The so-called Pentecostalist and Apostolic movement, divided into different groups, Commonwealth Covenant, etc., all claim that the miraculous gifts—speaking with Tongues, Prophecy, Healing, etc., which characterised the apostolic age, ought still to be found in the Church, that the want of them is an evidence of spiritual death and declension, and the possession of them evidence and proof of the power and baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Obtainable in pamphlet form from Westminster Standard, P.O. Box 740, Gisborne, New Zealand.
I. “LYING WONDERS”
Do you know?
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That such movements claiming to wait for and to receive these apostolic and pentecostal gifts have repeatedly appeared in the history of the Church. In the 2nd Century one Montanus claimed to be a divinely inspired prophet. He and his followers spoke with Tongues, and professed that the prophecy of Joel, quoted by the apostle Paul on the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled. When speaking under the power of a spirit, Montanus would blasphemously assert, “I am the Lord God Omnipotent who has descended into a man.” This Pentecostal movement known as Montanism, which spread into Asia Minor, North Africa, Italy and France, was condemned by the Council of Constantinople in 381. In due course it died out.
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That during the Reformation period between 1517 and 1548 there sprang up a sect in Germany in which speaking with Tongues and miraculous healing were claimed. The outbreak was marked by the wildest excesses of immorality. Fanatics roamed through the woods in complete nudity. Polygamy was freely practised.
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That about 1650 there arose the “French Prophets” in the Forest of Cevennes. They claimed apostolic gifts and spoke with Tongues. Scenes of the wildest confusion were witnessed. They would roll on the floor, foam at the mouth, go into fits of “holy” laughter of long continuance. They professed that babes of fifteen months were filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied. This movement was marked by gross immorality, and their places of assembly were designated as “public places of prostitution.” (Modern Pentecostalism, by A. J. Pollock).
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That in the first-half of the 19th century, the Rev. Edward Irving, minister of Regent Square, Church of Scotland, London, became interested in the so-called “tongues movement” in the west of Scotland. He and many of his congregation began to hold prolonged prayer meetings, in which the burden of their cry was for a renewal of pentecostal gifts. Before long they were endowed with supernatural power. They spoke in tongues and prophesied. Even godly persons were taken aside for a time fully believing that what they were witnessing was a pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit. One of Mr. Irving’s best known associates was Mr. Robert Baxter. The late Sir Robert Anderson tells in his excellent exposure, “Spirit Manifestations and the Gifts of Tongues,” that he was personally acquainted with Mr. Baxter, and describes him as a “typical English Parliamentary lawyer, reserved, slow of speech, and noted for his soundness of judgment.” Mr. Baxter was completely taken in by this movement, but in the mercy of God he was delivered. In his “Narrative of Facts” published in 1832, Mr. Baxter “vividly describes how he and others, men and women of culture, were drawn into the movement, how it seemed as if they were, indeed, under the mighty power of God when they spoke in Tongues. He testifies that the spirit of praise to the Lord was strong within them, of their ecstasy of soul, of the mighty uplifting of spirit that occurred. It seemed as if there could be no mistake. This must be the ‘latter rain,’ this must be ‘that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel.’ Mr. Baxter tells that when the power would come upon him he was made to speak for two hours or upwards, giving forth what all present regarded as prophecies concerning the Church and the nation. Then he gives the painful account of how little by little he began to see the true character of the movement. Prophecies uttered under the influence of the Spirit of God as they supposed, when the time came for them to be fulfilled, nothing happened. Other things also aroused his suspicion. ‘Indeed,’ wrote Mr. Baxter after his deliverance, ‘the whole work is a mimicry of the gifts of the Spirit—the utterance of tongues, a mimicry of the gifts of tongues, and so of the prophesying, and all the other works of power. It is Satan as an angel of light imitating, as far as permitted, the Holy Spirit of God.’ (Narrative of Facts, p. 45). Irving, the leader of the movement, began to promulgate blasphemous views of the Person of Christ. “Such heretical views,” writes Pollock, “clearly shows the cloven foot, and reveals in a very distinct way whence the movement emanated.” In 1830 Irving was solemnly excommunicated by the Presbytery of London.
II. HEATHEN HEALING AND SPEAKING WITH TONGUES
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That miraculous healing and speaking with tongues are practised at the present time in absolutely heathen circles. The late Dr. J.L. Nevins, for forty years a missionary in China, went out to that country a firm disbeliever in present-day demon-possession. Little by little as he was brought into touch with heathendom, he was reluctantly compelled to the belief that demon possession of human bodies was a reality. Dr. Nevins gave years to the patient study of this subject, and produced a monumental book, “Demon-Possession and Allied Themes.” Dr. Nevins describes case after case where demon-possessed persons made large incomes in the practice of miraculous healing, and how on conversion their power to cure ceased, and consequently their ability to make money, clearly indicating the Satanic source of their power. It reminds us of the celebrated case in Acts XVI, where the damsel possessed of “a spirit of divination” was healed, and how at once “her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone” (v. 19). Dr. Nevins is not alone in this testimony, for many missionaries have given similar witness (Modern Pentecostalism, pp. 7,8).
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“That the old pagan Greek shrines of Aesculapius had their discarded crutches, and pagan gods were thanked for the miracles. Mohammedan and other non-Christian religions have their healers and healings and their explanations determined by their Theology. Primitive medicine men and witch doctors are not without successes and their explanations.” (The Theology of the Major Sects by Gerstner, p. 111).
III. SPIRITUALIST HEALING MIRACLES
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That miraculous healing is practised in spiritualist circles. Spiritualists are spoken of in the Scriptures as ‘sorcerers’ and their end, as shall be the end of all who follow the delusions of Satan, is solemnly mentioned. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation XXI:8).
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That the Healings in the Albert Hall, London, made headlines in the Press about September 26-28th, 1954, “A man named Harry Edwards professed to have the power to continue the miracle works of healing wrought by Jesus.” A number of hopeless arthritis cases were wheeled out to the stage, and the large audience and a group of Church of England leaders saw him ‘heal’ them. The results appeared to be amazing. On the 28th September the following letter was printed in the Press and the Satanic source of the power by which Edwards wrought his miracles was revealed: “Spiritual Healing—Sir: The Albert Hall healing demonstration of Mr. Harry Edwards was under the auspices of the Spiritualist Movement … Spiritualist healers are mediums knowingly co-operating with persons who have passed from this life into the next—persons who have learned more about the laws of life, and how to apply them. Healing treatment has become a prominent and permanent feature in Spiritualist churches over the years, given to believers and non-believers with equal readiness and help. Yours, etc., J.S. Mander, President S.C.N.Z. (Spiritualist Church of New Zealand), Sept. 28th, 1954.” (“The Pentecostalist Spirit—Baptism,” by E. Coppin, p.35).
IV. “LYING SPIRITS”
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That in a booklet, “Is the Gift of Tongues for Today?” recently issued in New Zealand, the following incident is given by one of the authors. “Some years ago a man came to my office to ask me to help him publish the whole of the New Testament which he had written in verse, and very creditable verse it was. I asked him, ‘How did you do this?’ He replied, ‘Under the power of the spirit, in nine days and nights, without eating or sleeping and drinking only water.’ I said, ‘You have notes at the side here that seem to be in Greek. Do you know Greek?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘but the spirit can speak through me in many languages.’ I immediately asked him to say John 3:16 in French and German, which he did. Later I asked him to do it in the presence of Mr. Harold St. John, who spoke both French and German fluently, and he repeated it in French and German, Czechoslovakian, Polish and English, and Mr. St. John said the French and German were perfect. I asked him, ‘Was Jesus Christ the Son of God?’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘but He was a very, very good man.’ I said, ‘Mr. A—, that spirit which was speaking through you just now is an evil spirit.’ He replied, ‘How could an evil spirit be able to quote the Scriptures in so many languages (tongues)?” But we know that every spirit that denies the Deity of Christ is an evil spirit no matter though it masquerades as an angel of light.” (pp. 14,15).
V. “UNCLEAN SPIRITS”
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That there are cases of persons speaking “with tongues” who rolled out floods of obscenity, which they would never have dreamed of uttering in their sober senses. In that case the tongue is clearly Satanic, for the Scriptures repeatedly speak of unclean spirits. (Modern Pentecostalism, p. 60).
VI. A SOUND CONCLUSION
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That the Rev. P. Wiseman, of Canada, who made a very exact examination of the Pentecostal movements in America, wrote, “If people without grace or power can speak in tongues, if a Mahommedan in his religious frenzy can speak in tongues, as is reputed he does; if people can change their doctrines at will, and believe as they like and still speak in tongues; then speaking in tongues is no evidence that one has the ‘sacred experience received by the apostles and disciples on the Day of Pentecost.'”
VII. A MOCKERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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That modern Pentecostalism in one form or another has spread throughout the world. Whatever the differences which divide the groups, basically Pentecostalism claims as its driving force the power of the Holy Spirit manifested in the apostolic gifts of healing, prophesying, speaking with tongues, etc. But Pentecostalism as it was in the past, so it is now, not of divine origin and growth. The “power” experienced in hysteria, swoonings, ecstacies, tongues, prophetic messages, contortions of the body, crawling on the floor, etc., is emphatically not the power of the Holy Ghost but as the Scriptures declare: “the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians II:9). Its miracles, its lying wonders, its tongues are a cunning imitation and a mockery of the Holy Spirit. They are from Satan as an angel of light. “For such are false prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians XI:13-15). “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew XXIV:24).