Tom writes: I also think it is important to realize that when the word "Charismatic" is used, it does not necessarily mean that all have fallen prey to faith healers and the like. For instance, the last Charismatic Church I went to over 20 years ago, seemed more like your average Baptist Church than a Pentecostal Church.
Tom,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I was not referring to all in the Charismatic movement. It is such a big movement, with so many variations. There are many, many of the Lord’s people in that movement. Like every movement, it has its strengths, and it has it weaknesses.
Jonathan Edwards: “There is indeed something very mysterious in it, that so much good, and so much bad, should be mixed together in the church of God; as it is a mysterious thing, and what has puzzled and amazed many a good Christian, that there should be that which is so divine and precious, as the saving grace of God, and the new and divine nature dwelling in the same heart, with so much corruption, hypocrisy, and iniquity, in a particular saint.”
In my post, I was mainly referring to those in the movement who are teaching false doctrines like described in the passage. The passage in 1 Peter is referring to false teachers who bring in destructive heresies. It is using the false prophets in the past as a comparison to false teachers who will appear in the future. False prophets in the past led people way from God’s truth, and led to immorality. False teachers will lead people away from God’s truth and will lead to immorality. The passage gives us a glimpse into what these people might look like: Lifestyles of greed, immorality, lasciviousness, wantonness, that causes the way of truth to be ridiculed and blasphemed, who exploit their hearers with false words.
From that description, a direct correlation to the scandals of tele-evangelists is called for. Baker, Swaggart, et al clearly seem to be anticipated by this passage, although it is not limited to them. Most of them (not all) fall into the Charismatic camp. That is why I made the connection. Within that group of false teachers, I hold that some are pure frauds, intentionally deceiving their followers. Others I believe are sincere, but sincerely wrong. I would put Swaggert in that last category. I will not defend his theology, or his sin. His bad theology allows him to justify sinfull behaviour in his life. But I believe that he thinks that he is following the way of truth.
My own take on why certain movements attract this sort phenomenon is that although a high view of Scripture is talked about in those circles, it is not really practiced or believed. You can see that from the preaching that takes place. Sloppy exegesis leads to sloppy living, which leads to an environment that fosters and encourages those kinds of teachers. A high view of Scripture with proper exegesis and interpretation provides the only mechanism God has provided to measure the truthfulness of the doctrines and experiences of individuals.
Tom wrote: For the first 4-5 years of my Christian walk I was a Charismatic.
I, too, spent much time in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. My sister was saved at a Benny Hinn crusade. For six years she shared the gospel with me, and was one of the people that the Lord used to draw me to Himself. David Wilkerson was the author of the book that the Lord used in my conversion. I was discipled in a Pentecostal Church. I graduated from a Pentecostal Bible College. But God is merciful. By the grace of God, I came to sit under the ministry of John Piper. It was there that I heard the doctrines of grace for the first time.
Tom wrote: One thing that I think needs to be stated, is that there are many Charismatics who believe in the doctrines of grace, in fact the first two Calvinists I ever met, were also Charismatics. They were an old couple, who as far as I can tell lived out their lives as models to how we should all live as Christians. I have fond recollections of them.
Most of the first Calvinists that I met were non-cessationists. (I classify myself as a non-cessationist, but please, let’s not go there.) Like you said, I found that they lived out their lives as models to how we should all live as Christians. Most of my really good friends are Calvinist-non-cessationist. I also have good friends that are Warfieldian cessationists. Their faith is a shining example of the “knowledge of the truth that accords with godliness.” We have found that there is so much glorious truth that we can agree on, that we can agree to disagree on that one issue.
Blessings,
Kevin
