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16 Jun 08

    The recent reports of the so called Lakeland revival in Florida has brought to mind the need for sound Biblical perspective on the outward expressions of worship. For years, I have been deeply concerned about some of the behaviors that I have observed within the pentecostal/charismatic community. I say this as someone who has subscribed for close to 10 years to the belief that the charismatic practices and gifts of the Spirit has a role in the life of the believer. Sadly, it is the rare occasion where I actually witness a pentecostal approach being practiced corporately that matches with what I can find prescribed in The Bible. There are some times and places where I have witnessed charismatic practices that are consistent with the scriptures. It just seems that those times and places are more the exception rather than the rule. I must confess, I have never been comfortable with some of these practices. My response has simply been to choose not to participate in those practices with which I'm not comfortable. For whenever I have questioned these practices, my questions are just dismissed with a don't worry about it type attitude. I continue to find this approach troubling where I cannot find a sound Biblical basis supporting such practices.

    I readily acknowledge that my perspective will be viewed by many on all sides of the issue as controversial. First, challenging the view that some behaviors are excessive will likely be viewed as controversial by those on the pentecostal side. On another side, there will likely be those who view this approach as controversial as they consider the gifts of the Spirit and charismatic demonstrations as something that is not for today. These are the people who typically believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit ended with the last of the apostles. Considering these views from differing sides, I guess it leaves me in a real small company in the middle of both sides. With this being the case, my rallying cry is to challenge all sides to prayerfully examine the scriptures regarding this topic.

    Considering the rising attention being brought to the Lakeland revival with Todd Bentley at the forefront, it is the question of spiritual experiences and manifestations that I want to address. Admittedly, this will not be a point by point critique of the Lakeland revival. The points made here will focus more on some of the practices with the pentecostal/charismatic movement. I would venture a guess that these same issues presented here will be pertinent to the Lakeland revival.

    An obvious place to start regarding charismatic expressions of worship and activities centers on the oft contentious topic of speaking in tongues. Especially since this is one of those areas that the scriptures provide specific details how these gifts are to be exercised when believers gather for a meeting. Far too often I have been in a charismatic type meeting where I have witnessed speaking in tongues that did not seem to be in line with what is taught in scriptures. Specifically, I refer to speaking in tongues without an interpretation and the amount of people who speak in tongues during a meeting. Here are some scripture references that speak to this issue:

    The scriptures are fairly succinct in addressing speaking in tongues. Let me be clear, I am not calling for any sort of prohibition of spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues. What I am calling for is that Christians and congregations would practice those gifts in accordance with the scriptures. The times that I have observed those spiritual gifts practiced in accordance with scriptures have struck me as clearly powerful. On the other hand, multiple people speaking at one time without interpretation strikes me as being distracting and dare I say downright confusing. With clear Biblical references, I encourage people on both sides of the issue to seek God in His scriptures. He will lead into all truth.

    Another pertinent issue to practices within the charismatic church is the issue of self control and orderliness. This sort of dovetails with the issue of speaking in tongues in that within a meeting the issue of orderliness is at stake. 1Co 14:40 But all things should be done decently and in order.   Here at the end of chapter 14 where Paul is wrapping up his teaching on the practice of spiritual gifts in the church, Paul directs that ・all things should be done decently and in order.・ This comes on the heels of the aforementioned scriptures where Paul directs, in an orderly manner, the appropriate practice of such revelatory gifts such as speaking in tongues and prophesy. I don't think it is a leap to see this as a wise principle to follow in church. My experiences have been that when orderliness breaks down, confusion begins to reign. If a person is trying to hear a message that is being taught for encouragement and edification in the local congregation, how will that person be able to benefit if they cannot hear that encouraging word because of other distractions and/or people speaking at the same time? Would not all those voices and activities become confusing? This is also so important in light of what the scriptures teach about confusion:

1Co 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

    One of the main principles that seems applicable to this discussion is the issue of self control. It is fairly obvious in scripture that self control is something that God is interested in His children practicing. Clearly, self control is revealed in the scriptures to be a fruit of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

    I would like to put forth the question of who is being edified by these meetings where seemingly anything goes as long as it is in the name of being spiritual? Where are there Biblical mandates for so many of the spiritual expressions and manifestations that are exhibited in the modern pentecostal/charismatic movement? The focus in this paper has been on spiritual gifts in the local congregation, but a larger question still remains. What of all these other practices that are so common in the local congregation, yet there seems to be so little to no mention in the scriptures? Where is the Biblical precedence for being ・drunk in the spirit?・ Where is the Biblical precedence for holy laughter? These seem to be things that people are associating with having no control, yet the scriptures tell us that one of the fruits of the spirit is self control. By these activities and behaviors, is God being honored and praised? Is the attention being drawn to God, or is it being drawn to man?