many false doctrines have sprung up because of the bias involved with this goal of “prosperity” (usually measured in worldly terms). If Christ is not the head of every thought in our life, then our course is not of God. Every desire must be worked by the Spirit into our hearts. It cannot be our desire that God must bless. Without this kind of yielding, without a total servitude with a “not counting the cost” attitude and commitment, a resulting high tolerance for false doctrine in the name of one’s agenda or bias will follow, e.g. unity of man, material prosperity as the measure of one’s success in the Lord, blessing upon blessing as a primary focus and rightful expectation, etc. A sugary doctrinal diet has spoilt the ex-Pentecostals and turned them into Charismatics. The evil fire of Charismaticism brings with it an atmosphere that promotes the lusts of the flesh and burns (sears) the conscience of the now converted Charismatics so that they cannot discern, in many cases, between good and evil, truth and error. In other words, they do not know the difference between God’s voice and the devil’s voice, being unable to discern God’s voice because of their bias (which usually equates with their wants and desires). Only those who are open and yielded to the Spirit, who are prepared to leave behind their denominational biases, doctrines and traditions, can come to understand the heart of God and be properly taught by the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27). This does not mean that a Christian should rebel against authority within the church. Rather, as Hebrews 13:17 tells us, we should submit to our elders in the Lord. But this must be done in the Lord, for we are to submit not according to blind faith in a man or a denomination, but in and according to the Spirit of God. It is to be a submission which is qualified in God and His Word. 6 MODERN CHARISMATIC METHODS AND APPROACHES Many Charismatic preachers with enticing words, entertaining presentations, and emotional methods and programs, force excitement on the people, bringing them to a frenzy. Then all together as if they were at a football match, they begin to shout “revival,” “God send revival.” Wrong, wrong, wrong! Unfortunately the methodology in these places is aimed at producing “hype,” an exaggerated emotional state procured through unscriptural philosophy. With audiences excited to an emotional high, there is no difference, sad to say, between positive motivation seminars and many so-called sermons presented by the new breed of Charismatic preachers. “. . .Without a total servitude with a “not counting the cost” attitude and commitment, a resulting high tolerance for false doctrine in the name of one’s agenda or bias will follow. . .” With the goal of always presenting their teaching in a positive light, proponents of this “new age” philosophy (but nothing is new under the sun - sin is still sin) ignore most scriptural teaching that is seemingly negative. For example, anyone who accepted Christ say 20 years ago, and is now living a life of sin, is called a “backslider.” What a play on words! They should be called heathen, the unsaved, and told that unless they repent and allow the Blood of Christ to wash their sin away, hell will be their home for eternity (Exodus 32:33). But no, that is too negative for the Charismatics. In fact many are so deluded that through ignoring the many, many scriptures which teach us this very thing, they foolishly have chosen to believe in the false teaching promoted by hell itself that once you are saved you will always remain saved, no matter how far you “backslide!” To support this demonic doctrine, they take certain scripture and twist it, ignoring any that would contradict their “bless me club” beliefs. A fruit of these ecumenical and acceptance doctrines is a high tolerance for lifestyles that cause people to become unsaved. But 7 many Charismatics ease their minds with the unscriptural doctrine of unconditional eternal security. Armed with this falsehood, they feel no obligation to help save people from sin, only to teach them how God loves them and can bless them. Their new age doctrines truly centre around me, myself and I. In other words they are man-centred instead of God-centred. Oh yes they teach about God, but only in terms of what He can do for us, instead of what we are to do for Him through the graces afforded to us by the Cross! Indeed the Word tells us that we are not our own but have been bought with a price. Therefore our chief aim should be to glorify God, not to constantly and persistently seek blessing so that our life may be comfortable and enjoyable to the flesh. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 What! Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Who you have of God, and you are not your own? 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20 For you are bought with a price (Jesus’ shed Blood): therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (now belong to Him). ROMANS 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy (because of the Blood), acceptable unto God (only because of the Cross), which is your reasonable (spiritual) service. Back to the shouts of revival in modern auditoriums, being encouraged by the preacher through the latest public address systems. Here men and women are digesting food which is palatable to the flesh, offerings from the doctrinal food factories of the Charismatic teachers. Food of this kind has much leaven in it (1 Corinthians 5:6-8), much poison which affects and distorts the minds of many Christians. Unfortunately, presenting these doctrines, or should we say philosophies, is like giving drugs to an addict - and, as God’s Word declares, they keep coming back for more: 2 TIMOTHY 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine (“sound Doctrine” pertains 8 to overriding principles: the Salvation of the sinner, and the Sanctification of the Saint; the Cross is the answer for both, and is the only answer for both); but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears (refers to the people who have ears that “itch” for the smooth and comfortable word, and are willing to reward handsomely the man who is sufficiently compromising to speak it; hearers of this type have rejected the Truth and prefer to hear the lie); (E.S.B.) 2 TIMOTHY 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the Truth (those who follow false teachers not only turn away their ears from the Truth, but see to it that the ears are always in a position such that they will never come in contact with the Truth), and shall be turned unto fables. (If it’s not the “Message of the Cross,” then it is “fables” [1 Corinthians 1:18].) (E.S.B.) “. . .A fruit of these ecumenical and acceptance doctrines is a high tolerance for lifestyles that cause people to become unsaved. . .” A. W. Tozer before his death in 1963 said: “Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.” 1 We must first be prepared for revival by the Spirit, being humbled (1 Peter 5:6) under God’s mighty hand so that, as when the Church began, we are prepared to give up everything - ambitions, desires, riches, family, this world - all this and more, if needed, if called by God to do so for the sake of His Kingdom, i.e. His will 9 being done. To do this we need to be partaking of the graces and energies of the Divine Nature. Remember Jesus’ Words: MATTHEW 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me (in the life of the Disciple, Christ is first): and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. MATTHEW 10:38 And he who takes not his cross (of self-denial), and follows after Me (seeking God’s will first), is not worthy of Me (not worthy of the blessings afforded by the “victory” of the Cross: E.S.B.). The true Pentecostal Church, being Bible-based, will also promote and support: - the preaching of Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians.1:25) - the preaching of the Spirit Baptism (Matthew 3:11) - the preaching of sanctification of the mind (we are a work in progress) - the preaching of doing God’s will (no matter what cost is involved) - the preaching that only by God’s power can we overcome (only with His power at work in us can we do His will (Philippians 2:12, 13; 2 Peter 1:4) - the preaching of judgement in the context of fleeing from “the wrath to come” (Luke 3:7). Anything less than this and the so-called Pentecostal church or ministry has become Charismatic. And we could define a Charismatic as someone having the gift of the Spirit Baptism but lacking any power from it because of their heresy - this being a departure from the true teaching of the Cross, service and holiness. Take the doctrinal theme of judgement. Even though a major teaching in both the Old and New Testaments, it is seldom taught in Charismatic circles because it might offend the sensibilities of the people. In other words, it is not pleasant to think about and so is unpalatable. Again Charismatics adjust their preaching programs so as to make their sermons “seeker sensitive.” For the preacher not to preach a balanced message (e.g. love and judgement together) is a grave mistake, and they will be held accountable by God. But worst 10 of all, not to preach these fundamentals will cause many to believe with false hope, thinking they are still okay with God when they may be practising serious sin. The result can then be their eternal entrance into the Lake of Fire. What a cost it is to take the easy road (Hebrews 3:12-14). “. . .Charismatics adjust their preaching programs so as to make their sermons seeker sensitive. . .” Yes love must be preached, but alongside it the judgement of God must also be preached if a balance is to be heard and understood. Only the teaching of the Blood and all it entails can give this balance. However you will see in some churches that reference to the Blood is virtually non-existent. Fools, the message of the Blood is the foundational doctrine that, when reverenced fully and embraced, will remove apostasy and sin’s curse from the Church. God has chosen the foolishness of preaching under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit to convict the sinner so that he can be saved through the Blood of Christ being applied. The teaching of judgement and the boundaries of salvation must be preached in the so-called Pentecostal churches so that all sin can be addressed and dealt with, both that of the unsaved and that of the Christian. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18 For the preaching of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent (means those who are wise in their own eyes). (Isaiah 29:14) 1 CORINTHIANS 1:20 Where is the wise (learned Jew)? where is the scribe (Jewish theologian)? where is the disputer of this world (Greek philosopher)? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world (God’s 11 wisdom sent His Son to die on the Cross for the purpose of mankind’s redemption)? 1 CORINTHIANS 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God (man by his wisdom could not know God in any way) it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them who believe (God’s way to reach man and save him is through the preaching of the Cross). The Charismatic programs, or latest doctrines (philosophies) designed to hold the interests of Christians with itching ears, are like comets in the sky. They come and they go just as quickly because these doctrines cannot be sustained for the long term haul - unlike the true, tried and tested “full Gospel” programs and doctrines of Pentecost which remain from the Cross to this very day. These will still bring the Divine power and energy which causes hell and its rulers to shake, and releases the bound from hell’s grip, causing joy unspeakable to be felt in the heart of the committed God-seeker. “. . .The message of the Blood is the foundational doctrine that, when reverenced fully and embraced, will remove apostasy and sin’s curse from the Church. . .” Heresy began a number of years ago in earnest amongst the modern Pentecostal movement. When churches do not, after the Cross, promote, teach and preach the mighty Spirit Baptism with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, then they have lost their way. They become little more than mainline with a Pentecostal badge, teaching so-called Christian, new age philosophies. Yes some in these churches promote the Spirit Baptism to some extent, but many are not even encouraged to believe that it is absolutely necessary if one is to progress in God. As when one buys a car, it is taught as an optional extra which one can take or leave. This approach is taken so that those who feel uncomfortable about the Spirit Baptism are placed under no pressure. In this way, 12 they hope to keep the “half committed” in their church. Many have trouble, for whatever reason, in coming through with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. To make them feel comfortable, the “optional extra” teaching, in its various forms, has emerged and become rampant. Scripture tells us however that the Spirit Baptism is not optional. To have the potential to walk properly and fully in God’s will, we must partake of this second great grace which Calvary has afforded us. It is like being given spiritual shoes with which we can walk on the hot stones that life’s path is paved with. With these shoes on, we will not be spiritually burned on the soles of our feet. With these spiritual shoes we can also run further and accomplish more for the Kingdom in the race of life (Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 3:13-14). “. . .When churches do not, after the Cross, promote, teach and preach the mighty Spirit Baptism with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, then they have lost their way. . .” The heresy has spread and is so bad, in fact, that some churches, so as to appear “normal” to the world, “rebadge” themselves in order to leave out any reference to “Pentecostalism” for fear that this could frighten off potential members. If you look through these people’s literature, the words God, Jesus, Calvary, the Blood of Christ and faith are used sparingly. Others seemingly say the right things. They profess yet do not possess the power to walk righteously. Therefore in many areas relating to life itself as well as doctrine, they cannot discern right from wrong - in other words, God’s will on the matter. Many new Charismatic churches with seemingly Pentecostal doors through which to invite the unsuspecting, have new Evangelists who preach a false hope, seeking not to confront or offend in any Biblical way. The result is that many in these transformed Pentecostal churches or newly-badged Charismatic churches are not saved by the Blood because the message of the 13 Cross is not preached in its entirety. Again, how can people gain faith if faith in the Cross (Romans 10:17) is not preached? And if the message of the Blood is not preached as their central doctrine, then their gospel is no gospel, and cannot lead them to salvation. New-styled preachers tell the people “Let us praise God!” They then proceed to tell them, sometimes in a “Thus saith the Lord” prophetic message, that God loves them and is pleased with them and has nothing but blessings for them. Sin is rarely addressed in any real way, and so the remedy of repentance and the Blood is left out of their sermons. People love these new messages by these new Evangelists, messages that emphasise blessing upon blessing, and that God loves them and accepts them for whoever they are and no matter what they do. Those who seek this false acceptance outside of Christ and His Blood inject themselves with their spiritual drug of choice. What does this drug do? The drug of choice gives them a false sense of their spiritual surroundings, their position and their responsibility - or lack of it. In this way, an unreal, fantasised spiritual world is produced, a false perception. However the people love it because they feel good emotionally, and to them this is all that matters i.e., how they feel. Many of these new teachers are sincere, but have deceived themselves into thinking that they are right. Nevertheless, a lie is a lie and with it comes hell, for darkness must follow sin because the two are inseparable. The people who have been brought into this false, spiritual world of blessing without obedience, sacrifice or true faith, love it so much that they don’t care about anything else unless it gives them this same spiritually-darkened emotional high as well as a false feeling of acceptance. In this environment, people’s emotions become the source of their so-called “higher revelation.” Then it is they alone who possess this “superior knowledge,” knowledge which in fact contradicts God’s Word - if they would care to look! What a joke this is - man stepping into the role that is God’s alone. Only He can give us truth and wisdom, and the power to walk according to His will, not our false perceptions. They are taught that they are what they feel, and if they feel accepted by God (no matter how they live their lives) then it must be true because of this “conviction in the heart.” How easy it is to be deceived when we leave the pathway of God’s Word, stray from the 14 Cross and wander down dark highways of our own thinking, relying on our emotions to give us the all important check (or discernment). “. . .In this environment, people’s emotions become the source of their socalled “higher revelation. . .” God’s Word also says that those who live a Godly life will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). But many Charismatics do not want to preach or hear this or anything like it because it does not fit their perception and therefore their philosophy. To be balanced though, “persecution” is to be met head on in the love and power of God available to us through the Divine Nature that we who are in Christ are partakers of. We are to walk as Jesus did in this love and power, for we, as God’s children, have access to the mind and power of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Amen. RELATIVISM Too many sermons in “Pentecostal-by-name, Charismatic-bynature” churches (or ministries) are full of so-called “relativism” according to the world. While the Word tells us to be separate from the world, Charismatic philosophy encourages the Christian Church to look, act and talk like the world so as to connect with it. For instance, if the senses are offended or repulsed by teaching about the Blood of Christ, God’s wrath and His holy standards, then they say we must preach on topics which are positive (and which connect with the flesh and the unrenewed mind). Some such topics which connect with the flesh are: how to accumulate wealth, how to receive blessing, maximizing one’s potential, improving one’s selfesteem, etc. To not preach about the standard of modesty as set out by God (how to dress is part of His moral standard) and what T.V. programs and movies Christians ought not watch is to be relative to the world and to reflect its standards. All this breeds is more ground for divorce and sexual sins in the church, all in the name of relativism. And divorce becomes a “trivialised solution” if Christians aren’t getting on well! This is a worldly humanistic 15 teaching that replaces the Biblical command which Jesus gave concerning Christians and divorce (Matthew 19:9). As we have said, to compromise the teaching of God’s holy Word and standards is to promote a church that looks, thinks and acts like the world. This is worldly “relativism” instead of “Biblical relativism.” The latter states that we are dead in sin and need forgiveness through repentance and cleansing by the Blood of Calvary - so that we may then be led by the Holy Spirit and walk in righteousness in the power of the Spirit. “. . .While the Word tells us to be separate from the world, Charismatic philosophy encourages the Christian Church to look, act and talk like the world so as to connect with it. . .” MUSIC Worldly music is the latest “golden calf” (idol) of the Pentecostal - Charismatic world. Many simply worship the music above truth, wisdom and even God. But this they deny with a conviction that looks and sounds believable to the untrained enquirer. Many Charismatic churches and ministries use musical concerts to replace the God-ordained method of preaching. Some may use a little so-called preaching but major on the musical content so as to be “seeker sensitive” and relate to the modern audience!! However the Bible, God’s Word on the matter, says: “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). Therefore, in many churches, man in his foolishness is choosing to deliver God’s Word contrary to His Word! Yes music is important as a support to the preaching of God’s Word to the masses. Music can soften the heart of the hearer - before God plants His life-giving seed. Yes it has its place and can be used for great benefit. But sadly, concerts in the Charismatic churches are becoming the order of the day - concerts that do little more than entertain. These churches then become entertainment providers under the guise of 16 Christianity and in this way, the people involved get their entertainment fix. Christianity is not about entertainment, it is about relationship and us serving a holy God, becoming more Christ-like, being prepared for battle and bringing home the lost. It is about “the foolishness of (Holy Spirit anointed) preaching,” and born-again Believers growing in Christ so as to help spread God’s light to a darkened world. There is a price to pay and a cause to advance. Christianity is not something to play with or trivialize to the extent of merely feeding the flesh for entertainment purposes. Let us again warn you regarding certain music so that you are not deceived. Music with Christian lyrics is not always “Christian” and pleasing to God. Whether the music is anointed by God should be the order of the day, not whether it is accepted by the ignorant, fleshy masses. Christian music can create an atmosphere which transports the lyrical content to an audience of one or thousands. However the atmosphere created by heavy metal, heavy rock or punk styles, for example, is of a demonic origin and will therefore destroy any value of so-called Christian lyrics. Remember the goal is always to allow the Spirit to anoint the music. This helps the Christian have a heart focus (on truth) and an emotional focus (love for God). The Holy Spirit then empowers us, through the Divine Nature, to worship the Lord in spirit and truth. The Anointing turns that which is natural, i.e. the music, into something which is spiritual and holy. Some styles of music simply will not allow this to take place, for the Spirit will not anoint music which has been corrupted by the world, the flesh and the devil. Testimonies by the thousands will support this view if one is in denial about what has been said. There are many documented accounts from thousands of teenagers who testify as to how these types of so-called “Christian” music have caused them to rebel against the things of God and even have hatred for their parents, whereas prior to this they had no hatred and loved their Christian life. Those who bother to look (seek) will find these testimonies by the thousands on the Internet. Those who don’t bother to seek truth will probably never discern the evil nature of these types of music. However anyone truly in tune with the Spirit of God, living for God and truly in love with God will, by the Spirit’s teaching and leading, discern correctly that which is or is not holy and acceptable to God. Sadly many simply go by what is acceptable to their flesh and 17 emotional bias. Let every man be a liar but let God be true. In other words, find out what God’s mind is on the matter rather than allowing yourself to be governed by your culture, your education or peer pressure. Remember that our fleshy desires, our intellect (unrenewed mind) and our human emotions will not bring us to the truth of a matter or lead us to victory! God’s acceptance, not human acceptance, must be the measuring stick applied to everything that takes place in the church. Therefore we should be: 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ “. . .Whether the music is anointed by God should be the order of the day, not whether it is accepted by the ignorant, fleshy masses. . .” We must seek God’s will and His thinking in everything we do, for our natural thinking is far from His (Isaiah 55:8-9). Then with renewed, illuminated minds, we can order our behaviour by His power at work in our hearts. Sometimes young Christians can be in bondage to the kind of music we have described, so that they lack the power or even the desire to break free from it. Even if told of its evil origin and work in their lives, they choose to hold firmly to their idol and its incumbent darkness. It is only through heartfelt repentance that this problem can be dealt with, and Satan’s hold broken. The Blood is the answer to every crooked intent, every sin. Christians after salvation must repent of committed sin, even the sin of addiction to wrong music, if the curse of it is to be experientially removed. Only the Blood of the Cross can deal with sin, and deliver its victim by the power of God. Many Charismatic-by-nature churches, however, say that the message of the Blood in its fullness only confuses and does no good. In fact they don’t want to upset the congregation or put people off 18 God forbid that numbers might decrease, along with tithes, and CD and video sales! Let’s keep the young people happy with worldly music (with Christian lyrics of course) and yes, of course they can “mosh.” Doesn’t the world do it? With a wrong focus, that of pleasing the people and satisfying their flesh by means of demonically inspired music, there is no real recognition of good and evil, and therefore no awareness of the need for repentance. With biased minds, ministers and leaders who should know better hold up the golden calf of music for the people to worship, and say “Look how the Lord has blessed us! Let us worship Him!” But He finds no pleasure in it!! (2 Corinthians 6:17). Furthermore, there is an emphasis in some Christian’s lives on having fun and being entertained. Fun and entertainment are okay if they are not one’s major purpose in life, for balance is needed in prioritizing our limited time on this earth. Entertainment can give us enjoyment with our loved ones etc., and there is nothing wrong with that. But many plan their whole life around having “fun.” This will only last for a moment, and our life needs to also have proper purpose if our destiny is to be properly sealed. Many in the Church desire to remain as immature Christians - in the playpen full of the world’s colourful toys with which they can play, or by which they can be entertained. With this mindset there is no responsibility and no accountability, only the expectation of being entertained which becomes their life’s quest. So they gather together with like-minded people and call it “church.” Purpose, day by day, will determine our destiny - and our God-ordained destiny is to follow Jesus and so serve God. But we must choose to do this, for the Lord will not force us. Souls and sanctification should be our highest agenda - our relationship with the Lord and serving Him in the Kingdom. This should be our priority - not to satisfy the flesh through music, entertainment and the pursuit of enjoyment - week after week, year after year. 19 “. . .Many in the Church desire to remain as immature Christians - in the playpen full of the world’s colourful toys with which they can play, or by which they can be entertained. . .” THE DECEPTION OF SUCCESS RATHER THAN VICTORY Let us look at the Charismatic new age thinking that success is the goal and the measure of our spirituality. On this basis then, let us firstly state that Calvary was not a success by worldly terms. Rather it was a heavenly victory planned and arranged by God. He supplied the sacrifice and Christ yielded to the Father’s will in perfect righteousness, dying and then being raised from the dead. With Christian understanding and a renewed mind, it was a victory. God through Christ did not have a small victory in the battle against darkness - no He totally conquered it so that even death was defeated. How? By Christ dying as a righteous man on behalf of all unrighteous men - heaven’s Best for earth’s worst. Hell tried its utmost but it could not hold an innocent man - so He rose from the dead (Colossians 2:12-15). What a victory! Today the same holds. The Holy Spirit was sent after Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father, not to make you “a success” but rather to bring you to Christ and to give you “in Him” the graces you need to die to self and take up your cross daily. Scripture is quite clear in this regard: LUKE 9:23 And He said to them all, “If any man will come after Me (as a Disciple), let him deny himself (be ruled by God not self), and take up his cross daily (in the power of the Spirit), and follow Me. (Luke 22:42) LUKE 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.” 20 Note: To take up our cross begins with us remembering that our source of righteousness has to be God. Therefore we take up our cross in the strength made available to us through His Cross. To do things in our own strength is to try and please God through religion. To identify with Christ at an experiential level is to be in Him and yielded to Him, thereby being a partaker of God’s Divine Nature. Only in this way can our character and faith be developed. To take up the cross of self-denial is true Pentecostal doctrine that the Charismatics reject. Why? Because then they would have to let God rule their lives totally, by allowing Him to place His desires, not theirs, into their hearts and minds. How can we know that this “way” is rejected? The simple answer is the type of fruit, or lack of righteous fruit, produced (Galatians 5:22-23). “. . .To take up the cross of self-denial is true Pentecostal doctrine that the Charismatics reject. . .” We do not doubt that a side benefit to serving God, especially in this western world, can be financial blessing. However it is not to be very high on one’s list of priorities. Otherwise with a wrong focus, the flesh can quickly gain a stronghold. Souls and sanctification should be the order of the day and with these priorities will come victory for our sake and the Kingdom’s sake, real spiritual victory not temporal gain which will decay and rust, or momentary gain that is here today and gone tomorrow: MATTHEW 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth (which are temporal), where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal (if the eye be set upon treasures on Earth, the life and character of the Believer will be shrouded in moral darkness : E.S.B.): MATTHEW 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Colossians 3:1-3), where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 MATTHEW 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (a man’s aim determines his character; if that aim be not simple and Heavenward but earthward and double, all the faculties and principles of his nature will become a mass of darkness; it is impossible to give a divided allegiance) (E.S.B.). Riches and wealth can bring a worldly, temporal success but do not bring spiritual victory. Real spiritual victory is God’s will being done in our lives. Success is a cheap substitute for victory. While success is a worldly treasure, spiritual victory brings a closure on hell and the flesh with a conquering battle cry that should be heard in the prayers of Pentecostal Saints who are serving God (Revelation 12:11). Let us expose the extreme danger of chasing the false new age “success” doctrines of the Charismatics. If success (being blessings) is our goal and the measure of spirituality, we will gain a false sense that all that comes to us in the form of so-called “blessings” (being our wants fulfilled or our perceived needs met) is of God and He is pleased with us. Everything will be viewed from this false perspective, and there will be no reality, no proper discernment of right and wrong, good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). If man measures the intent of his heart by external, temporal blessings, then foolish is he. Only through the filter of the doctrines of God’s Word, then properly applied and understood, can he qualify every intent, deed and so-called blessing (Hebrews 4:12). Churches are meant to be built on the proper Pentecostal doctrines given by the Spirit to the Apostles and Prophets, nothing else. Then the Church is built on the Rock of God’s revealed Word, backed up by power from heaven, and not on the sand which lies underneath the emotional wants and fears of man. The modern Charismatic doctrines do not stand up to proper scriptural appraisal or scrutiny because proper hermeneutics have not been used in their formation. Many of these so-called “doctrines” are simply worldly, selfish and demonic, and promote nothing but self-rule. With willing assistance from the Kingdom of Darkness, these doctrines take Christians back to the garden of self-rule. Scripture is taken out of context at every opportunity for the sake of “blessing”. For example, 22 they say that whatever seems like a good idea should be brought to God so that He would (be compelled to) bless it (the only condition being that it is not scripturally immoral - or so they believe). Also it is said that scripture states, “He will give us the desires of our heart.” Let us then speak this blessing of our own desires into existence - of course, in the Name of Jesus. However, we are not to take the place of God. He is to be the architect and builder of our life, and we, with the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, are to be His workmen, “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Unless He is the author of the desire, we cannot rightfully claim it. Otherwise we and our flesh will be ruling our lives. Then the Church is built on the Rock of God’s revealed Word, backed up by power from heaven, and not on the sand which lies underneath the emotional wants and fears of man. New Age Charismatics, however, think that as long as something sounds “good,” then God must bless it, for He must give us the desires of our heart. In this light of self-appraisal or selfdetermination, every “good” thing they do or experience or gain (whatever they deem to be “good”) is a blessing and so a sign God is with them in their endeavours. They set their course, plot their journey and fill it with “good” (as they see “good”). Blessing is the goal, and they design and shape their own pathway to this goal. Yes they may pray, go to church, support the Gospel in some way - but it is all done and qualified by their own bias. This really amounts to nothing more than self-rule, that really brings no character growth of a heavenly kind. Yes good people by the world’s standards, but not faith, led-by-the-Holy-Spirit people, even if their name badge or their title proclaims they belong to a “Full Gospel - Pentecostal” Church. In regard to personal direction in life, Charismatics cannot properly hear the voice of God because of their personal bias. To counteract this problem (and obvious need) in their lives, they become their own god, with self-rule gaining ascendancy. In this their own ideas are promoted and touted as coming from God, e.g. “God told me,” or “I had a witness that God wanted me to 23 have . . . .,” or “God urged me to believe for,” or “I had a dream that God wanted to bless me,” etc., etc. This list goes on and on. In short, they become their own god concerning their own personal direction in life, even being unaware of the deception involved. Yes many, surprisingly enough, are saved, but many are not because of sins that have not been put under the Blood. “. . .New Age Charismatics, however, think that as long as something sounds “good,” then God must bless it, for He must give us the desires of our heart. . .” Let us also take the example of a Charismatic-by-nature’s approach to the Luke 24:49 words, “endued with power from on high.” Many in these circles or camps would jump on this word “power” which comes from the Greek work “dunamis” meaning ability, efficiency and might. But off they go saying, “I can do in God, with the help of His “dunamis” power, whatever my heart’s desire is to do, as long as it sounds “good.” ” How foolish it is for man to be the discerner of what is good. Only God Who knows us and the future is qualified to understand what is good for the individual and his life, and He has written about this good in His Word. True Pentecostals, when they speak of this “dunamis” power of the Holy Spirit, say that as we seek, find and embrace God’s will, it is this dunamis power of the Holy Spirit that will be at work in and through us to both desire and then to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12, 13). True Pentecostals, leaving their bias, flesh and emotions on the shelf, pray with an open heart, saying “Whatever the cost, wherever You want me to go, no matter how hard, I will do it in and by the “dunamis” power of Your precious Holy Spirit” (Matthew 26:39). This may not happen immediately, but they are trusting in God to prepare them. The attitude of the true Pentecostal is always “Let’s pray and ask God for His plan, for He, the Creator, knows me better than I know myself. In fact He knows my heart, my future, and my past, and I will trust Him. God knows the future, and knows what is best for me so that I may please Him and be of use in His plan.” 24 The right foundation and focus is always to seek God and His plan, to find this plan by God’s grace and then to embrace it so as to live in it - again by His grace afforded to us at the Cross. This is the life lived by a true Pentecostal, so different to the “bless my ways, my ideas” Charismatic. One lifestyle will plan for fame or acceptance, the riches of this world and the comforts of the flesh. The other lifestyle will plan for God’s will to be done, even at the expense of fame or acceptance, and the riches and comforts of this world. What a huge difference in attitude and altitude - one earthly, fleshy, and the other heavenly and Godly. PENTECOSTAL TEACHING VS CHARISMATIC TEACHING Some quick comparisons to help you discern between heresy and truth in these areas we have discussed are as follows: Charismatics are success orientated True Pentecostals are righteousness orientated Charismatics emphasize riches over righteousness Pentecostals emphasize righteousness over riches Charismatics try to relate to worldly values Pentecostals strictly seek that which relates to the Bible. To simplify the distinction, we have included the following table: Pentecostal Teaching vs Charismatic Teaching This teaching has been replaced with This teaching Truth applied is sacrificed for: Personal Preference 2 Tim.4:3-4 Character (Holy) (placing importance on personal holiness) Rom.12:1 Personality (placing importance on selfesteem, external appearances and prosperity) Anointing (the supernatural) Mark 16:20; Acts 5:12, 15, 16; Charisma (the human) 25 Acts 10:44 Repentance (and with it the fruit of it) Acts 26:20 Forgiveness (only that put under the Blood can be forgiven - if one believes they are forgiven without putting sin under the Blood, then no fruit will come and there will be no forgiveness from heaven) Sacrifice (is yielding to all God desires) Rom.12:1 Prosperity (is having all your desires met, particularly temporal ones) 1 Tim.6:5 Prayer (empowered by faith developed by the Holy Spirit) James 5:16 Praise (given to God through good intentions) Luke 6:46 Obedience Prov.1:25-32 Pragmatism - Expediency (executed by the arm of the flesh - no empowerment but a quick substitute, keeping self happy) Modesty (so as to cause no-one to stumble) 1 Cor.8:9 Separation (that allows us to live in the world without becoming part of it) 2 Cor.6:14-17; 7:1 Doctrine (that is rooted firmly in God’s holy Word - His mind on the matter) Glamour (so as to fit in with the world) 1 John 2:15 Worldliness (when one can’t tell the Christian from the unsaved) 1 John 2:16 Philosophy (based on man’s mind on the matter) Mark 7:7; 2 Pet.3:16-17 26 2 Tim.2:15; Heb.5:14 Law (which shows us the fruits of love) Rom.7:22; 8:7-8 Love (human love to produce the unity of man) Worship Entertainment (in spirit and truth - only with (using the name of Jesus the enabling grace of the Divine doesn’t guarantee His presence) Nature can we worship in spirit and truth) John 4:23-24 There are so many things that we could say, in fact volumes could be written. However at this stage we are only making you aware of the heresy which exists, even in our so-called ranks. Whole Pentecostal denominations that have stood for over 100 years are gradually being “termited” (eroded and undermined) by modern Charismatic doctrines which are turning a once powerful body of Believers in Christ into a weak body of Believers where the blind-inChrist are leading the blind-in-Christ! Nevertheless, we believe in these last days of the Church Age that God is raising up an army of Believers who will not bow their knee to the flesh, the devil or the world. Amen. Churches which do not preach repentance from sin, the Blood of Christ, the wrath of God, and the love and grace of God which come through the Cross and are needed for salvation and ongoing sanctification, are nothing but dead branches on the Tree of Life (Christ). These branches have no sap and so provide no heavenly nutritional value within their four walls or via their ministers (corporately speaking). All who attach themselves to these types of branches will, with the branch, wither, and sadly many will die lost, and come under eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 2:1-29). 27 “. . .Whole Pentecostal denominations that have stood for over 100 years are gradually being “termited” (eroded and undermined) by modern Charismatic doctrines . . .” Again, as we have said, scripture warns that people within the Church would, because of their own lusts (desires), create and invite teachers of their own persuasion to shepherd, teach and counsel them (2 Timothy 4:3-4). In other words, many Christians languish in dead churches with dead pastors who preach dead sermons that give no light to the barely alive. The blind lead those desiring to stay blind to the things of God. Sad isn’t it. But they want this darkness, seeking, finding and embracing it (John 3:20). These, the living dead, then say that anyone living truly for God is “fanatical,” and too spiritual to relate to the world in which they live. The Charismatic message is what they crave, and true Pentecostal doctrines they swiftly turn away from, and avoid it at all costs, even hating that which would expose the darkness within. We say let God expose darkness no matter where it is, then let Him show forth His glorious Light of truth, power and love. This He pronounced to the Laodicean Church: REVELATION 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans (this is the “Apostate Church,” both then and now) write; These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning (Source) of the creation of God (this is Jesus); REVELATION 3:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. REVELATION 3:16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. REVELATION 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;’ and 28 know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” This is a snapshot in Revelation of the modern Charismatic “bless me club” - “I am rich . . . and have need of nothing.” The modern Charismatics say this is so because “God has blessed me.” Fools, God wants to spew them from His mouth. Why would God say this to the church of Believers in Laodicea, Saints in Christ? It is because they were indifferent to His righteousness and His righteous standard, so much so that He could not convict them of sin. Hot, they would have been able to be led by the Spirit but lukewarm, this was impossible. These Saints thought they were doing well in their Charismatic heresy because of their bias, personal preferences and unrealistic spiritual perspective. In other words, these people who somehow thought they were right were hard people for God to convict of sin, to teach and to lead. Therefore they were unable to be used by Him in any proper way. The same applies today. The Laodicean Church was a real church, but also a type-pattern of Christian churches, today. The Laodicean Church is not the true Pentecostal Church but it is the picture for us today of the modern, end-time Charismatic Church being spiritually “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” even if those who are involved think they are rich, abounding with goods, material wealth and numerical increase. They may be materially prosperous but they are spiritually bankrupt and don’t know the difference! The Believers in a true Pentecostal church are to be blessed, full of joy, desiring God’s will and walking in it, dressed for battle in the robes of Christ’s righteousness, baptized in, empowered and led by the Holy Spirit, and having a two-edged sword in their hands so as to perform His will (Ephesians 6:17; Revelation 1:16). Let us be that church in that power at this time in the Name of Jesus. Amen. “. . .The Laodicean Church is not the true Pentecostal Church but it is the picture for us today of the modern, endtime Charismatic Church. . .” 29 We have written this to alert new Christians and to attempt to awaken and rouse older Christians, if possible, to the widespread heretical teaching in these last days before the Lord’s return. There are many churches within the Pentecostal-Charismatic continuum. Many of these churches uphold and embrace some heresy in some areas and to some degree, while others fit fully into the Laodicean mould - and these God has spewed from His mouth. In other words, they have no candle-stick and therefore no corporate light or Anointing, and so no real power to lead and deliver the captive: REVELATION 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of its place, except (unless) you repent. May you have the victory in Christ. Amen! For further information or teaching material to help you grow in the Christian faith, please visit: CROSSROADS INTERNATIONAL FULL GOSPEL MINISTRIES crossroadsministries.org.au 30 1 A. W. Tozer