160 Question. What other doctrinal errors prevail in professing Christian Churches?
Answer. Many now deny the inerrancy of the Bible, the Virgin birth, the miracles and the bodily resurrection of Christ; others deny the existence of hell and reject the doctrine of eternal punishment. Generally speaking, many deny the supernatural and judge spiritual things by human standards rather than by the light of God’s Word. Many also reject the biblical doctrine of creation and accept Evolution.
161 Q. What ritualistic errors are held in connection with the worship of God?
A. Many professing Christian Churches lay great stress on ritual in divine worship and have strong sympathies towards the practice of the Church of Rome including such things as liturgies, vestments, processions, candles, crosses, incense, and choral singing.
162 Q. What errors are held in connection with the Sabbath?
A. Many hold the unscriptural view that the Fourth Commandment is not obligatory for Christians, while others in practice and discipline fail to observe the Fourth Commandment and thus undermine the continuing obligation of the moral law.[1]
163 Q. What do Antinomians believe?
A. Antinomians hold that for those under grace, the Ten Commandments are no longer binding unless sanctioned by New Testament precepts. This view encourages worldliness among professing Christians.
164 Q. Because the believer is under grace, does it follow that the Commandments are no longer obligatory?
A. No. Believers, being under grace, love the law of God after the inner man; and while they are not under the law as a Covenant of Works to merit life, they are under it as a rule of life (Rom. 6:1, 2; Rom. 8:1).
165 Q. What are the errors of the Charismatic Movement?
A. Pentecostals and Charismatics generally teach the necessity of an experience of the Holy Spirit subsequent to conversion which bestows the same revelatory and miraculous sign gifts possessed by the apostles, prophets and others in the early New Testament Church. Some believe that apostles and prophets have been restored to the Church together with gifts of healing and other miracles called signs and wonders. Many Charismatics also believe in the need to engage in spiritual warfare with territorial demons or those controlling individuals, including Christians.
166 Q. Can it be proved from Scripture that Charismatic claims are erroneous?
A. Yes. There is no evidence of the necessity of a subsequent work of the Spirit for believers and Scripture identifies the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the new birth (Titus 3:5). It also tells us that the apostles and prophets were a foundation for the time of establishing the New Testament Church (Eph. 2:20), together with healings, exorcism and miracles as the signs of an apostle (2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3-4; Mark 16:17-20), and that the temporary gifts of tongues and prophecy would cease (1 Cor. 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 14:21-22). It is notable that while Scripture warns of false apostles, false spirits and counterfeit signs and wonders, the Charismatic movement does not.
167 Q. Are the gifts claimed by Charismatics the same as those that we read of in the New Testament?
A. So-called Charismatic phenomena do not really resemble the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the early New Testament Church, and in the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. New Testament prophecy was infallible revelation that was always fulfilled, sometimes spoken in real earthly languages of which the speakers had no previous knowledge. Healings were truly miraculous, physical and lasting and the dead were literally raised again. These things are not true of Charismatic claims today.
168 Q. Could modern Charismatic phenomena come from God?
A. Scripture gives us no reason to think that modern Charismatic phenomena are from God. It may be that they are from the person’s own mind and imagination, induced and influenced by his leaders and other practitioners using various techniques of persuasion. If there is a spiritual power involved, we have no justification for regarding it as divine.
169 Q. What aspects of modern entertainment should be removed from Churches professing to follow Christ?
A. Many modern Churches have drama, dancing, and music bands in their worship and use sport and social entertainment to attract and retain young people; but these things are of the world and should not be countenanced by the Church of Christ for promoting the interests of his Kingdom.
170. Q. Should the Church make use of funding endeavours other than charitable giving?
A. The Reformed Church of Scotland has always maintained the biblical doctrine that the State should give financial support to the Church, but there is no warrant in Scripture for the Church funding her own work in any other way than by the free-will offerings of the people; and so sales of work, raffles and all lotteries and suchlike activities should have no part in the maintenance of the Church or its activity; some of these practices being in themselves harmless, but others harmful to souls.
[1] See Free Presbyterian Synod Resolution on Church Privileges, Appendix III.8 on page 54.