From the Pastor’s Pen

 

The Charismatic Infiltration

 

Greeting Brothers and Sisters

I, Brother Rob, was listening to one of Brother George Pike’s messages from March of 1992. The message is entitled Charismatic Deception. Fifty minutes into the message, he had Brother Frank Taylor read a letter. Brother Pike said that this article or letter came from a magazine, and I am not sure of the name of the magazine or the author, but Brother Pike commended the author as well as I do for his insight of the times. So now we are looking back approximately twenty-six years and we can see the results of the Charismatic Church and its effects on the apostate church in America and the world today. The article starts out in what would appear to be a Bible study or teaching, then the writer changes to his observation of the deception of the charismatic move. Please take a moment and read the article below. I trust that God can help you to see how this movement has infiltrated every denomination in the church world, all over the world, in some measure of compromise. God help us and have mercy, amen.

"If we confess our sins"

The word 'if' is here used to introduce a conditional clause. The substance of the verse yet to follow is dependent upon the condition introduced by this necessary conjunction. It is as though the Apostle John had said, "On this condition." Therefore, the word 'if' introduces a requirement.

"If we"

The use of the personal pronoun makes the verse personal.

"If we confess our sins"

It is the duty of every man to confess his sins. This is not a work that can be done once for all time, but as Tertullian said, "I was born for nothing but repentance." The confession of sin is a necessary and a constant work. There is no other way by which we can know the continuing forgiveness and enjoy constant cleansing.

"Confess"

Now this word from the Latin signifies "To speak against." We must agree with what God has said regarding our sins. The reason we must confess them is because they are our own, and so long as we are unwilling to acknowledge them in all their darkest hue, we remain impenitent and lack godly sorrow.

"Our sins"

Those people only are blessed whom has God has taught the exceeding sinfulness of sin (Romans 7:13). For example, let's consider a lie. A lie. A lie is most often a sin of commission. We can trace its defying effects on the intellect, the emotions and on the volition or will. But a lie also involves the sin of omitting the truth. It is presumptuous because it is a daring act of rebellion staged in the presence of God, in whose hand our breath is. Since a lie is uttered to conceal true, so is a secret sin; and by its very nature, it is composed of deceit. God often punishes a person for lying by giving him over to tell yet another lie, and then another.

"Our confidence"

He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. The crux of this verse lies in the fact that God is faithful and just. In similar manner, the profit Jeremiah explained, "Great is Thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:23). It is man who does not keep faith. God is full of faith, and He is just. God here stakes His integrity upon His being, which is here expressed as faithfulness and justice. Reader, would it be just for God to close His ears to His own children, who acknowledge their guilt, and who earnestly cry to Him for cleansing and for forgiveness? Could God keep faith with His own people if He refuse their petitions or deny their request?

Note the verse again. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." When God cleanses us, He catharses* us, or purges us. But if a Christian will not confess his sins, does time restore him to fellowship with God? Does the moment eventually come when God allows bygones to be bygones? Will God shake His head in disgust, but for the sake of peace or convenience cleanse us in the blood of Christ? Not in a thousand generations. The condition for forgiveness and for cleansing stands. This is the reason most Christians live out their lives and are never right with God.

Charismatic Religion

"Give diligence to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:2-3) The Christian church is facing her most formidable foe in two thousand years. It is a much greater threat than the great Muslim invasion of the Dark Ages. It is more to be feared than if all the cults and heathen religions were to combined and martial themselves against the church. This threat is the religion of the Charismatics. The great danger lies in the fact that although the religion of the Charismatics threatens the demise of biblical Christianity and true worship, it is not perceived to be an enemy, much less, a threat. Therefore, this warning is apt to be quickly dismissed as outlandish and absurd. Nevertheless, this writer would beg the reader with tears and with all the earnestness as he could muster.

Beware A New Religion

The charismatic religion is in fact a new religion. Although it sprang from Pentecostalism, it is a fateful blunder to confuse present day Charismatics with old time Pentecostals. The later used to be called "Holy Rollers" on a count of their emphasis on personal holiness. Charismatics, however, have no tolerance for holiness, and even scorn the idea of separation from this world. Take, for example, femininity in men, testified by long hair. Thirty years ago, the pulpits of America resonated with the words of the Apostle Paul, "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering" (1 Corinthians 11:14-15).

The religion of the Charismatics spurns Bible religion. Charismatics ignore fashion such a pants and pant suits. Thirty years ago, women were warned to shun them because they are masculine in nature; and for this reason, they are an abomination unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 22:5). But those were before the days when the success of a ministry was measured by its size. Now we have a new ritual. According to the Charismatics, holiness does not lie in obedience, but rather in ritualism. Among the Charismatics, none are more pious than they who close their eyes and raise their hands when they sing. It does not matter if their children are lawless, so long as they just praise the Lord. But God does not just accept our praise until we are willing to obey him. With no regard for obedience, Charismatics are not much interested in preaching. Their chief concern is in praising God, so their interest is in gospel singings and gospel entertainers. Nevertheless, the apostle declares, "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

The Secret Of Its Popularity

The popularity of the Charismatic religion lies in its willingness to avoid doctrine and practice. The Charismatics, in walking by sight instead of in faith, major their success by their growth. But even cancer grows, and this cancer pulls as a greater threat to the health of Bible religion than all former persecutors or heretics, and doctrinal preaching among Charismatics has become a taboo. It must be avoided. Pastors of Charismatic churches must not preach on the preservation of the saints, because many in the congregation may not believe in the security of the believer. And if they were to preach on the doctrine of predestination, it would offend many more. The fact that God gave the scriptures for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness is irrelevant to them. In order not to offend people, Charismatics refuse to practice church discipline. The fact that God has directed the church to purge herself of scandal is of no account to the new religionist. (Mathew 18:17-18) (Romans 16:17) (1 Corinthians 5:1-13) (Titus 3:10-11)

Ecumenical

The international Charismatic fellowship recently went to Rome for audience with the pope. The pope responded by saying he was glad his children had returned home. This is the direction of the new religion. In discarding doctrinal and practical truth, the religion of the Charismatics is left without convictions. For this reason, they can "fellowship" with everyone, whether they are Roman Catholics or Unitarians. This is the reason God continually allows Charismatics to be duped by religious hucksters, and this is the reason there will always be a Jim and Tammy Bakker, a Jimmy Swaggart, a Robert Tilton, and Amy Grant.

Another God

The Bible commands us to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling (Psalms 2:11). The God of the Bible is to be feared. Charismatics do not acknowledge the God of the Bible. They worship a god who is not to be feared. They want no part in old time guilt, shame, or fear. Nevertheless, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convince men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgments. Charismatics have obviously received a different spirit (1 Corinthians 14:11). Charismatics serve another Jesus, not Him in whom dwells all the fullness of a Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). They do not know the Jesus of John, who fell at his feet as dead (Revelation 1:17), or of Peter, who fell at Jesus' knees saying "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8). They follow another gospel. They worship at another altar.

Music, The Instrument Of Conversion

The religion of the Charismatics has infiltrated Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and even Pentecostal churches. They have captured many congregations among independent and Bible churches. The instrument that has been used to convert Christian churches to the new religion is not instruments of torture that were used by Muslims and Catholics alike, neither is it literature that has been used by Jehovah Witness and Mormons. The instrument of conversion used by Charismatics is what Martin Luther called the second most powerful force in the universe. It is music. The music of the Charismatics is effeminate. It is the music of promiscuousness. It is the expression of people who are easily influenced, whose convictions are supple and pliable. This is the reason Moody broadcasting station, after welcoming Charismatic music to its airwaves, is weakening its position on the role of woman in the church. Dr. Cole recently declared the modern church should make way for deaconesses. This is but the prelude to accepting women preachers. Dr. Cole knows that although Phebe was a servant, in the Greek, a deaconess, of the church at Cenchrea, the New Testament does not acknowledge the role of deaconess as an office in the church. And it will not be long before the Bible Broadcasting Network surrenders their stand among the sirenic** influence of the volumes of Charismatic music it airs.

Charismatic music teaches men to judge things by emotion. When men surrender themselves to be governed by their emotions, they are properly called effeminate. On account of the seductive quality of Charismatic music, I refuse to listen to it. The buttons on my car radio give my fingers more exercise than does my computer. I am fearful of falling under the spell of this mind-altering music and losing my discernment. Reader, I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the cause of God and truth, turn away from the music of the Charismatics before you become one of them.

* A release of emotional tension, as after an overwhelming experience, that restores or refreshes the spirit.

** Of or characteristic of a siren; melodious, tempting, or alluring.

 

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