False Teachings of the Charismatic Movement - Introduction

Who are the Charismatics?

In beginning this brief study regarding the follies of Charismatic teachings, it is necessary to define clearly the group of whom I speak.  When I use the term, “Charismatic” in relation to this group, it is of utmost importance to understand that I am not making reference to Pentecostals in general.  Though Charismatics claim to be Pentecostal, not all Pentecostals claim to be Charismatic.  As a matter of fact, I have been associated for years with the Holiness people, who would greatly object to being labeled as Charismatics.  There is a great deal of difference, and this study will focus on those differences. 

The Charismatics are not easily found.  The term, “Charismatic” is not found on many church signs.  I am doubtful that I have ever seen it on any sign.  Charismatic ideology often slips its way into Pentecostal circles.  I have met Assembly of God preachers who teach Charismatic fallacies.  I have seen those in the Church of God of Cleveland, Tennessee migrate toward Charismatic thinking.  Now, while I am sure there are strong, Bible-believing Christians and preachers in groups such as these, as well as in others, there are churches here and there that have adapted to Charismatic theology.

So, the Charismatic movement is not a denomination in itself.  The Charismatic movement is composed of ministers and believers who have adapted Charismatic teaching as their own, whether they belong to the Assembly of God, Church of God, or even an independent Pentecostal or Holiness church.  There are non-denominational preachers, who, after hearing them speak, are clearly Charismatic.  There are Assembly of God preachers who make it clear through some of their goofy ideas that they are indeed Charismatic.  Therefore, most Charismatic teachers and preachers will not admit to being Charismatic.  Some may even defy it.  They may say, “I’m not Charismatic; I’m Church of God.”  But if you teach Charismatic dogma, you are Charismatic, no matter which coat you wear.

So, what exactly is the dogma that reveals one to be Charismatic?  Let me say again for the sake of clarity that all Pentecostals are not Charismatic.  I have heard some speak against Charismatics, but they place all Pentecostals in the Charismatic boat.  This is ignorance.  Not all Pentecostals are Charismatics.  But there are Charismatics within, most likely, all Pentecostal groups.  So, what are the characteristics of the Charismatics?  These characteristics include, but are not limited to:

1) Teaching people how to speak in tongues;

2) Teaching that one’s physical prosperity is evidence of spirituality;

3) Acceptance of unbiblical “manifestations of the Spirit”, including barking like a dog, laughing “in the Spirit,” and other unbiblical forms of so-called “worship;”

4) Belief in a disproportional “power of words,” that is, because a believer states what he desires, he receives it;

5) Non-acceptance of illness, harm, or misfortune;

6) An unbiblical view of “binding the devil;”

7) Using the name of Jesus as a good luck charm, or a means of claiming whatever they wish to receive;

8) The belief that all sickness and misfortune in a believer’s life originate from the devil and are therefore contrary to the will of God;

9) The belief that faith in God always delivers from sickness, disease, ill, and misfortune; and

10) The belief in “impartation,” that is, that one minister can “impart” whatever he wishes to another minister or another believer, whether it be wisdom, a gift of the Spirit, or anything else he wishes to bestow.

Many of the above teachings sound good upon first hearing it.  It sounds as though the Charismatics are a wealthy, healthy, and prosperous people.  However, if you know Charismatics personally, you find out that their people get cancer, just as ours do, whether they accept it or not.  I have heard Charismatics “name and claim” that their children would be saved, and then…their children died lost.  Charismatics have claimed healing in spite of “lying symptoms,” and then died.  Often, Charismatic preachers teach and preach that believers should give (to their ministry, of course).  It is not surprising then, that the wealthiest among the Charismatics are the preachers.  It is not faith that has made them wealthy; it is rather their insistence on people giving to THEIR ministry that has done so. 

Regardless of how good these doctrines may seem; regardless of how much these doctrines may be associated with faith; make no mistake about it – these doctrines are wrong.  They are contrary to the scriptures, and they simply do not work.  It is tragic that so many good, well-meaning believers who love the Lord get caught up in false doctrines such as these.  It is also tragic that Bible-believing pastors do not bust the hide off this garbage so that their members do not get deceived by it.  Attention pastors – you need to expose this trash for what it is!  When your members listen to radio preachers, this junk is the chief teaching.  When your members watch “religious” television, this is the manure they are most likely watching! 

In the upcoming posts, I will take some of these Charismatic characteristics, and expose them!  I will show the scriptures that are most often used to promote this mess, and how those scriptures are used out of context.  It is my desire to reach those who have fallen into this mire with compassion, while despising the mire itself.  If you have fallen into the Charismatic trap, I pray that you will see the nonsense of this teaching, and come out of it!

THEEs and THOUs of the King James Bible

It is a common misconception that if a Bible version only removes words such as “thee”, “thou”, and other such words (“ye”, “thee”, “thy”, “thine”) from the King James Bible, that no real change has been made. However, if you possess a Bible version that changes only words such as “thee”, “thou”, “thy”, and “thine”, you have a Bible that is less accurate than the King James Bible.

A Look at John 4

The fourth chapter of the book of John is a popular passage to many Christians. In this chapter, Jesus the Jew meets a Samaritan woman at a well in Samaria. Much of this chapter is the conversation between them. In verses 16-18, Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman. Notice verses 16-18:

John 4:16-18 – “Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, THOU hast well said, I have no husband: For THOU hast had five husbands; and he whom THOU now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst THOU truly.”

You will notice that, in these verses, the word, “thou” is used. “Thou” simply means “you.”

A few verses later, it is still Jesus who is speaking to the Samaritan woman. Notice verse 22:

John 4:22 – “YE worship YE know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”

In this verse, the word, “ye” is used. “Ye,” like “thou,” also means “you.” So, “thou” means “you;” and “ye” means “you.” So, why did the translators use the word, “thou” in verses 16-18, where Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman; and then use the word, “ye” in verse 22, where Jesus is still speaking to the Samaritan woman? Is it because they merely used whichever word sounded neat? Absolutely not. There is a reason that “thou” is used in verses 16-18, and “ye” is used in verse 22. The reason is simple: “Thou” is singular while “ye” is plural. In modern English, there is no differentiation between a singular “you” and a plural “you.” One can only tell by the context whether the word, “you” is singular or plural. In King James English, however, they had separate words for “you (singular)” and “you (plural),” making King James English more accurate than the modern use of the word, “you.”

In verses 16-18, when the singular word “thou” is used, Jesus is referring simply to the woman and her alone.

In verse 22, Jesus still is speaking to the woman and to her alone. However, when He says, “YE worship YE know not what,” He is referring to a group to which this woman belonged. The plural form of “you” is used because Jesus is saying, “YOU SAMARITANS worship what YOU SAMARITANS do not know. WE JEWS know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”

So, when a Bible version takes out “thou” from verses 16-18; and takes out “ye” from verse 22; and replaces them both with “you,” their version is less accurate than the King James Bible because you wouldn’t be able to tell which “you” is singular and which is plural.

The Rule

There are several words in the King James Bible that mean “you,” “your,” and “yours.” I will call these “‘you’ words.” The general rule is stated as follows: When a “‘you’ word” begins with a “t,” such as “thou,” “thy,” “thine,” and “thee,” it is singular. When a “‘you’ word” begins with a “y,” such as “you,” “your,” and “yours,” it is plural.

Conclusion

It is clear that each of the “‘you’ words” have different functions. To replace each of these with the word “you” is to do an injustice to your Bible, making it less accurate than the King James Bible.

Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”

Departure and Destination

A Brief Message for the New Year

Hebrews 11:8 – “…he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

Departure

“…he went out…” This is Abraham’s departure. In our text, we are admonished of the faith of Abraham. His faith is described as one who HAD nothing but a divine command, but as one who NEEDED nothing but a divine command.

You and I, like Abraham, have made a similar departure. We have all, without exception, departed from the previous days of 2011. We have been commanded by the chimes of time to do so. Regardless of the wonderful events that marked the previous year, we could not stay there. We had to depart. I know of mothers who gave birth to children in 2011. As blissful as the event may have been, “we went out.” Others have had a very hard year in 2011. Some of them may have wished that they could have departed from 2011 sooner. But it was not possible.

Destination

“…not knowing wither he went.” The phrase, “wither he went” speaks to us regarding Abraham’s destination. Abraham departed, but to what country was he to arrive? The answer is simple – Abraham did not know. Man does not favor ignorance. We like to know. I spoke to a Bible college graduate about a year ago, and he was shook up. He was concerned because he was not sure what his calling was. He knew he was called to the ministry, but unsure of where that calling would lead. He prayed and fasted, trying to get the Lord to tell him the details of his calling.

Abraham, however, did not have such knowledge. “He went out, not knowing wither he went.” He departed from his country of Ur, not knowing what God had in store. You may scoff at this and refer to it as Abraham’s ignorance; the Bible, however, refers to it as Abraham’s faith.

Think of Joseph. God showed Joseph that his brothers and father would one day bow before him. That’s all God showed him. Joseph had no way of knowing that God’s plan for him included a pit. Joseph never would have guessed that the path to his family’s obeisance to him would contain a prison. Joseph’s road to authority was paved with false accusations; yet God never showed Joseph any of this.

Think of David. He was anointed king. Yet, he did not take the throne the day Samuel poured the oil upon his head. From the time of his anointing to the time he took the throne, he would run from Saul; his life would be jeopardized; he would be separated from his friend Jonathan. Yet, God showed David none of this. David knew he would one day be king (though he doubted it at times), but he was not aware of what the path to kingship consisted.

And we go into 2012 just as blindly. We know our supreme destination. Our ultimate goal is to be in the will of God. Our greatest desire is to walk in the path of our Saviour. But none of us know what 2012 holds for us. None of us know how many long, sleepless nights we may have in the coming months. None of us know how much worse the economy may grow in the coming year. None of us know which of our family will have seen their last Christmas in 2011. “We go out, not knowing wither we go.” But as long as we trust our Lord, this is not ignorance; it is faith.