The
main problem with the Charismatic Movement is its denial of God’s sovereignty.
This denial is manifested in its decisionism.
The idea that “I can decide to speak in tongues. I can decide to prophesy. I
can decide to name and claim it. I can just say the sinners’ prayer and be
saved.” Salvation requires Divine Revelation and not a magic prayer.
Another
error is the doctrine that it is God’s will to heal everyone. Jesus did not
choose to heal everyone. This, also, is a denial of God’s sovereignty. God is
the One who decides; not man. God decides when to send revival, also.
Another
error is the presumption that “God told me so and so.” Some seem to hear from
God more than Elijah did. When people say God told them something that He did
not say, it is blasphemy. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in
vain. The Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.”
Another
error is the “copy-cat” falling prostrate. In the great Calvinist Presbyterian
revivals of history people some times passed out under conviction of sin. But
in the Charismatic meetings they do not fall because they are under conviction
of sin. They fall because the preacher wants them to fall. They think it is a
blessing. In the Presbyterian revival of Stewarton, Scotland the Presence of
God was so real that they cried out, “O my sins. God have mercy. God have
mercy.” And they had to be carried out. When they awoke they were converted and
at peace with great calm.
The
danger for modern Calvinists is to reject the real thing because they can’t
discern the difference between the real and the fake Charismatic stuff. I
suggest they google “The Stewarton Sickness” and The Irish Revival of 1859.
Another
error of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement is the idea that they can work up
a revival. God has His own timetable. He usually precedes it by sending a
Spirit of prayer. True prayer cannot be “ginned” up.
Another
error is the doctrine that the gift of tongues is the only sign that one is
filled with the Holy Spirit. The
main problem with the said movement is that they believe in man’s ability to obey
God. True Calvinism would correct its many errors that I do not mention.
Does
this mean that the gifts of the Spirit did not manifest in John Knox, John
Welch, Columba, Anthony of the Desert, and many others? By no means.
