Of all the groups today, it seems that the Charismatics put the most emphasis on authority. Much of the leadership in Charismatic circles make great claims to authority and compare themselves to figures such as Moses. Those who would dare point out error, or “speak against the leadership” are labelled as divisive, rebellious and compared […]
Chapter 15 section 3 Is it Rebellion? Read More »
One question for Charismatics especially is whether or not a prophet is truly of God because the miracles are real. I believe in miracles and the gifts of the Spirit. But God warns about these as well. Moses told the people that even if the miracles that are performed are real, the content of what
Chapter 15 section 7 What if the miracles are real? Read More »
It is critical that we do not make decisions about truth based on how nice the teacher is, how warm the personality is, how “mightily” they speak or how many good things are being done. We are not even to judge based on how we feel while the message is preached (whether we “sense” the
Chapter 15 Section 6 What Standard of Measure? Read More »
Is it unloving to deal with negative things and point out error? Paul tells us we are to let our love abound in knowledge and judgement. We are to approve by testing the things which differ (negative) and are more excellent. It is part of a process of walking free from offense until the day
Chapter 15 Section 4 Is it Unloving? Read More »
To be discerning, to speak and act on what we believe to be true and to expose and separate ourselves from error is also considered to be negative. It is in fact negative. However, it is what God’s word tells us to do. God spoke to Isaiah about the people of Israel, calling them rebellious
Chapter 15 section 5 Is it Negative? Read More »
Much of the stigmatization against discernment comes in the name of unity. Those who do not go along with the “flow” are considered to be divisive. One of the more popular quotes is from Augustine but was picked up again by the Moravian brethren a couple of hundred years ago: “In essentials unity, in nonessentials
Chapter 15 Section 2 Is it Divisive? Read More »
We’ve already established that discerning between truth and error is biblical. Consider what John, the Apostle of Love says: 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Not every spirit is of God – because many false
Chapter 15, Section 1 Is it Biblical? Read More »
In these environments, the believer is left with two choices. Stay and smile (but shut up), or leave. Unfortunately, to stay and smile and not speak up damages the conscience and quenches the Spirit. It is dishonest, and your Christian church life becomes a game of keeping the peace and acting like everything is okay.
Chapter 15 Addressing the Objections to Discernment Read More »
In addition to teaching to not know truth, the visible church has stigmatized discernment. Anyone who has had a chance to directly witness the power and accuracy of the word (especially through the study of prophecy) will have a love for the word and its precision. Those who insist unwaveringly upon accuracy and adherence to
Chapter 14: Stigmatizing Discernment Read More »
We cannot necessarily tell the difference between wheat and tares. But we should be well versed in the truth to be able to discern the counterfeit messages. However, the church has not only been taught not to watch. It has also been taught not to know, which ultimately means to not be able to discern.
Chapter 13 Withholding “The Key of Knowledge” Read More »
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David Benjamin
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