MIRACLE
CLAIMS TESTED
-A.
Ralph Johnson
SECTION I. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS
The world today is full of
conflicting claims by those professing to be guided by the Holy Spirit, while
teaching a babble of contradictory doctrines.
It is obvious they cannot all be right.
The Bible's teachings are by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1Pet.
1:20-21; Jn. 16:13). It is manifestly
impossible for The Holy Spirit to be in conflict with His own words. It is therefore the aim of this study to
carefully examine modern claims of spiritual gifts by the words of the Spirit.
I.
A SOUND BASIS FOR JUDGMENT
A.
GOD COMMANDED “BE NOT
DECEIVED!” 1Cor. 15:33
1. 1Thes. 5:21. Prove all
things (in reference to spiritual gifts).
2. 2Cor. 13:5. Examine
yourselves, whether you are in the faith.
3. 1Jn. 4:1. Prove the spirits;
because of many false prophets.
4. Mt. 24:4, 11-13, 24-25. Take heed that no man deceive you.
5. Mt. 7:21-27. Many will say,
“Lord, Lord, We prophesied, cast out demons and did many wonderful works,” but
He will say, “I NEVER knew you.”
6. 2Cor. 11:13-15. Satan's ministers appear as ministers of
righteousness.
7. Gal. 1:6-10. Reject even angels or apostles who pervert
the gospel.
8. 1Tim 4:1. Warning about “doctrines of demons”
9. Rev. 2:2. Test those who
claim to be apostles (cf. 2 Co. 12:12).
10. 2Thes. 2:3, 9-12. Do not be
deceived by “wonders,” even in God's house.
11. Rev. 13:13-14. False
prophets will deceive the world with great signs.
12. Rev. 16:14. Demons will work
miracles.
13. Deut. 13:1-3. Even if
miracles come to pass, don’t follow those who are for other gods.
14. 2 Tim. 3:8. Jannes and
Jambres imitated signs of Moses (Ex. 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18).
15. 1Kings 13:1-24. God punished
a man who believed a false prophet.
B.
GOD'S WORD IS THE ULTIMATE
RELIABLE STANDARD OF EVALUATION.
1.
The Scriptures are inspired
of God (2 Tim. 3:16).
a.
Jn.
14:15-18. The Apostles were guided into
all truth (Jn. 20:22-23: 16:7-8, 12-15).
b.
Mk.
13:11. The Holy Spirit gave the message.
c.
2Pet.
1:20-21. No scripture ever came from the prophet's opinion.
d.
1Cor.
14:37. The things written by Paul were the commandments of God.
2.
Truth and error are
distinguished by the word of God.
a.
Mt.
7:24-29. Wise men build on the rock by hearing and obeying. Foolish do not.
b.
Jn.
8:47. He that is of God hears God's words.
c.
1Jn.
4:6; 3:24. God's Spirit distinguished by obedience to the word.
d.
2Tim.
3:14-17. The word makes us wise and thoroughly furnished to every good
work.
e.
Eph.
6:17; Heb. 4:12. The word is the “sword
of the Spirit.”
f.
Heb.
4:12. The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword.
g.
1Jn.
5:13. It was written so we might know and believe.
h.
Jn.
8:31-32. Abide in it and know the truth
to be free. (Jn. 17:17 “Thy word is
truth”)
i.
Is.
8:20. No light is in those who walk not according to the word.
3. The word of God is the basis upon which all shall be judged.
a.
Jn.
12:48. By it we shall be judged in the
last day (cf. Mt. 7:21-23).
b.
James
1:21. The word of God is able to save our souls.
c.
Rom.
10:13-17. We are saved through hearing the word. Faith comes by hearing. We walk by faith. 2 Cor. 5:7.
4. The word of God is the final authority.
a.
Rom.
3:3-4. Let God be found true and every
man a Liar.
b.
2Tim.
2:13. God cannot contradict himself.
c.
Jn.
10:35. The Scriptures cannot be broken.
II. GENERAL EVALUATION OF CLAIMS.
“If
they walk not according to this word there is no light in them.” -Isaiah
8:20
The Greek word, “Charisma,” (Strongs # 5486)
is in the New Testament translated “gift.”
In 1Cor. 12 this word is used to refer to the miraculous gifts given by
the Holy Spirit (or, “Holy Ghost”).
Therefore, in this study we use it to include all claims to exercise the
powers listed in 1Cor. 12:4-10. The
basic issues are the same, whether Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, Four
Square, Assemblies Of God, Pentecostal, United Pentecostal, The Metropolitan
Church, Children of God, or “Moonies.”
They diverge in many respects but they all claim to have the “charisma”
or “gifts” of the Holy Spirit.
We want to make it clear that we do not
question either God's power or the fact that He works among His people
today. The issue is not what God CAN
do but what He WILLS to do. God
answers prayer but that does not mean He gives these people power to do
miracles. God CAN raise up seed unto
Abraham from the very stones of the earth (Lk. 3:8) but if some group
claims that people who come to their meetings can have stones turned to babies,
we have every right to challenge them.
Questioning the claims of men is in no way denying the power of
God. God Himself charged us to make
careful evaluation (Rev. 2:2).
Insisting on evidence is not
the same as “seeking a sign.” We need
no sign to convince us that Jesus is the Messiah or to know he is coming again
(Mt. 16:1-4). We accept the scriptures
and “sign of Jonah” (the resurrection). (Mat. 12:39-41) For us, ample evidence has been provided. We walk by faith, not by sight. (2Cor.
5:7).
“With God, all things are possible” (Mk. 10:27). The claims of men often prove
impossible. They make claims but fail
to show the true manifestations of the Spirit.
We are told to “prove all things”
(IThes. 5:21; 2Cor. 13:5). Many
false prophets have gone out into the world (1Jn. 4:1; Rev. 2:2; 2 Co.
11:13-15; Mt. 7:21-27).
Those who run here and there after people who claim
miraculous powers are ignoring Jesus' warning against seeking signs (Matt.
12:39; 16:4).
Matt 7:21-23 Jesus said:
21 Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? 23 And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (cf. Lk. 6:46-49).
The pattern for comparison is the word of God
provided by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 8:5).
We want to know if they speak according to His word (Isa. 8:20) and if
they do what He says (John 2:3-6; 3:7-10).
Mt. 7:16, 20. “By their fruits ye shall know them”.
A sheepskin coat may look like the real thing
but it does not make one a sheep. Gorgeous blossoms in May do not guarantee
nourishing fruit in September.
1.
The PATTERN OF PENTECOST
On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:) the Holy
Spirit was poured out to guide them into all truth (Jn. 16:13). This was
necessary because they as yet had no New Testament scriptures. Through the centuries many have claimed to
have those powers (Ac. 8:18-19). If
they really had what was given on Pentecost they should manifest what took
place on Pentecost. Unfortunately, time
and again, their claims have been weighed and found wanting.
They fail to show a single manifestation but
they provide an abundance of excuses.
a.
No
sound from heaven “as of a mighty rushing
wind” fills the whole house and attracts thousands of people (Ac. 2:2,
6).
b.
The
Holy Spirit does not come visibly “upon”
them. There is neither the form of a
dove nor tongues like as of fire (Ac. 2:2-3, 17-18, 33; 8:16, 18; 10:44-45;
11:15; 15:8-9; 19:6; 1:32-33; Lk. 3:22).
c.
Their
signs are not openly manifested in the presence of unbelievers (Ac.
2:5-13. cf. Mt. 9:2-6; 12:10-13;
Mk. 2:5-12; 3:1-6; Lk. 5:21-26; 6:6-11; 8:34, 36; 13:14-17; 14:1-6; 22:51; 1Co.
14:22).
d.
They
not only cannot speak in EVERY language under heaven, (Ac. 2:5-11 cf. 1Co.
14:22) but, other than what they learn by normal means, they cannot speak in
ANY language under heaven.
They claim that somewhere, someone, was heard
to say that he heard someone talking in some language, but none of these are
ever able to be documented. In one case
with which I am acquainted, (Ben Alexander) the man was told he was talking in
Hebrew. However, since Ben was Jewish
and learned Hebrew as a child, he knew better.
In a case here in Seattle a girl was told, by
a woman who had supposedly studied French, that she was talking, “perfect
French.” We recorded a French lady reading some passages from the Psalms and
played the tape for the woman who made the claim. She was unable to translate it.
How could she know the girl was speaking “perfect French” if she could
not even understand the language?
e.
In
a number of cases, (mentioned even in “Glossolalia,”
by Don Barnett), in order to test them, people intentionally spoke gibberish,
or some language known by them, and the so-called “interpreter” gave a false
translation.
2. Their “signs” fail to be such as to confound unbelievers.
a.
They
should so “manifest” the Holy Spirit's presence (1Co. 12:7) as to confirm the
inspired source (Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4).
b.
Skeptics
should be confounded (Ac. 2:7; 1Cor. 14:22).
c.
The
evidence should be indisputable (Ac. 4:16).
d.
Lame
men should be instantly healed (Ac. 4:16
cf. 3:1-11; Jn. 3:2).
e.
A
man born blind was healed (Jn. 9:16, 18) and later believed (9:36).
f.
Lazarus
was raised on third day in the presence of all (Jn. 22:44, 47; 12:10-11).
3. Unlike the biblical powers, they must advertise their miracles to get a following
Ac. 2:6. Now
when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together
Mk. 1:44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to
any man 45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad
the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city,
Mk 5:43. And
he charged them straitly that no man should know it
Matt. 9:30 And their eyes
were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that
country
Lk. 5:14. And he charged him to tell no man:
Matt. 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no
man;
Mark 7:36 And he charged them that they should tell no
man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published
it;
Jesus told people NOT to tell. If they had the powers of Pentecost they
would get the results of Pentecost.
4.
They do not manifest ALL of
the miraculous powers.
They claim the powers are for today yet they
make excuses for failing to show them all.
I do not mean to say that any single individual must have all of the
powers, but if they were meant for today then they should all be present. I have yet to see any indication of men walking
on water, stilling storms, turning water to wine, multiplying loaves and
fishes, drinking poison without being hurt or raising the dead, plus multitudes
of other Biblical miracles.
Not only the magnitude, but the variety of
New Testament manifestations helped verify that God was behind them. Inability to do this casts serious doubt
upon their claims.
One of the most characteristic features of
modern “Pentecostalism” is the discrepancy between performance and what is
revealed in the New Testament. Marvelous
claims are made, but sound criteria for evaluation is rejected. When pressed, their claims lead only to dead
ends with no similarity to what they profess.
Instead, we are met with an endless series of “explanations,” excuses,
and abuse.
5. Some of the things they
practice match paganism rather than what is found in the Bible.
Where, in the New Testament,
do we find the “swoons,” “slain in the Spirit,” “shakes,” “quakes,” “barks,”
“jerks,” “holy rolling,” “holy laughter” and other such things?
Where did any Christian come back time after
time to get rid of this or that “demon” as modern charismatic teachers claim?
When we become Christians Jesus binds Satan (Matt. 12:29; 1Jn. 4:4). How can
the Holy Spirit dwell in a temple with demons? (2Cor. 6:15-16)
a. Claims of being “slain in the Spirit.”
Matt. 12:29. A boy who had a demon fell down when a demon
went out. He certainly was not
receiving the Holy Spirit.
2Chron. 5:13-14.
This is “evidence” that the
Holy Spirit causes people in the church to pass out all over the place?
Acts
9:4. Paul fell upon the earth, and
heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Nothing is said here about this being any “overpowering of the Spirit.”
Not only Paul, but all of those who were traveling with Paul fell to earth
(Acts 26:11). Were all of these
receiving the “overpowering of the Spirit”?
Paul was certainly not
receiving the power of the Holy Spirit.
He did not receive it until he reached Damascus and had prayed there for
three days (Acts 9:17).
1Cor
14:24-25. Nor was the fact that the
unbeliever fell down and worshipped God when the thoughts of his heart were
made manifest by the prophets any “precedent” for Christians to be “slain in
the spirit.” This was a natural
response. The other prophets were to be
“judging,” not passed out on the floor.
Rev. 1:7. John, in a vision saw Jesus in a glorified
form and fell down as one dead.
Nothing is said of the Spirit making him fall down. It was a natural response to an awesome
situation. Certainly none of the Apostles or Jesus went around making people
fall down by blowing on them or pushing on their foreheads –much less having
someone stand behind them as a “catcher.”
It looks more like a side-show than anything else.
In the Bible, people
sometimes fell down but not one of
them appears to be anything like the modern claims of being “slain in the
Spirit.”
·
Rev. 19:8; 22:8.
John fell down to worship angels.
Did the Holy Spirit cause him to do that or was it their natural
response to the awesome sight?
·
Acts 10:25. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped
him. Was he being “overpowered by the Spirit”?
·
Acts 5:5, 10.
Ananias and Sapphira fell down and died. God caused it, but I see no
precedent in this for what is to take place in the church service.
·
John 11:32.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus fell at the feet of Jesus.
·
John 18:6. Those
who came to take Jesus in the garden went backwards and fell down.
·
Mat. 27:65. The guards at the tomb of Jesus “became as
dead men.”
·
Gen. 17:17. Abraham fell upon his face and laughed when he heard that he was to
father Isaac.
·
Lev. 9:24. When fire consumed the burnt-offering the
people fell on their faces.
·
1Kings 1:39. When the fire of Jehovah fell and consumed
the burnt offering the people fell on their faces.
So what? Where is any indication God intended for the
Holy Spirit to knock a bunch of people down in the gatherings of the church?
What does all this have in
common with Benny Hinn or some other Pentecostal preacher blowing a whole
audience over? Where do we see Jesus,
the apostles, or even the prophets doing such a thing? Where was it ever
advocated or practiced?
People passing out from such
mass hypnotic influences are nothing new or surprising. People faint from
hysteria in pagan cults. Kids in a
classroom have been known to do it. When
I was a kid, it was a common game. I
can make myself pass out any time I please.
Remember the Girls that used
to pass out when Frankeee Snotra sang?
Women even pass out when President Clinton shows up. Big deal!
Trances
People in trances in the Bible
are cited for justification of the practice.
The fact that individuals were sometimes given special messages in
trances, dreams or visions is no “precedent” for the modern practice of masses
of people getting “slain in the Spirit” at public gatherings. If that is what they claim, where is the
evidence of their visions being prophetic?
I would just as well accept the visions of Mrs. Eddy of the Christian
Scientists, the moronic visions of Joseph Smith, or those of Mrs. White of the
Seventh-day Adventists.
The fact is that God teaches
that the prophetic gift was to pass away. (1Cor. 13).
Neither the term “slain in the
Spirit” nor anything resembling it is found in Scripture.
This thing is no different
than what took place among the Mormons, the Shakers, or the Moonies.
If we are to believe their
claims, it is remarkable that neither Jesus, the Apostles nor anyone in the
Bible had “Spirit empowered preaching accompanied by hundreds of listeners
fainting, shouting, and dropping to the ground as if felled by a giant cannon
shot.”
b.
Claims of “Holy Laughter”
(called “The Toronto Blessing”).
This thing has been known in pagan and “Christian”
cults before. Recently it was revived
in the Vineyard Churches. The Holy
Spirit supposedly sends them into hysterical laughter.
Scriptures in the Bible about laughter.
·
Gen.
17:17. Abraham fell on his face
laughing when God told him that Sarah was to bear Isaac.
·
Gen.
18:12. Sarah laughted at the idea that
she would have a child at her age.
·
Ecc.
3:4. There is a time to laugh.
·
James
4:9. Let your laughter be turned to mourning…
Nothing here about the Holy
Spirit causing whole congregations to fall down laughing.
B.
THE TEACHING FRUIT
Are Charismatic teachings
consistent with the words of the Spirit?
True prophets were guided into ALL truth (Jn.
14:26; 16:13). Those who do not speak
in harmony with the scriptures cannot be speaking by the Spirit
(Is. 8:20). If anyone perverts the gospel, or brings a different one, he
is to be rejected (Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Jn. 9-11; Deut. 12:32--13:3).
Among those who claim miraculous powers we
find a babble of conflicting teachings.
Mormons claim that Joseph Smith and their “apostles” are prophets. Seventh-day Adventists contend that Mrs.
White was inspired to guide God's people today. The “Jesus Only,” people repudiate others who make similar
claims. The Four Square church contends for Aimee McPherson’s claims of
revelation. The Assemblies of God
churches disagree with the rest while claiming the same powers. On and on it goes in utter confusion, yet
each contends that we should not question their claims. In turn, all of them are in conflict with
the Holy Spirit’s teaching and work.
1.
They teach contrary to what
God reveals concerning salvation.
a.
They
deny that we are, “baptized into Christ.” (Rom. 6:3-7, 17-18, 22 cf. Col. 2:12-13; Gal. 3:26-27 cf.
2 Co. 5:17; Mt. 28:19; Ac. 8:16; 19:2-5 cf. Rom. 8:1; 1Cor. 12:12-13;
10:1-2, 6, 11 cf. Ex. 14:29-30)
b.
They
deny that when we are baptized our sins are “washed away,” we receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit and we are, “saved.” (Ac. 22:16; 2:38; 1Pe.
3:21; Mark. 16:16; Rom. 6:3-7, 17-18, 22; Col. 2:12-13)
c.
They
deny what God teaches concerning being “born of water and Spirit” (John
3:3-5 --cf. “water” in 3:23; 1Jn. 5:6, 8; Heb. 10:22; Ac. 8:36-39; Eph. 5:26;)
2.
They don't have the Lord's
supper each first day of the week as set forth in the New Testament
(Acts 2:42; 1Cor. 11:17-18,
20, 24- 26, 33-34; cf. 16:2; Heb. 10:25).
3.
Many of them teach that all
Christians are to speak in tongues.
The Scriptures teach that all do NOT speak with tongues (1Cor. 12:30).
All do not have the same gifts.
Paul’s statement that he would be glad if
they all spoke with tongues is often cited (1Cor. 14:5). However, the statement proves exactly the
opposite. Paul was telling them that
unless the tongues were interpreted, it was better to prophecy than to speak in
tongues. Tongues edified the individual
but prophecy edified the whole congregation.
He does not say that all would or could do so. To the contrary, he had shown in chapter 12 that each had different
gifts and not all had the same. No one
member can be the whole body.
4.
They disregard God's
regulations on the use of spiritual gifts in the church (1Cor. 14:27-35).
a.
Rather
than limiting the messages to three in a service, they encourage many
to speak in tongues (14:27 -cf. 14:29).
b.
They
permit many to speak at the same time (14:23, 27, 30-31).
This is excused on the basis that when the
Spirit gives a message in tongues they must give the message or it would be
resisting the Spirit. However, God says
they are to keep quiet, and that the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to
the prophets (14:32). “God is not a god
of confusion” (14:33).
c.
They
Speak without an interpreter. God says
that without one they must keep silent. (1Cor. 14:27-28)
5.
Their women speak in the
public assembly, contrary to scriptural teaching (1Cor. 14:34-36).
“Mother” Ann Lee (Shakers), Ellen G. White
(Seventh-day Adventists), Aimee McPherson (Four Square), and Kathryn Kuhlman
(Assemblies of God), are only a few of the more notorious violators of this
scriptural teaching.
6.
They make a false
distinction between the “gift of tongues” and the “sign of tongues.”
This is to avoid the plain scriptural
teaching that all do not
speak with tongues (1Cor. 12:30) and the restrictions God gave for its use
(1Cor. 14:27-28). They claim these scriptures apply only to the “gift” or
“message” in tongues, not to the “sign,” or “prayer” tongue. No such
distinction is made in scripture.
a.
The
restrictions in 1Cor. 14, clearly apply to tongues in general, whether in
prayer (14:12-20) or in a message (14:21-23).
b.
The
term, “sign,” is specifically applied to tongues in only two places in the New
Testament.
1)
The
first is Mark 16:17.
Note that there are several different “signs”
listed. If “tongues” is necessary for all who have the Holy Spirit then so
are all of the other gifts.
It does not say tongues is “THE sign”
of the Holy Spirit. In fact, it says nothing about these signs being received
when one receives the Holy Spirit. It
is speaking of them following those that believe. Must every believer have these signs?
Furthermore, there is nothing to indicate
these tongues are any different from tongues mentioned elsewhere. It says nothing about it being a “prayer
language.”
2)
The
second is in 1Cor. 14:21-22 where it is quoting from Is. 28:11 concerning messages
given to hard-hearted people. It was a
sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers (1Cor. 14:22 cf. Acts 2:7-8). The term, “sign,” both singular and plural,
is often found in the New Testament applied to many other things than tongues.
c.
Similarly,
“gift” is not speaking only of a message in tongues. One cannot reasonably separate 1Cor. 12 from chapters 13 and 14,
which apply equally to tongues in prayer (14:13-17). In fact, 12:7 calls all the gifts, including tongues (12:10), “manifestations,”
which has much the same meaning as a “sign.”
For those who insist on such distinctions, it is very revealing to
photo-copy 1Cor. 12, 13, 14 and have them try to use colored pens to highlight
which statements refer to the “gifts” and which to the “sign.” The distinctions are arbitrary and absurd.
Rarely do two of them ever agree.
d.
Some
appeal to Acts 2 to show that the tongues on Pentecost were different from
those at Corinth. However, neither
Peter nor Joel make any distinction.
These tongues can not be shown to be
prayers. It says they were speaking
“the mighty works of God” (Ac. 2:11).
Joel only mentions signs and prophecy and Peter says nothing to define
the nature of the tongues spoken. In fact, in not one single case anywhere in
Acts did it indicate it to be a prayer tongue.
In Ac. 19:6 it says they “spoke in tongues AND PROPHESIED,” and in 10:48
they spoke with tongues and “MAGNIFIED GOD,” which, as in both chapter 2 and
19, indicated prophecy.