Page 114 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT

California, God spoke to him and instructed him not to correction, and for instruction in righteousness. Nothing
judge the Roman Catholic Church. He says he heard a other than the Bible is needed for these things. We don’t
message from God saying, “Why would I not be happy need a personal revelation or a personal prophecy for
with a place where every morning the testimony of the doctrine or a “word of knowledge” for correction.
blood of my Son is raised from the altar?” (“The “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,
Pentecostal Gold Standard,” Christianity Today, July when we made known unto you the power and coming
2005) Based upon this “personal revelation,” Hayford of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his
adopted a neutral approach to Catholicism, yet upon the majesty. For he received from God the Father honour
authority of the Bible I know that the message that and glory, when there came such a voice to him from
Hayford heard was demonic. The atonement of Jesus the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I
Christ is NOT glorified on Roman Catholic altars. The am well pleased. And this voice which came from
Mass is an open denial of the doctrine of the once-for-all heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy
mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
atonement that we find in the book of Hebrews. Note whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light
what the Vatican II Council said about the Mass: “For in that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and
it Christ perpetuates in an unbloody manner the the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first,
sacrifice offered on the cross, offering himself to the that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
Father for the world’s salvation through the ministry of interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time
priests” (The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they
“Instruction on the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery,” were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:16-21).
Intro., C 1, 2, p. 108). This is only a small part of Here Peter exalts the Scripture over mystical
Rome’s wicked heresies, and it is impossible that God (experiential) visions and voices. Peter was an
would encourage Jack Hayford to look upon the Roman eyewitness of Christ’s glorification on the Mount of
Catholic Church in any sort of positive, non-judgmental Transfiguration and heard the actual voice of God from
manner. If Hayford based his theology about the Roman heaven and saw Moses and Elijah, but he says the
Catholic Church strictly upon the Bible, he would never Scripture is “a more sure word of prophecy.” A greater
fall for such delusion. exaltation of the Bible as the sole authority for faith and
Thus, regardless of what the Pentecostal and practice could not be made. The Scripture is “more sure”
Charismatic say about holding the Bible as the sole than visions and voices because these can be
authority for faith and practice, this claim is almost demonically imitated and fallibly interpreted. Many
always found to be untrue when it is examined carefully. Pentecostals, such as William Braham and David
It is a case of “what you are doing speaks louder than DuPlessis, have heard voices that led them away from
what you are saying.” biblical truth, causing them to do such things as deny
Observe the following Scriptures carefully: the Trinity and to accept “latter rain” heresies and
“second baptisms” and ecumenism and many other
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is errors.
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you
be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 of the common salvation, it was needful for me to
Timothy 3:16-17). write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
It is the Scripture (rather than tradition or earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).
experience or personal revelation or a prophecy or a
“word of knowledge” or a voice or a vision or an out of Here we see that the New Testament faith was “once
body experience) that is given by divine inspiration and delivered unto the saints.” This means that it was
the Scripture is able to make the man of God perfect, completed during the days of the apostles. It is not still
throughly furnished unto all good works. Notice the being delivered. The Lord Jesus promised to lead the
exceedingly strong emphasis here on the Scripture’s disciples into all truth. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
sufficiency. Observe the words that are used: “able,” truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall
“perfect,” “throughly furnished,” “all good works.” Thus not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that
it is obvious that God’s people need nothing beyond the shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (Jn.
Scripture. The Pentecostals and Charismatics admit that 16:13). This was fulfilled in the writing of the New
their prophecies and dreams and visions and Testament and the completion of the canon of Scripture.
experiences are not “scripture,” and in light of 2 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of
Timothy 3:1617 it is obvious that they are not needed. the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto
The canon of Scripture was completed 2,000 years ago, these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that
are written in this book: And if any man shall take
and it is sufficient for doctrine, for reproof, for away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God

114 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity