False Teachings of the Charismatic Movement - Part 2

Unbiblical Demonstrations in the Church Service – Azusa Street and Before

My Thoughts on Azusa Street

Having been in the ministry for a number of years, it has not been uncommon to hear a minister speak of the happenings at Azusa Street. Azusa Street, located in Los Angeles, California, is widely accepted to be the birthplace of Pentecostalism in the United States. Although ministers allude to the events that occurred in 1906 at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles, I found out that most of these ministers do not even know what really happened there. Usually, when a minister talks about Azusa Street in a positive manner, they are NOT referring to souls being saved. They usually emphasize the excitement, emotionalism, and physical demonstrations that occurred there. Most ministers who are proud of the events of Azusa Street can tell you about Rev. Seymour who kept his head in a shoebox to display his humility, but they can’t tell you how many people were saved there.

In light of these observations, I began to study the events of Azusa Street in recent years. Frank Bartleman was a leading minister of that era. He witnessed the events of Azusa Street firsthand. He wrote about those events in great detail in his book, Another Wave of Revival. I read this book thoroughly. I honestly do not think Frank Bartleman, an eyewitness of the Azusa Street events, could tell you how many people got saved during that time. Frankly, I do not think he cared.  In Bartleman’s above-mentioned work, you will find pages upon pages of physical manifestations – people were shouting, falling over chairs, weeping for hours, placing their heads in cardboard boxes, spontaneous testimonies, and other such manifestations; but VERY LITTLE or ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about souls being saved. I’m not being critical; I’m being honest.

Frank Bartleman despised any type of leadership in the church. According to him, the church as a whole should merely come together, pray until the Spirit moves, and no man should take any type of charge whatsoever. Bartleman did not even promote the preaching of the word of God! Look at Frank Bartleman’s own words:

“There was no program, and hardly s chance for even necessary announcements. No attempt was made to preach (Bartleman, Frank. Another Wave of Revival. Whitaker House. Springdale, PA. ©1982. p. 76).”

“The Spirit allows little human interference in the meetings…To draw attention to them brings a spirit of fear on the saints, and they stop seeking. The Spirit is hindered from working. He moves them out of the way (Bartleman, p. 77).”

Dr. W.C. Dumble of Toronto visited Frank Bartleman’s congregation, a branch that sprang from the Azusa Street Mission. Dumble wrote of what he witnessed:

“Jesus is proclaimed the Head, and the Holy Spirit His executive. Hence, there is no preaching, no choir, no organ, no collection, except what is voluntarily placed on the table or put in the box on the wall (Bartleman, pp. 97, 98).”

“NO PREACHING!” That was the testimony of an eyewitness of the Azusa Street days! No preaching! And the Bible says that God chose preaching! The desire of those at Azusa Street was “no human interference.” God, however, gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11)!

The Azusa Street “revival” focused on physical manifestations rather than souls being saved; on “the Spirit” controlling everything instead of teaching or preaching. While this sounds spiritual to some, it is a great degree of ignorance, and the Azusa Street “revival” proves it! Look at what Frank Bartleman said concerning how long this “move of God” lasted:

“The truth must be told. Azusa began to fail the Lord also early in her history. God showed me one day that they were going to organize, though not a word had been said in my hearing about it…From that time the trouble and division began. It was no longer a free spirit for all as it had been (Bartleman, pp. 73, 74).”

Frank Bartleman was sincere. He truly believed that what the church needed was no human governments (when the Bible plainly teaches that God gives governments, helps, and administrations; I Corinthians 12). He truly believed that omitting preaching and teaching from the services would build a strong church. However, Bartleman was forced to admit that this kind of church starved to death in its infancy.

Let me be clear – as a pastor, I am not supposed to gather my church people to do nothing but have prayer meetings. I am commanded to be “apt to teach.” I have a divine order to “feed the sheep.” I want my church to be built on prayer, but not apart from the word of God! You may be impressed with Azusa Street, but it lasted about as long as a drop of water on a pot-belly stove!

The Charismatic movement is characterized by some of the same manifestations as the events of the Azusa Street “revival.” The Charismatic movement today is characterized by physical manifestations rather than soul-winning, and little or no emphasis on the word of God.

Before Azusa Street

Although the events of Azusa Street mark the beginning of Pentecostalism in the United States for some, scholars are swift to point out that people were speaking in tongues before Azusa Street. So, I studied Pentecostal history in the United States prior to Azusa Street in 1906. In 1801, there was a “revival” at Cane-Ridge in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Vinson Synan tells about this revival, stating that there was such occurrences as falling, jerking, falling into trances, barking like dogs, “holy laugh,” and other such manifestations (Synan, Vinson. The Holiness-Pentecostal Movement in the United States. William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company. Grand Rapids, MI. ©1971. p. 24). Barking like dogs? Really? Holy laugh? Where’s that in the Bible? I don’t care if Grandma practiced “laughing in the Spirit” or not; there is no such form of worship in the Bible!

Just like these manifestations in early holiness meetings, you will find them in the Charismatic movement today. Charismatics still laugh “in the Spirit.” There were reports just a few years ago in Pensacola, Florida of Charismatic groups who were telling jokes in tongues, barking like dogs, and laughing hysterically “in the Spirit.” If you’re trying to prove that Pentecostalism has roots in the United States prior to Azusa Street, I wouldn’t use the Cane-Ridge revival as evidence. The Cane-Ridge revival is nothing of which to boast!

Just as there were unbiblical manifestations at Azusa Street, and unbiblical junk such as laughing in the Spirit at Cane-Ridge, these characteristics still classify Charismatics today!

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!