The Pentecostals Were Right All Along! GEORGE L. FAULL
Today when one looks at a so-called church service in the Independent Christian Church or Instrumental Churches of Christ, one must admit that these churches have decided that the Pentecostals were right all along. Those old “Holy Roller” churches that used to be hidden on back streets on the other side of the tracks have evolved to be the finest biggest buildings on the growing side of the edge of town.
Today they are called by myriad of names other than Pentecostals. Pentecostals have evolved into Charismatics.
The heirs of the Restoration Movement have copied the old Pentecostal style of public worship. Their sound, actions, music and speech are indistinguishable from the charismatic. By their assemblies you can see they have decided the Pentecostals were right all along. Let me list some ways that the Pentecostals were right all along:
1. THEY PRAY TO JESUS INSTEAD OF THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS’ NAME.
Their prayers are sprinkled and often begin with, “Dear Jesus, do this or that” instead of giving thanks to the Father. Through Him it is “Thank you Jesus.” Never mind Jesus told us in the model prayer to say, “Our Father, which art in Heaven,” we hear, “Dear Jesus.”
Never mind that Jesus told us, “In that day you shall ask
in my name” and again, “in that day you shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you whatsoever you shall ask my Father in my name, He will give it you.” This praying to Jesus has been copied subconsciously from listening to the prayers and music of the Pentecostals and Charismatics.
2. THEY PRAY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
One occasionally hears, “Oh Holy Spirit, help me or forgive me” rather than praying through the One Mediator, Himself man, Jesus Christ.
3. CLAPPING HANDS HAS BEEN COPIED IN MANY CHURCHES.
Give the Lord a clap offering. This is strange to our ears and is copied from Charismatic worship leaders.
4. GIVE THE LORD A SHOUT OF PRAISE.
This boisterous crowd manipulation was not heard in our Churches until someone imitated the Charismatic Church.
5. DANCE BEFORE THE LORD.
Now our Churches are featuring women in interpretive dancing in long, flowing robes prancing across the stage, waving their arms and gracefully symbolizing some emotion they are expressing.
6. THE RAISING OF HANDS IS IMITATED.
In the Pentecostal churches they lifted hands to symbolize they were ready to receive God’s revelation but in the Restoration Churches it is supposed to just glorify the Lord. It is quoted, “that men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” They ignore that he is addressing only men, not women (aner not antropos) and that it is to be done everywhere not just in the assembly. They ignore the expression "“lifting up holy hands” is a euphemism for sincere and Holiness when we pray.
The Jews often prayed lifting up their hands and there is nothing inherently wrong with it, but it must be admitted it is a learned trait from the Pentecostals, not an imitation of the Jews’ religion.
7. THE PRAISE TEAMS ONE SEES TODAY IS COPIED FROM THE CHARISMATIC AND VINEYARD CHURCHES.
Again, this is not wrong in itself, anymore than clapping and raising hands and shouting, but one needs to realize the influence the Pentecostals and Charismatic’s have had on us.
8. THE MUSIC BANDS AND SOUNDS OF LOUD MUSIC HAVE ALSO COME VIA THE PENTECOSTALS AND CHARISMATIC CHURCHES.
I speak not of instruments of music in worship, for they predate the Pentecostals and Charismatic churches. I speak of the boisterous, loud, rock and roll singing and swaying, with hip revolving type music. I speak of its praise teams; men and women making movement during praise that makes you feel like you were in a disco. One cannot deny that we have copied those churches that brought their music form from the world into the Churches. This was not the Restoration Church copying the world. It was the Restoration Churches copying the Vineyard and Pentecostal music styles.
9. WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES.
Women leaders and speakers were only seen among us by occasional brazen women the Elders of the Churches could not control.
Now they are featured song leaders, speakers, and headed for the pulpit. They are asked to preach at our conventions. The Pentecostals and Charismatics have led the Church into female dominated churches contrary to the Scriptures. They have feminized the Church.
10. “TESTIFYING” IS ANOTHER DIRECT INFLUENCE THAT HAS COME INTO OUR CHURCHES.
Both men and women are allowed to get up and testify of something God has done in their life that may or may not be true. God is often given credit for a false gift, a lousy healing or even something that has not taken place. “The Lord told me” or “The Lord said to me” is often heard when the Lord has not spoken or the testimony flatly contradicts the Word.
Lies, false doctrine and claims are made and go unchecked by the leaders because they do not want to correct the person publicly and so the lie remains for the Church and visitor to take home with them.
11. THE IDEA THAT SPIRITUAL GIFTS REMAIN.
One of the most dangerous concepts the Charismatics have brought to us is the Spiritual gifts or continued revelation continues to exist today in the church. Tongues, their interpretation, prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, though not often heard in our services are allowed to be claimed by our members therefore subjecting the Church to those who still claim revelation from God. We are left at the mercy of those claiming dreams and visions from God and “The Lord said to me” teachings.
12. FOLLOWING THE EMOTIONS IS PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS THING THE CHARISMATIC AND PENTECOSTALS HAVE BEQUEATHED US.
The Word of God does not count. Emotions reign supreme. “God has spoken to my heart” or “The Lord has led me to do this or that!” can start an anti-scriptural practice and stop a scriptural one.
Emotions, subjectivism, and “You can not deny my experience” rules the day. Truth against a feeling seldom has a chance when one buys into the “God is still revealing mentality.”
Now some of these things are not wrong in them selves. However, to deny the Lord’s Church has been infested with Pentecostal and Charismatic faith, practice, and vocabulary ought to alarm anyone with common sense. Will our Churches reject truth out of admiration for the growth, excitement, and success of the Charismatic churches?
Denominationalism has also been swayed by them. The alleged gifts and excitement has created Promise Keepers and other such gatherings that cement believers into one unholy union of denominations that believe nothing and fall for everything. These movements have shut our mouths against false preaching and practices that cause division. These innovators are invited to speak at our Colleges and Conventions.
That the gifts, excitement and praise of the Charismatic in all sects is the glue that holds the Evangelicals world together cannot be successfully denied. “I’m okay, you’re okay” is advocated because they all have the same gifts, music, styles of worship, idol leaders and musicians. This makes us one. I cannot deny you because you can do what I can do.
Brethren, this is not the unity of the Spirit of God. This is more like the unity of Babel where men use slime for mortar.
I admonish you to take heed to your collective worship. Holy Scripture exhorts us to let everything be done to edifying, to exhorting, to comforting the Church. We are to impart knowledge and our understanding is to be fruitful. We are told to pray and sing with the Spirit and understanding. Our Amens are to be given only to what we understand. People are to leave repentant knowing God was there. Every single thing is to be done for edifying man and glorifying God and is to be done decently in order. (Read I Corinthians 14)
Take heed that the blind do not lead the blind, lest we all fall into the ditch.