Page 130 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT

* There is to be no confusion or lack of peace (“For in such a manner that no reproach is brought upon it by
God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all our actions. When we think about the deception and
churches of the saints” 1 Co. 14:33). Every time I have fraud that is so prevalent in the Pentecostal-Charismatic
been in a Pentecostal-Charismatic service where “the movement and when we think about the many times
Spirit was moving” I have thought to myself, “This is that women are allegedly overcome by the Spirit and
confusing.” Disorder reigns. The “tongues” cannot be fall in an indecent manner and have to be covered, it is
understood. Things happen that make no sense and that obvious that all things are not done decently.
are not found in the Bible. But we are told that God is * Everything is to be orderly (“Let all things be done
not the author of confusion, and that covers a lot of decently and in order” 1 Co. 14:40). The God of creation
territory. is the God of order. He is not the God of confusion and
* Women are not allowed to speak in tongues (“Let disorder.
your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not George Gardiner was a Pentecostal for many years,
permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to and he said that his journey out of Pentecostalism
be under obedience, as also saith the law” 1 Co. 14:34). “began with nagging questions about the gulf between
Paul refers to the Law of Moses, which also said the Charismatic practices and Scriptural statements--a very
woman is under the man’s authority (Ge. 3:16; Nu. wide gulf!” (Gardiner, The Corinthian Catastrophe, p. 8).
30:3-13). He determined to study the book of Acts. “I reread the
Women have been at the forefront of “tongues” book of Acts, slowly and carefully, praying as I did,
speaking since the inception of Pentecostalism. A ‘Lord, let me see what it says, and only what the Word
woman was the first to speak in tongues at Parham’s says. Give me grace to accept it if I have been wrong
Topeka Bible School. A woman was the first to speak in and grace to apologize if I have been unduly critical.
tongues at Seymour’s Azusa Street Mission. A reporter The journey through Acts was an eye opener! The
with the Los Angeles Times who visited the Mission on actions and experiences of the early churches were far
April 17, 1906, observed, “The old exhorter [Seymour] removed from the actions and ‘experiences’ of the
urged the ‘sisters’ to let the ‘tongues come forth’ and the modern movement. In some ways they were completely
women gave themselves over to a riot of religious opposite!”
fervor.” I discovered the same thing as a young Christian.
If you could remove the women from the modern One thing that convinced me that Pentecostalism is not
tongues-speaking movement it would collapse, but the scriptural was that their “tongues” were not practiced in
Spirit of God plainly forbids them to speak in tongues or a biblical manner. I have attended Pentecostal and
to prophecy in the meetings where the saints are Charismatic meetings dozens of times in various parts of
gathered together and men are present. Women are the world and I have never witnessed tongues operated
allowed to teach women (Titus 2:3-4) and children (2 in a biblical manner.
Ti. 1:5; 3:15) but are forbidden to teach or usurp Seventh, the Pentecostal-Charismatic method of
authority over men (1 Ti. 2:12). “speaking in tongues” is unscriptural and dangerous;
* Those who are truly spiritual will acknowledge biblical tongues were not sought or learned but were
Paul’s authority (“If any man think himself to be a sovereignly and miraculously given by God.
prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things If we were to agree that there is such a thing today
that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” as “tongues speaking” or a “private prayer language”
1 Co. 14:37). Many times when I have shown these and that it would help us live better Christian lives and
restrictions to Pentecostals and Charismatics they have if we were to accept the Charismatic’s challenge to “try
argued against them and given various reasons why it and see,” the next question is, “How do I begin to
they don’t feel obligated to obey them. This only proves speak in this ‘tongue’ or ‘prayer language’?”
that they are not truly spiritual and are not truly The first step, we are told, is to stop analyzing things
attuned to and obedient to the voice of Almighty God. carefully by the Scriptures and to open up to new
They are self-deceived, and the evidence is that they will experiences. A chapter in the book These Wonderful Gifts
not acknowledge that the things Paul wrote are the by Michael Harper is entitled “Letting Go and Letting
commandments of God. God,” in which the believer is instructed to stop
* Everything is to be decent (“Let all things be done analyzing experiences so carefully and strictly, to stop
decently” 1 Co. 14:40). The Greek word translated “setting up alarm systems” and “squatting nervously
decent is “euschemonos,” which is also translated behind protective walls.” He says the believer should
“honestly” (Ro. 13:13; 1 Thes. 4:12). It carries the idea step out from behind his “walls and infallible systems”
of moral decency and sincerity and integrity, of adorning and just open up to God. That is a necessary but
the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church of Jesus Christ

130 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity