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"Charismatics"
(name withheld to protect the sincere but foolish brother.)
Mr. P: We Charismatics are "evangelicals" like you, but we also believe in the Holy Spirit.
Armed Conventicle: What? Don't you think that Presbyterians believe in the Holy Spirit?
Mr. P: Billy Graham said that he was ashamed because his denomination forbids speaking in tongues - a lot of people don't realize that Billy Graham (a great man, by the way) knows that this verse is in the Bible: "Forbid not to speak in tongues".
AC: I don't believe in you or in Billy Graham. I believe in the Bible. The miracles that happened in Apostolic times were clear. Do you people raise the dead? Do you heal diseases? Anybody can babble meaningless noises.
Mr. P: Let me talk - I'm listening to you, why can't you listen to me. I know Presbyterians who speak in tongues.
AC: I know Buddhists who speak in tongues - so what? The Christian Faith is what we find written in the Bible, not this or that religious experience.
Mr. P: You don't realize that we charismatics accept you. ?I used to write articles against the gifts, but then I had some experiences...
is not good.
If you act too quickly,
you might make a mistake.
Proverb 19:2
THEY DENY DIVINE PROVIDENCE. While treating orthodox Christians as if we have less experience of the presence of God, they actually are pseudo-deists. They gush over a few silly occurances as if they are "miracles" - as if babbling in meaningless noises violates the "laws of nature". In reality, all things that ever come to pass are the work of God. The sunrise is a miracle, as is the birth of a child, the chemical properties of water, and even God's use of our sin, whih He superintends and overrides to His own purpose. Babble is not miraculous.
THEY ARE MYSTICS. How silly these enthusiasts look to unbelievers. As Paul warned, will they not say that ye are insane? Scriptural miracles were objective and historical. The dead were raised. Water was walked on. Seas parted. Earthquakes busted prisons open. Today's "gifted" believers can show us only rantings and ravings - and utterly unbiblical things like "holy laughter", "slaying in the spirit", etc.
THEY TWIST THE SCRIPTURES. Verses like "refuse not prophesying" are ripped from their textual and historical contexts. The Bible says tongues were known languages given as signs of judgement on apostate Jewry. Women are forbidden to speak in the assembly, tongues must always be interpreted and the miraculous sign gifts were destined to cease of themselves (1 Cor 13 Greek middle voice). None of this matters to mystics. They have had experiences.
Mr. I: Reverand Y healed me when I was sick in the hospital.
AC: Really? So you went home the same day?
Mr. I: Well, no. I stayed in the hospital for several weeks.
AC: Oh. Then I assume you stopped drug treatement after Rev. Y healed you?
Mr. I: No, I'm still taking medication for my condition...
MALCOLM BOWDEN'S SITE
FOR MORE TRUTH ABOUT
"CHARISMATIC" GIFTS.