Chapter VII 

An Overview of Charismatic Experience

Charismatics build a wax castle based on experiences. At the height of the emotional fire, their castle of experiences melts down on Biblical grounds. Charismatic chaos is spreading all over the world like a wild fire. It may be the prophetic fulfillment narrated in scripture in various places. II Peter chapter 2, verses 1-3, are noteworthy at this context: ¹But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. ²And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Charismatics do not hesitate to promote any wild ideas on television such as raising the dead, etc., without any independent verification. This charismatic disease is infecting other denominations starting from Catholics to Plymouth Brethren groups. Many fail to follow the example the of Brethren in Berea. Acts 17:11 says, "They received the word with all readiness and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." Charismatics don’t care who speaks in tongues, as long as they speak in tongues, they are happy. Many people who teach extreme false doctrines also speak in tongues. This reminds me of a speech by the late E.M.S. Naboothripad, Communist Chief Minister of Kerala in South India. He said, "To defeat the ruling Indian National Congress Party we will make an alliance even with the devil." Similarly, to authenticate their experiences, Charismatics usually quote the experiences and tongues by Catholics and other false sects.

Healings of all kinds are claimed, and most of them carry personal conversations with God daily. Now, near the third millennium, some of them claim that their tooth fillings are transformed to gold fillings.

The mass suicides by many extreme groups are not coincidental. More than one thousand people committed suicide in Uganda at the end of March in 2000. Here is a quote from the Houston Chronicle, April 2, 2000, page 29A.

"Christian church membership is growing faster in Africa than in any other continent, and the fastest growth has been among charismatic ministries that provide ‘easy answers to the difficult question,’ said Grace Kaiso, executive secretary of the Uganda Joint Christian Council."

The Charismatic movement is a spiritual socialism. This utopian doctrine gives temporary comfort and solace for millions of poor people and outcasts in society. When an uneducated and poor person claims that he ‘Saw Jesus, went to heaven, was escorted by Jesus, and given a tour,’ he feels empowered and would be counted with the elite; and when he speaks in tongues, he feels equality with the leaders of the Charismatic movement.

If you observe closely, you can realize one fact about Charismatics. Many of them are emotionally unstable and weak. Some leaders hold great influence on their flocks. People who are calm, quiet and subdued may encounter great difficulties.

I remember one of my friends praying and putting his hand on a dead air conditioning compressor that has outlived its normal age. Their bizarre claims of running a dead car, turning a one dollar bill into a one hundred, and people slain in the spirit (knocked unconscious on the floor) are very common.

The Pentecostal movement has opened its door wide to every sect that embraces miracles and wonders. Their experience has no validity because we can hear the same type of experiences from Hindus and Muslims.

If you are a Christian who has not experienced some supernatural manifestations, they would label you as the one who cannot get this blessing and treat you like a second class Christian.

Do our Charismatic friends really have a closer relationship with God? Do they exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in their lives? No. If we observe impartially, they exhibit less Christian maturity than other groups. There is a cutthroat competition among Charismatic preachers and believers to outdo the other brother or sister. So many exaggerate, dramatize, or even fabricate some miracle or experience because of their need to keep up with the peers who appear to be more spiritual.

Charismatics build their doctrines on experience, rather than understanding that the authentic experience happens in response to truth. How can a Charismatic blame the Roman Catholic Church, which introduced most of the rituals and doctrines over the last 2000 years. The Pope is infallible and his word carries the weight of scripture. Roman Catholics have added to scripture such traditions as penance, purgatory, and prayers for the dead, and an entire sacramental system. None of those things has biblical support, but they all believe as if it is the revealed word of God through the Church. Similarly, visions, dreams, prophesies, words of knowledge, private conversations with God, and other experiences are given authenticity and validity among them. So they print an addendum to the scripture because the Bible is not complete if we accept their doctrines. Here is one section from Robert Liardon’s experience.

" Jesus and I visited a branch of the River of Life. This branch was knee deep and crystal clear. We took off our shoes and got in. And do you know the first thing Jesus did to me? He dunked me! I got back up and splashed Him, and we had a water fight. We splashed each other and laughed." ¹

"Mysticism is a system of belief that attempts to perceive spiritual reality apart from objective, verifiable facts. It seeks truth through feelings, intuition, and other internal senses. Objective data is usually discounted, so mysticism derives its authority from within. Spontaneous feeling becomes more significant than objective fact. Intuition outweighs reason. An internal awareness supersedes external reality. Mysticism is at the heart of modern existentialism, humanism and even many forms of paganism, most notably Hinduism, and its close ally, the New Age Movement.

Irrational mysticism is also at the heart of the Charismatic experience. It has subverted biblical authority within the movement ,and replaced it with a new standard: personal experience." ²

Charismatic experience is an addiction similar to drugs and pornography. The person who consumes drugs has to take more potent drugs over the years. People who start with soft pornography become bored with it and, start watching more hardcore pornography.

Some charismatics get frustrated in this movement. Some spend the rest of their lives trying to find another experience. The Christian life becomes a pilgrimage from experience to experience, and if each one is not more spectacular than its predecessor, many people begin to wonder if something is wrong.

Paul’s Experience

It is useful to compare Paul’s experience with modern day Pentecostal experience. II Corinthians 12:1-4 reads, " ¹It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: ²I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven. ³And I know such a man – whether in the body or out of the body I do now know, God knows – ⁴how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." He kept his experience secret for 14 years, and now he remembers only vaguely that experience. Note that he is not boasting about his experience in this chapter, but explaining his weakness.

It is interesting to read the dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements.

Glossolalia (p.335) usually, but not exclusively, is the religious phenomenon of making sounds that constitute, or resemble, a language not known to the speaker. It is often accompanied by an excited religious psychological state, and in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, it is widely and distinctively, but not universally, viewed as the certifying consequence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.³ Varied explanations (pp. 340 – 341).³ How does glossolalia occur? What are its effects and significance? Responses to these and similar queries turn on the worldview of the inquirer and the methodology adopted.

Research conducted by social scientists (Malory and Lovekin, 1985) has been the kind of inquiry most productive of theories. The earliest psychological investigations viewed glossolalia as the byproduct of an unhealthy mind or a disordered personality. It has been attributed to hysteria or hypnosis, suggestion or regression. Some researchers view it as an altered state of consciousness, while others view it as learned behavior or narcissistic self-preoccupation.

Buddhist doctrine explains xenolalia as a linguistic survivor from a prior existence. It has been described as the consequence of stimulation of Broca’s Area in the left cerebral hemisphere and as a form of right-brain speech. It can be styled as the suspension of the rational or as a mix of a cry (anticipating death) and a laugh (celebrating birth: Hutch, 1980) or as a kind of mysticism – although glossolalia played no major role in the classical Christian mystical tradition.

Evaluation

A few summarizing and interpretive conclusions can be offered.

Glossolalia is a human phenomenon not limited to Christianity or even to religious behavior. Speaking in tongues "embraces every ecstatic oral-auditory phenomenon from speaking a language not generally known … speaking in forceful declamations, incantations, and other verbal effusions that are more likely to be psychological-spiritual projections of inner speech than some authentic language itself." ⁴

The impulse of glossolalia, not readily accessible to scientific determination, may rise from the speakers themselves, from a demonic spirit, or from the Holy Spirit. Even if glossolalia occurs in a balanced Pentecostal environment, anyone of the three sources may apply. The discernment of the community is essential. On the other hand, glossolalia of simply human origin is probably more frequent than recognized. That explains, for example, the humanities scholar who "taught himself to speak in tongues and can do so at will."

History of Experiential Theology

The experience theology of the Charismatic movement is not the legacy of fundamental Christianity. It originated from existentialism. Humanism, positive philosophy, and the New Age movement claim that human beings have unlimited power. All answers come from one’s own self. The Bible says that we can do everything only through Christ. Experientialism downgrades the authenticity of the scripture because many so-called revelations are against Biblical principles.

Hermeneutics. The definition given by Webster’s Third New International Dictionary:

"The study of the methodological principles of interpretation and explanation: The study of the general principles of biblical interpretation." A great Pentecostal writer, Gordon D. Fee, has written about the poor skills of hermeneutics among Pentecostals. "Pentecostals, in spite of some of their excesses, are frequently praised for recapturing for the church her joyful radiance, missionary enthusiasm, and life in the spirit. But they are at the same time noted for bad hermeneutics. First, their attitude toward scripture regularly has included a general disregard for scientific exegesis and carefully thought out hermeneutics. In fact, hermeneutics has simply not been a Pentecostal thing. Scripture is the word of God and is to be obeyed. In place of scientific hermeneutics – obey what should be taken literally; spiritualize, allegorize, and/or devotionalize the rest. Secondly, it is probably fair – and important – to note that, in general, the Pentecostals’ experiences have preceded their hermeneutics. In a sense, the Pentecostal tends to exegete his experience." ⁵

It is very interesting to note the account of John MacArthur Jr. about Pentecostal hermeneutics. "I watched, in horror, a couple of years ago, as a guest on a Charismatic television network explained the ‘biblical basis’ of his ministry of ‘possibility thinking.’ ‘My ministry is based entirely on my life verse, Matthew 19:26, "With God all things are possible." God gave me that verse because I was born in 1926.’

"Obviously intrigued by that method of obtaining a ‘life verse,’ the talk show host grabbed a Bible and began thumbing through excitedly. ‘I was born in 1934,’ he said. ‘My life verse would be Matthew 19:34. What does it say?’ Then he discovered that Matthew 19 has only thirty verses. Undeterred, he flipped to Luke 19 and read verse 34, which read, "And they said, the Lord has need of him." Thrilled, he exclaimed, ‘Oh, the Lord has need of me! The Lord has need of me! What a wonderful life verse! I have never had a life verse before, but now the Lord has given me one; Thank you Jesus! Hallelujah!’ The studio audience began to applaud. At that moment, however, the talk show host’s wife, who had also turned to Luke 19, said, ‘Wait a minute! You can’t use this. This verse is talking about a donkey!’ This incident proves about the silly way some charismatics approach the scriptures." In addition, MacArthur says another story, which is very familiar in Kerala, and this writer has quoted many times before. A man was seeking divine guidance for a major decision, decided to close his eyes, open his Bible, put his finger down, and get guidance from whatever verse his finger happened to light on. His first try brought him to Matthew 27:5. "Judas went and hanged himself." Since this was not a good verse, he tried once again. This time, his finger landed on Luke 10:37. And Jesus’ words there were "Go and do likewise." He was persistent and tried one more time. This time, his finger came to rest on Jesus’ words in John 13:27. "What you do, do quickly." ⁶

The task of interpretation is to discover the meaning of the text in its proper setting; to draw the intended meaning rather than reading one’s presuppositions into it.

The Literal Interpretation Literal principles mean we understand scripture in its normal meaning, including figures of speech like parables, similes, metaphors and symbolism.

God has communicated to us in plain language just like our everyday conversation. Parables are one form of figurative language sometimes used in scripture. We can receive spiritual truths from parables, but these may not be historical facts. If we discard literal interpretation, anyone can interpret according to one’s whims and fancies.

The Historical Principle It is imperative to understand what a text means to have some information of the cultural, geographical, and political setting in which the passage was written. It is beneficial to utilize good commentaries and a Bible dictionary to study the customs of that day.

Grammatical Interpretation The interpreter must study the grammatical sense of the text, determining the exact meaning of the words according to linguistic usage and connection. Let me quote John MacArthur Jr. about this section. "Sometimes, for example, the meaning of a sentence can hinge on something as simple as a preposition. It obviously matters a great deal whether a passage says ‘because of, through, into, in, by’ or ‘with.’ And in some cases, the original Greek word used can be translated by two or more different English words. It is important to know whether the word appearing in your English Bible has possible alternative translation. Also, if a sentence refers to ‘this’ or ‘it,’ it is important to know the antecedent of the pronoun."

Compare Scripture With Scripture This method was used only after the Reformation period. This means that vague and ambiguous passages in scripture must be understood in light of clear ones. Since the Bible is the word of God, it does not have any contradiction. The passages with clearer meanings should interpret the unclear passage.

No one can answer all doubts clearly. Even after explaining the works of the Holy Spirit, many believers may be still confused about some verses.

Waiting and tarrying for the Holy Spirit, for example, violates the basic principles of conversion. No one accepts Christ without the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Even after a person is converted, if he does not have the Holy Spirit, who is guiding this new believer? The book of Romans shows ample examples that the Holy Spirit dwells in a believer of Christ. Chapter 8, verse 1 states that those in Christ walk according to the Spirit. Verses 10-11 read, " ¹⁰And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." The condition of salvation is given in Romans 10:9. "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." And Galatians 3:14 is a key verse. "That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Similarly, there are other vague passages and we have to interpret these passages based on the fundamental principles of scripture. Here, this writer is going to show two examples by quoting Norman Geisler, one of the greatest apologists alive today. John 3:5 reads "Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’" Does this verse teach baptismal regeneration?

Problem: Jesus Told Nicodemus that, "Unless one is born of the water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Does this mean a person has to be baptized to be saved?

Solution: Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith and not by works or righteousness. Ephesians 2:8-9 reads "⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." "⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;" (Titus 3:5-6). But baptism is a work of righteousness. Matthew 3:15 says, "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all". What then did Jesus mean when He referred to being "born of water?" There are three basic ways to understand this, none of which involve baptismal regeneration.

Some believe Jesus is speaking of the womb, since He had just mentioned one’s "mothers’ womb" in the preceding verse. If so, then He was saying, "unless you are born once by water (at your physical birth) and then again by the spirit at your spiritual birth, you cannot be saved." Others take "born of water" to refer to the washing of water by the word, which links to Ephesians 5:26, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:26). They note that Peter refers to being "born again" through the word of God - "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (I Peter 1:23) – the very thing John is speaking about in John 3:3,7. "³Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "⁷Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

Still, others think that "born of water" refers to the baptism of John mentioned in John 1:26. John said he baptized by water, but Jesus would baptize by the spirit - "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Mathew 3:11) – saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mathew 3:2). If this is what is meant, then when Jesus said they must be "Born of water and spirit" (John 3:5), He meant that the Jews of His day had to undergo the baptism of repentance by John and also later the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they could enter the kingdom of God.

Sin Against the Holy Spirit

Pentecostals usually say that teaching against tongues and baptism of the Holy Spirit, as they believe, is sin against the Holy Spirit. In Kerala, most Pentecostals say that K.V. Simon and Y. Ezekiel died because they spoke against the Holy Spirit. K.V. Simon was a tireless worker, without proper food and rest, who labored for the Lord. Comparing the mortality rate at that period and his hard work, his death at the age of 61 was not premature. For a few months, he remained in bed.

Similarly, a few months before the death of Y. Ezekiel, he visited the Brethren in the United States. While staying with this writer for 3 weeks, he had medical problems and was taken to a doctor. The doctor suggested complete rest because of his weak health. He went to be with the Lord, in his own appointed time, at a ripened age. The immediate reason of his death was his preexisting heart condition. For a true Christian, death from this world is a good thing. We would be in the presence of Jesus. Although some Charismatics warned this writer, I have been ready to meet Jesus for many years. We should not fear death.

However, if you look into the charismatic circles, we can see many of their leaders were afflicted with terrible diseases from cancer to skin diseases and accidents. More Pentecostal leaders have succumbed to death at an earlier age than the Brethren leaders, how can they claim that K.V. Simon died because of his teachings about the Holy Spirit? Once again, it indicates the lack of reasoning and ignorance of some believers in that group. This type of interpretation is prevalent among Pentecostals all over the world.

Matthew 12:22-31

Charles and Frances Hunter, a charismatic husband and wife team, have written similar views. They say that criticizing the charismatic movement is an unpardonable sin. In Matthew 12:22-31, a demon-possessed man, born blind and dumb, was brought to Jesus, who healed the man. However, the Pharisees said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons through the power of Satan. But Jesus received the power from the Holy Spirit. "Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him" (Matthew 3:16). Jesus attributed His power to the Holy Spirit. "¹The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; ²to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn" (Isaiah 61:1-2).

You can see the answer of Jesus in Matthew 12:25-26. "²⁵But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them" ‘Every kingdom divided against itself brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" If the Pharisees were right, the devil would be destroying his own kingdom, which would make no sense. Was Jesus talking about tongues, etc. here? The correct answer is that any sinner who comes to Christ in faith repenting and confessing will be saved.

According to John 16:7-11, the Father and the Holy Spirit points to Jesus Christ, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Father also points to Jesus Christ. In Matthew, sin against the Holy Spirit was a historical event. It is applicable to everyone, since that time, who rejects the work of the Holy Spirit in presenting Christ’s divine credentials. It can never be used in reference to challenging charismatic experiences. Sin against the Holy Spirit is not accepting of Jesus Christ as one’s Savior and Lord.

History of Some Healers

Hobart Freeman believed God had healed him of polio. Still, he walked with corrective shoes. Freeman and the Faith Assembly congregation despised medical treatment, believing that modern medicine was an extension of ancient witchcraft and black magic. Many infants and mothers in his congregation perished. In December 1984, Freeman died of pneumonia and heart failure, complicated by an ulcerated leg.⁷

William Branham, the great divine healer, died in 1965 after suffering for six days from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. His followers believed that God would raise him up, and the resurrection never happened. A. A. Allen, famous faith healer, died of sclerosis of the liver in 1967, having secretly struggled with alcoholism for many of the years he was supposedly healing others. Kathryn Kuhlman died of heart failure in 1976. She had battled heart disease for nearly twenty years.⁸ And there are hundreds of names, but it is not necessary to mention all of them. It is interesting though, that we have more proof for U.F.O. sightings than miracle healings.

There is not a single incident, or piece that proves a real miracle claimed by Pentacostal believers.  Instead the charismatics claim subjective and unverifiable claims such as backaches being healed.  If God can really heal back aches for them, then he would also be able to do observable miracles such as making an amputated person's leg grow back to normal, or restoring the eye sight fo someone by making their eye balls grow in their empty sockets, or immediately making a bald person grow hair.  Demonic forces include their subjective claims.  Many healers have family members who are mentally retarded and with various other physical deformities.  They conduct healing experiments on others and they themselves go to doctor when they are sick.  Fundamental Christians believe in miracles and healings, but not in the same way charismatics do.  Go can still do any miracle as he pleases, but only in his soverign will.

For argument’s sake, this writer can prove that usually, Brethren leaders had more healthy and prolonged lives. No Brethren has said that many of the Pentecostal leaders having shorter lives with great illnesses is due to their false teaching of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

In Houston, a few years ago, a divine healer and prosperity preacher, Pastor Gomez, came to preach. He was an arrogant man and spoke very contemptuously of the late K.V. Simon. But good Pentecostal believers in Houston did not like his statement. He used to say that good Christians would be immune from accidents, cancer and such terrible tragedies. This man perished in a tragic car accident.

From the autobiography of the late K.E. Abraham, the founder of the Pentecostal movement in Kerala, this writer is going to give a list of the Pentecostal leaders who died with various illnesses. These leaders were indeed wonderful people who loved the Lord. This does not, in any way, show any negative reflections on those saints. No sober minded person would say that they were sick or died early because they taught false doctrines on the Holy Spirit. Only one thing is clear. They also will be accountable at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Name Age Illness

K.C. Oommen 53 diabetes

Ayya Pilla 69 diabetes

K.C. Cherian 53 diabetes & septic

M.K. Cherian - septic & diabetes

V.K. Mathai - small pox

K.E. Thomas 45 influenza

Kochukunju Sanyasi Arameda - asthma

V.P.Thomas 59 diabetes

K.V. Kurien 57 diabetes

Pastor K.E. Abraham 75 diabetes

There are many other names that are not necessary to quote here.

I Corinthians 14:1-3

"¹Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophecy. ²For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men."

One of my Pentecostal friends pointed out to me that some people may think that I have ignored or hid this section from the Malayalam book. Therefore, I wanted to explain these verses in my English book.

Spiritual gifts, including the gift of tongues, were given for mutual benefit, was never intended for the benefit of God. Here, Paul’s comment is not suggesting that tongues should be used as a prayer language, he was using irony, pointing out the futility of speaking in tongues without an interpreter, because only God would know if anything was said. So, he had to speak silently without an interpreter. I Peter 4:10 reads, "AS each one has received a gifs, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Paul further says in I Corinthians 14:4, "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophecies edifies the church." The Corinthians were using tongues to build themselves up in a selfish sense. Those egocentric believers wanted to show off their gift and boast up spiritual superiority.

The word ‘understand’ in I Corinthians 14:2 is baffling to many believers. The original word in Greek for ‘understand’ is ‘akouoo.’ The principal meaning of this word is "hear." This word is used 433 times in the New Testament. This word has been translated as "hear" 415 times. The correct translation here is "hear." Let us see J.N. Darby’s translation of I Corinthians 14:2: "For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men but to God: for no one hears; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries."

I Corinthians 14:2 must be connected with verse 28 to comprehend the correct meaning. "But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God."

After the first century, until 1900, only a few occurrences of tongue speaking took place; montanists, in the second century, militant protestants, in France in the late seventeenth century called ‘cevennes,’ shakers in the mid 1700’s in the United States, and Edward Irving, in Scotland in the nineteenth century. All those groups had been discredited and connected with heretical and strange teaching. If tongues are so indispensable, the Lord would have poured the gift out on all ages and to all believers.

Joel 2:28

"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and you daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."

Some Charismatics agree that tongues ceased after the apostolic era, but contemporary manifestations of the gifts are a final outpouring of the Spirit and His gifts for the last days. Joel 2:19-32 is a prophecy of the coming millennial kingdom and cannot refer to anything earlier.

Joel 2:20 refers to the defeat of the northern army that will attack Israel in the end time. Joel 2:27 says that great revival will take place. Joel 3:2,12,14 describes the judgment of the nations, an event after Armageddon and in connection with the establishment of the millennial kingdom of Christ. Later, in chapter 3 verse 18, the prophet gives a description of the millennial kingdom. Peter, in Acts 2:17-21, on the day of Pentecost, quotes Joel’s prophecy. Dr. John Walvoord, K.V. Simon and John MacArthur Jr. and many others believe that on the day of Pentecost there was a partial fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. The parallel to that is the transfiguration, in which our Lord’s glory was briefly revealed, as it will be seen fully throughout the millennial kingdom. This writer does not agree completely with this view. It has been explained in the another chapter of this book.

Some Charismatics spiritualize the "former rain and the latter rain" of Joel 2:23. They argue that the former rain refers to Pentecost, when the Spirit came, and the latter rain to His outpouring in the twentieth century.

Through the Old Testament, the former rain refers to the autumn rains and the latter rain to the spring rains. Joel was actually saying that in the millennial kingdom, both rains will come as before. That means God will make crops grow abundantly in the kingdom. "²⁴The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. ²⁵So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I send among you. ²⁶You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame" (Joel 2:24-26). The former and latter rains have nothing to do with Pentecost.

The reoccurrence of miracles and signs in the Church age is not mentioned in the New Testament. Nonetheless, near the end of the age, there will be false prophets who perform miracles, prophecy, and cast out demons in Jesus’ name. "²²Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"(Matthew 7:22-23). "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many" (Matthew 24:11).

May the Holy Spirit help us to understand the scripture correctly.

Biblical Revival

Biblical revival involves a religious awakening and a zeal for the things of God. Just as the church of Ephesus did not love Christ as they once did (Revelation 2:4-5), or as the church at Sardis needed to wake up (Revelation 3:1-3), or as the Laodicean church had become lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16), so Christians can lose their spiritual enjoyment, desire for prayer and scripture and compassion for the lost. Fervency marks a dedicated life. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). "Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11). "This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John" (Acts 18:11). According to II Chronicles 7:14, humility, prayer and repentance are God’s conditions for restoration. However, the C harismatic movement promises a shortcut to spiritual maturity. One of the greatest attractions of this movement has been that it offers believers power, understanding, or whatever they desire, immediately through an experience, without time, pain and struggles that are a natural part of our growth process.

Marks of True Spirituality

The fundamental trait of a believer is the awareness of sin and shortcomings. In scripture, those who most despised their sinfulness were often those who were the most spiritual. Paul said he was the chief of sinners. "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (I Timothy 1:15). "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (Luke 5:8). "Then I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5).

The ultimate goal of a Christian is to be like Christ. "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). "Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). One cannot become like Jesus by one time experience or any other modern techniques. It is a growth similar to our physical growth. "¹²Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14).

Many Charismatics believe that once you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with tongues, you attain you supreme goal. When the glow of one experience fades, they seek numerous experiences one after another.

Spiritual Gifts Do Not Bring Spirituality

"So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 1:7). The Corinthians had all spiritual gifts, but they had most of the problems. Enthusiasm, euphoria, fervor, excitement, and emotion are all characteristics that Charismatics equate with spiritual intensity have no power to restrain lust, pride, selfishness, and all other vices. Their experiences cannot solve the problems of natural man. When they fail, as it is common, they seldom take responsibility and blame Satan rather than reexamine their faulty premise. Their moral life is not higher than other Christians, but they do not know the fact that Christian life is not an easy escape and a shortcut, but that it is a journey through a thorny path.

Experience of Paul

False apostles in Corinth tried to discredit Paul and made false allegations and questioned his apostleship. The false teachers boasted themselves and claimed extraordinary powers.

It is interesting to read II Corinthians chapters eleven and twelve. He never mentioned the miracles he conducted. Even his heavenly experience 14 years ago is not clearly remembered. Yet in these chapters, he is describing his weaknesses and shortcomings. If Paul appeared to us today, he would be scorned just like some Charismatics ridicule Job in the Old Testament.

Christian Life

Scripture is full of commands about how to live the Christian life. In chapters 4 and 5 of Ephesians, we have ample instructions. After Paul gave his contrasting command, "Be filled with the Spirit," he spent the next several paragraphs of his letter explaining what being filled with is all about. There is no mention of getting high with wild, ecstatic, religious experiences. Instead, being filled involves submitting to one another, loving one another, obeying one another, and seeking the best for one another. We are to be continuously filled with the Spirit.

A good example of revival is given in the book of Nehemiah in chapters 8 and 9. After the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity (B.C. 586-539), Nehemiah rebuilt the walls and started celebrating. Here are some characteristics of that worship celebration:

1 Extensive Bible reading (8:1-3), Ezra, the scribe, read the law of Moses before the assembly from daybreak till noon; this went on day after day (8:18)

2 Attentive listening (8:3); the people listened to Ezra’s reading

3 Worship (8:5-6); Ezra praised God as the people "lifted their hands and bowed down, worshipping the Lord"

4 Sound teaching (8:7-8,12); the Levites instructed the people in the word of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read

5 Permitting emotional response, with guidance (8:9-12,17); the people wept apparently convicted of their sins, but since this was a time of celebration, Nehemiah thought it inappropriate, thus, he encouraged them to rejoice instead, "for the joy of the Lord is your strength"

6 Alm giving (8:12); Nehemiah directed the people to share their blessings of food and drink with those who were less fortunate

7 Proclaiming the word of God (8:13-16)

8 Repentance (9:1-3)

We can see the same guidelines in the New Testament. That also I have mentioned before. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). Charismatics reach the so-called holiness through shortcuts, without any conscious effort. Experience is the key word for them.

Works Cited

1 Liardon, Roberts. I Saw Heaven. Tulsa: Harrison House. 1983. pp.16-17

2 MacArthur, Jr., John. Charismatic Chaos. pp.35-36

3 Burgess, Stanley M. and Gary B. McGee. (Dictionary of Pentecostal and

Charismatic movements). Zondervan Publishing House. pp. 335,340-341

4 Waldvogel, Williams. 1975. p.61

5 Hermeneutics and Historical Precedent-Perspectives on the New

Pentecostalism. Grand Rapids: Baker. 1976. pp. 119-122

6 (2). p.103

7 Lutes, Chris. "Christianity Today." January 18, 1985. p.48

8 (2). pp.238-239