Post by Cindy on Mar 24, 2016 11:00:17 GMT -5
Truth or Snare? Testing your Pentecostal/Charismatic Experience
By Pamela Couvrette
I apologize for the sparse blog posts – nerve issues are a recent challenge, and while grasping objects is amusing, typing is less so. There was a time when I believed that if I had enough faith, then I would be healed of my ailments. I was not only taught that physical healing was guaranteed in the atonement, I was also taught that because Jesus and the apostles had the gift of healing, that meant Christians today could heal as well. My beliefs were a mix of faith-healing, positive confession, and continuation of the sign gifts. It is the sign gifts, specifically healing and speaking in tongues, that I will address in this writing.
In my Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, we didn’t examine how, when, where, why, or to whom the sign gifts occurred; our conversations were experience-based, not theology-based. The fact that no one knew what the messages were behind the tongues, or that no one got healed during the healing practices were not a concern – the experiences alone convinced us that something divine had occurred. The goal was not to glorify God, or to proclaim the Gospel, or to grow in holiness – the goal was to have a spiritual experience.
I was unaware of the cessationist viewpoint; I believed that you were either “walking in the power of the Spirit” or you weren’t. The idea that the sign gifts had ceased never entered my mind. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to encourage my Pentecostal and Charismatic continuationist sisters to examine why they believe what they believe through a series of questions.
To Be Clear …
It is not my intention to attempt to end the debate between cessationism and continuationism, nor is it my intention to create division – whether or not the sign gifts operate today is not a salvation issue. If you have studied the Scriptures and you are fully convinced in your own mind (Romans 14:5) that the gifts are in operation today, then great. However, if you are not sure why you believe what you believe, then examine the Scriptures (Acts 17:11), and make sure that your beliefs are founded on the Word of God alone. The Bible is authoritative over feelings, experiences, and intentions, therefore, “I just feel that…”, or “This happened to me in church…”, or “God knows my heart…” are not qualifiers for objective truth.
There is a misperception that cessationists believe that God no longer performs miracles. The question is not whether God is sovereign – God can do anything through whomever, wherever, and whenever He chooses. I believe that God still heals people today, however, if He chooses to heal is not determined by Christians. We do not control or direct God’s hand. Additionally, the concern is not whether experiences such as speaking in tongues exist, the concern is whether or not what occurs today is Biblical. Cessationists do not question can God can grant the gift of signs, the question is, is He granting them now? The hand of God is not held up for scrutiny, experiences are; there is a lot of spiritual activity in today’s churches, all of which must be tested against Scripture (1 John 4:1).
Following are questions to help you examine your beliefs; they address the sign gifts as well as two beliefs concerning salvation. The first is the belief that physical healing is guaranteed in the atonement; the second is the belief that speaking in tongues is evidence of salvation.
Please Continue to read at the link below:
pamelacouvrette.com/pentecostal-charismatic-experience/
By Pamela Couvrette
I apologize for the sparse blog posts – nerve issues are a recent challenge, and while grasping objects is amusing, typing is less so. There was a time when I believed that if I had enough faith, then I would be healed of my ailments. I was not only taught that physical healing was guaranteed in the atonement, I was also taught that because Jesus and the apostles had the gift of healing, that meant Christians today could heal as well. My beliefs were a mix of faith-healing, positive confession, and continuation of the sign gifts. It is the sign gifts, specifically healing and speaking in tongues, that I will address in this writing.
In my Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, we didn’t examine how, when, where, why, or to whom the sign gifts occurred; our conversations were experience-based, not theology-based. The fact that no one knew what the messages were behind the tongues, or that no one got healed during the healing practices were not a concern – the experiences alone convinced us that something divine had occurred. The goal was not to glorify God, or to proclaim the Gospel, or to grow in holiness – the goal was to have a spiritual experience.
I was unaware of the cessationist viewpoint; I believed that you were either “walking in the power of the Spirit” or you weren’t. The idea that the sign gifts had ceased never entered my mind. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to encourage my Pentecostal and Charismatic continuationist sisters to examine why they believe what they believe through a series of questions.
To Be Clear …
It is not my intention to attempt to end the debate between cessationism and continuationism, nor is it my intention to create division – whether or not the sign gifts operate today is not a salvation issue. If you have studied the Scriptures and you are fully convinced in your own mind (Romans 14:5) that the gifts are in operation today, then great. However, if you are not sure why you believe what you believe, then examine the Scriptures (Acts 17:11), and make sure that your beliefs are founded on the Word of God alone. The Bible is authoritative over feelings, experiences, and intentions, therefore, “I just feel that…”, or “This happened to me in church…”, or “God knows my heart…” are not qualifiers for objective truth.
There is a misperception that cessationists believe that God no longer performs miracles. The question is not whether God is sovereign – God can do anything through whomever, wherever, and whenever He chooses. I believe that God still heals people today, however, if He chooses to heal is not determined by Christians. We do not control or direct God’s hand. Additionally, the concern is not whether experiences such as speaking in tongues exist, the concern is whether or not what occurs today is Biblical. Cessationists do not question can God can grant the gift of signs, the question is, is He granting them now? The hand of God is not held up for scrutiny, experiences are; there is a lot of spiritual activity in today’s churches, all of which must be tested against Scripture (1 John 4:1).
Following are questions to help you examine your beliefs; they address the sign gifts as well as two beliefs concerning salvation. The first is the belief that physical healing is guaranteed in the atonement; the second is the belief that speaking in tongues is evidence of salvation.
Please Continue to read at the link below:
pamelacouvrette.com/pentecostal-charismatic-experience/
!!
