Hi all,
Just a little sampling of what the charismatic movement promotes and how deceptive it is and why I am so passionate against it. I too had these "supernatural" experiences and thought, and was taught, that it was the Holy Spirit's work in us. Yet in these churches, and I went to many, there was very little of Jesus and His work for us on the cross. It was subtle and would pull you in and tell you what your itching ears wanted to hear. Yet in reading the Bible I knew that there were so many errors in these teachings and preachers, yet loved my friends even when they encouraged me to get "drunk in the spirit" and go to Benny Hinn and healing services.
The year Jeffrey died I went to three different churches for Easter and not one spoke of the love of Christ and His atoning death and resurrection for us. Not one. All large congregations being fed error and pablum, how to live a better life, be a better you, be healthy, prosperous, ask and you will receive because you are a child of God. All about you and nothing about Jesus. Jeffrey died three days after Easter and for me the bottom dropped out. My friends had no answers, the pastors had no time for me to console or counsel. I was abandoned, where was the church? Where was my comfort? What happened? To me the charismatics are fair weather friends indeed. They teach a different gospel, one of health, wealth and prosperity and if you do not have these things they have nothing for you. It is not the gospel of Jesus Christ which is one of suffering and shame, resurrection and glory "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" Romans 8:17. I am passionate against this movement because it leads people astray and pollutes the truth with a lie.
The video in the link above, is of a woman who I saw with my friends at Jubilee church in San Jose. She is very compelling and I remember when we went to see her speak there was a man who had trouble walking and she did a "healing" by walking him around the church praying (in tongues, of coarse) for God to heal him. I walked around with her and a few others for at least an hour with this man. Was he healed? No. Did they say he was healed? Of coarse, because it is all part of the deception. They prey on the vulnerable and weak, the desperate and instead of encouraging as Paul did by saying Thy grace is sufficient and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” Eph. 1:3. Instead they take out of context Isaiah 53:5 "by His stripes we are healed". They blanket that to mean you will never be sick again and then have all kinds of unprovable examples of "healings" and people risen from the dead but no proof. A kind of urban legend type of talk. They do not keep it in the context with the first part of the statement "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." In context it is clear this is not about physical healing but rather spiritual healing. Our transgressions, our iniquities, not our cancer or our infirmities. For our peace with God He was wounded, chastised, bruised, what amazing grace. To demote this to just what we can have for the here and now, the physical rather than the eternal is sad to say the very least and again is leading people astray.
I do not write this for pity but rather for awareness of what is out there and the kind of snare the enemy has trapped so much of the church into today. We really need to be sober and vigilant, redeeming the time for the days are evil and more than ever ready to give every man an answer for the hope that lies within us with gentleness and respect. I am still working on the gentleness and respect part. I know God had me in this movement for a reason and season just like when I was a catholic and now I am here. I know that God is sovereign and I can trust Him because He never will leave me or forsake me. He never has, if it were not for the Lord and His grace, mercy and great love for me, I really don't know how I would have survived this world. His grace really is sufficient. His mercy really is new every morning. He really is the strength of my heart and the lifter of my head. Nothing in my hand I bring only to Thy cross I cling.
I really did not intend this to be so long. If this helps clarify the church today for you and you think it will encourage and enlighten others feel free to forward it along. When I speak up about this it is never with the intention of “my church is better than yours” but rather to be aware of truth and error. The enemy is always prowling around waiting for those to devour it is our job to cast down every argument and stronghold that lifts itself up against the knowledge of God. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." 2Cor. 10:4-6
Thank you for your support and patience,
God bless,
margie
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