Post by pitbull on Dec 12, 2005 9:36:22 GMT -5
Charismatic Groups
The Pentecostals, the Church of God, and the Assemblies of God have been the traditional standard bearers of Charismatic doctrine, although their teachings are also promoted by various groups [such as "Full Gospel" churches and "Praise and Worship Centers"]. These groups do differ in some practices and beliefs, but their basic doctrines concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit are the same and are false.
It is important for the Bible believer to know and remember that there were no Charismatic groups around before 1900. The whole mess began in the year 1900 when Charles F. Parham established the Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas. He taught his students that speaking in tongues was the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. On January 1, 1901, Agnes Ozman, a student at BBC, spoke in tongues. From that day forth, Pentecostal groups have taught that speaking in tongues is the "evidence" of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
In 1906, W. J. Seymour, a student of Parham¡¦s, began holding meetings at 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles. Regular meetings were held here for three years, and it was from here that the movement spread across America with the establishment of churches and denominations.
The principle errors found within the Charismatic movement are listed below, as well as the Biblical passages that counter them:
1. Emphasis On The Holy Spirit ¡V John 14:26; 16:13-14
2. Gift Of Tongues -- Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; I Corinthians 12:10, 30; 13:8; 14:22
3. Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire ¡V Matthew 3:11-12; Romans 8:9; Revelation 20:14-15
4. Denial of Eternal Security ¡V John 5:24; 6:37; 10:28-29; I John 5:11-13; Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 1:6
5. Unpardonable Sin ¡V Matthew 12:22-32; Mark 3:30; John 16:7-11
6. Women Preachers ¡V I Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2
Techniques To Help Win A Charismatic/Pentecostal To Christ
There are two main things that you will need to get past:
1. Many [not all] will place their feelings and personal experiences on equal ground with the Bible as an authority in their life. Feelings and experiences need to be interpreted by Scripture, not the other way around.
2. Many will not believe that they are saved because they have not received ¡§the baptism of the Holy Spirit¡¨ or spoken in tongues. They need to realize that this is not a sign that one is saved.
Ask them if they know if they are saved. If they tell you that no one can know, show them 1 John 5:11-13. Then offer to demonstrate to them how they can know they are saved from the Scriptures. Take out your KJV Bible and show them exactly what the Bible has to say about being saved. The best bet is to show them the explain to them the ¡§Roman¡¦s Road¡¨:
Romans 3:23 „³ Romans 6:23 „³ Romans 5:8 „³ Romans 10:9-10, 13.
You can also take them to John 3:16-18 to show them the same thing. No matter which you use, they need to realize:
1. That we are all sinners.
2. That there is a penalty for our sins that we have earned [i.e. wages], which includes a literal and fiery Hell.
3. That God loves us and because this Christ paid the penalty for our sins.
4. That Christ is the only way to get saved.
5. That works [religion, getting baptized, joining a church, giving a tithe, being good to family and friends, being a law-abiding citizen, helping our neighbors, living a clean life, doing good deeds, etc.] will not get us saved.
6. That we need to prayfully repent of our sins and ask Jesus to save us.
You will also need to help reassure their hearts afterwards that they cannot lose their salvation. This will be the area that the Devil will attack them the most. Here are some passages to use:
„X ¡§And I will give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father¡¦s hand.¡¨ [John 10:28-29]
„X ¡§Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ¡Knor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.¡¨ [Romans 8]
„X ¡§If we believe not [or, are not faithful], yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.¡¨ [2 Timothy 2:13]
The Pentecostals, the Church of God, and the Assemblies of God have been the traditional standard bearers of Charismatic doctrine, although their teachings are also promoted by various groups [such as "Full Gospel" churches and "Praise and Worship Centers"]. These groups do differ in some practices and beliefs, but their basic doctrines concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit are the same and are false.
It is important for the Bible believer to know and remember that there were no Charismatic groups around before 1900. The whole mess began in the year 1900 when Charles F. Parham established the Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas. He taught his students that speaking in tongues was the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. On January 1, 1901, Agnes Ozman, a student at BBC, spoke in tongues. From that day forth, Pentecostal groups have taught that speaking in tongues is the "evidence" of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
In 1906, W. J. Seymour, a student of Parham¡¦s, began holding meetings at 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles. Regular meetings were held here for three years, and it was from here that the movement spread across America with the establishment of churches and denominations.
The principle errors found within the Charismatic movement are listed below, as well as the Biblical passages that counter them:
1. Emphasis On The Holy Spirit ¡V John 14:26; 16:13-14
2. Gift Of Tongues -- Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; I Corinthians 12:10, 30; 13:8; 14:22
3. Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire ¡V Matthew 3:11-12; Romans 8:9; Revelation 20:14-15
4. Denial of Eternal Security ¡V John 5:24; 6:37; 10:28-29; I John 5:11-13; Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 1:6
5. Unpardonable Sin ¡V Matthew 12:22-32; Mark 3:30; John 16:7-11
6. Women Preachers ¡V I Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2
Techniques To Help Win A Charismatic/Pentecostal To Christ
There are two main things that you will need to get past:
1. Many [not all] will place their feelings and personal experiences on equal ground with the Bible as an authority in their life. Feelings and experiences need to be interpreted by Scripture, not the other way around.
2. Many will not believe that they are saved because they have not received ¡§the baptism of the Holy Spirit¡¨ or spoken in tongues. They need to realize that this is not a sign that one is saved.
Ask them if they know if they are saved. If they tell you that no one can know, show them 1 John 5:11-13. Then offer to demonstrate to them how they can know they are saved from the Scriptures. Take out your KJV Bible and show them exactly what the Bible has to say about being saved. The best bet is to show them the explain to them the ¡§Roman¡¦s Road¡¨:
Romans 3:23 „³ Romans 6:23 „³ Romans 5:8 „³ Romans 10:9-10, 13.
You can also take them to John 3:16-18 to show them the same thing. No matter which you use, they need to realize:
1. That we are all sinners.
2. That there is a penalty for our sins that we have earned [i.e. wages], which includes a literal and fiery Hell.
3. That God loves us and because this Christ paid the penalty for our sins.
4. That Christ is the only way to get saved.
5. That works [religion, getting baptized, joining a church, giving a tithe, being good to family and friends, being a law-abiding citizen, helping our neighbors, living a clean life, doing good deeds, etc.] will not get us saved.
6. That we need to prayfully repent of our sins and ask Jesus to save us.
You will also need to help reassure their hearts afterwards that they cannot lose their salvation. This will be the area that the Devil will attack them the most. Here are some passages to use:
„X ¡§And I will give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father¡¦s hand.¡¨ [John 10:28-29]
„X ¡§Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ¡Knor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.¡¨ [Romans 8]
„X ¡§If we believe not [or, are not faithful], yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.¡¨ [2 Timothy 2:13]