Charismatic
Description
The word “Charismatic” comes from the Greek word for “Charisma”, which means “gifted”. They believe they are more “Gifted” than other Christians. The Bible tells us what to think about this in Prov 25:14. The gifts they claim are apostolic gifts (signs and wonders 2 Cor 12:12). In Rev 2:2 they are called liars!
The term “Pentecostal” dates to the early part of the 20th century and refers to a desire to recapture the miraculous experience of Pentecost. Many denominations have grown out of the Pentecostal movement, including the Assemblies of God, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, Church of God in Christ, Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), Pentecostal Church of God, United Pentecostal Church, and Church of God of Prophecy. The “Charismatic” movement is of more recent origin and refers to the ecumenical tongues-speaking phenomenon that has spread through non-Pentecostal Baptist and Protestant denominations as well as the Roman Catholic Church since the 1960s. 1
History
Charismatics, as “Campbellites,” came on the religious scene late. The Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas (1900), and the Azusa Street Mission of Los Angeles (1910) were the beginnings of the present movement, and it came into full blossom between 1920 and 1940 under a woman preacher in Los Angeles named Aimee Semple McPherson. Later (1945), Charismatics infiltrated the Christian Businessmen’s Fellowship (1945–1950) and converted it into a so-called “Full Gospel Fellowship” (1950–1970). The word “FULL Gospel” is a non-Biblical term (such as “Four Square Gospel”) and would be included in the anathemas (curses) which God the Holy Spirit placed on anyone in this age who is not preaching THE Gospel (1 Cor. 15:16). “THE GOSPEL” (Gal. 1:8-10) never includes any mention of apostolic gifts given to any apostle or to any convert under an apostle since “THE Gospel” was to survive centuries after the last apostle was dead.
Charismatics were formerly (1900–1940) called “Pentecostals,” or in the old days “Assembly of God,” “Church of God,” or “Nazarenes.” All of them bore the same stamp; all claimed that the Jewish signs (1 Cor. 1:22) given to Israel (Exod. 4:1-10), under the Jewish apostles (Mark 16:17-20), were for Gentile believers even after the last apostle had died. 2
Doctrine
All Charismatics are interdenominational and all of them are deathly afraid to discuss, read, or study (or preach) BIBLE DOCTRINES. Because the Bible is a book of doctrine (2 Tim 3:16), it is a closed book to them. They will not be able to discern it at all.
- One of the keynotes of the Pentecostal movement since its inception has been the doctrine that the Lord’s coming will be preceded by a worldwide revival of signs and wonders.
Acts 2:16-20is used as a proof text. They say, “See, sons and daughters will prophesy and young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams,” but this verse is ripped from its context.
Peter says the Joel prophecy was fulfilled in his day with the events of Pentecost.
Pentecostals and Charismatics pay lip service to the sufficiency of the Bible, in reality experience and “personal revelation” are commonly the higher authorities. This is because they have a spirit, but it is NOT Holy! Remember the Holy Ghost will lead you to truth. It is not going to reject the words of God in preference to personal experience. This is satanic in nature.
- Unknown tongues? In Acts 2 please note the following:
- No one is kneeling or praying for any “baptism.
- The “initial evidence” is NOT tongues but it is the sound of a mighty rushing wind.
- Only twelve men speak in tongues (
Acts 1:26; 2:1; 2:14). Since 120 disciples were there (Acts 1:15), it is apparent that tongues have nothing to do with the ”baptism of the Holy Ghost” for Christians, because ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY BY ONE SPIRIT (1 Cor. 12:13), and at least 108 of them at Pentecost did NOT speak in any tongue.
The Biblical rules for the use of the “unknown tongue” in 1 Corinthians are regularly violated by every Charismatic church in America.
- WOMEN are not to speak in tongues in the assembly (
1 Cor. 14:34). - MEN are to only speak in turn and never more than three at a time; one after the other (
1 Cor. 14:27). - None of them are to speak unless an interpreter is present (
1 Cor. 14:27), and then it is understood that all tongues are for a “SIGN” (1 Cor. 14:22) to the unbelieving Jews in Corinth.
That is why they only occur THREE times in the entire New Testament (
Acts 2, 10, 19): in every case it is for the benefit of a Jew who is seeking a “SIGN.”