Aberrations
and False Teaching
|
Pentecostalism has always prided itself on being a movement that had a sense of freedom: Freedom from liturgical and traditional restraints. "Magic" phrases in the movement have always been "The Lord told me…" or similar expressions. Without a clear discernment, such comments are seldom questioned. They are, of course, sometimes spurious, either from ignorance or fleshly motives. This "freedom" has quite often led to excesses, abuses and false teaching. It is illustrative and shameful that the major ministerial downfalls in the last few decades have mostly involved Pentecostals (e.g. Swaggart, Bakker and others who did not receive as much publicity). |
Excesses
|
Excesses in Pentecost have led to embarrassment. Not so much from the clearly aberrant behavior, such as handling snakes, but from real activities of the Holy Spirit that are taken beyond bounds into fleshly displays. Such things as "dancing in the Spirit", which are Biblical and legitimate, have often turned into sordid demonstrations that have little or nothing to do with God or the Holy Spirit. Being "slain in the Spirit", laughing, etc., while all legitimate in context with a real move of the Holy Spirit, are many times taken out of that context due to emotionalism, ignorance or pride and then become abominations and caricatures. It is no wonder that many people who have not experienced the infilling with the Holy Spirit question the validity of such experiences. It is no wonder that unbelievers have scoffed and ridiculed Pentecost. The term "holy rollers" is a case in point. |
|
What has been lacking in modern day Pentecost, in addition to solid Biblical understanding, has been ministerial leadership. Pastors have been reticent to take authority when it has been required to quell such excesses, not only because the Bible commands it but because such actions grieve the Holy Spirit. There is a rule regarding Pentecost that too often is ignored: Let all things be done decently and in order. (I Corin 14:40). These excesses are bad enough but this sense of "freedom" has
all too often led to aberrations and false teaching. Unfortunately, in
practice, "freedom" has become synonymous with "lack of
accountability". "If the Lord told me then it is right!" is
too often taken by the undiscerning as gospel.
|
Aberrations
|
Many aberrations of the true teaching and practice of Pentecostalism have become painfully apparent in the last few decades. Some of these have resulted in cultic organizations (Jim Jones, for example) but some have stayed quiet enough to still be considered by most to be legitimate. |
Personal Prophecy - On Demand
|
Among such aberrations is the increase in
what could be termed "Personal Prophecy Gurus". In services at
their churches and even on the radio they offer a "word of the
Lord" on demand, much like the "psychic" hotlines advertised
on television. These "prophecies" are always personal in nature and
usually couched in general enough terms to be able to apply, no matter what
happens. The problem with this particular aberration is that there is just
enough Biblical evidence of personal prophecy to lend it a veneer of
legitimacy, deceiving literally hundreds if not thousands of Christians
regularly. Personal prophecy definitely occurred in the New Testament. An
account is given in Acts 21:10-11. "And as we tarried there many
days, there came down from |
False Teachings
|
While Pentecostalism is not alone in being riddled with false teaching it is more noticeable because Pentecostalism is more in the spotlight of censure and criticism than any other religious body. Consequently, when false teachings do show themselves they are more widely publicized and draw more attention - so much more so that the true teachings of Pentecostalism are lost in the melee. |
Word of Faith
|
This false teaching, put forth by such ministers as Hagen, Copeland, Capps and others, has shipwrecked more Christians than most other tools the Devil has tried to use. In a nutshell, this teaching says that the Christian is like God, that whatever he says will come to pass. The problem, of course, is that this is not true. When it doesn't happen as expected, the believer is led to believe it was because they did not have enough faith or did not practice it correctly or some such other nonsense. Consequently, when a Christian practices this approach to a problem and the answer is not forthcoming it results in discouragement, doubt and fear and that, in turn, causes many to turn their backs on God completely. The rocky shores of Pentecostalism are cluttered with the shipwrecks of faith these teachers have produced. |
Prosperity Preaching
|
This unbiblical teaching basically takes as its foundation the concept that "holiness and poverty are not synonymous". This teaching, promulgated by certain ministers such as Price, says that if you are truly a Christian God wants to make you rich - not just spiritually but materially as well. You are to "take command" over your finances, "command the Devil to take his hands off", trust God (and, by the way, give to "this" ministry) and you will reap great monetary rewards. These teachers are not even ashamed to brag of their Mercedes Benz automobiles and fine, expensive homes. After all, these are badges of their "faith". Oral Roberts treaded close to this idea with his teachings on "seed" faith. Although he did not go into true error in his teaching on the subject, he provided the foundation from which these "carnival hawkers" have built large churches and media ministries as well as grotesque bank accounts. |
|
These are just some of the aberrations and false teachings that have come out of Pentecostalism. But the critic of Pentecostalism in general must be very cautious. Do not throw the baby out with the bath water. Remember, Satan does not try to counterfeit anything that has no value. And, also, judge everything by the Word of God, not by what someone else has told you the Word of God says! If you really want to know the truth, God will reveal it to you. |
