Jeffrey T. Riddle at Reformed Baptist Fellowship wrote an article called "Five Concerns about the Merging of Charismatic and Calvinistic Doctrine"
I’ve listed his five point, but go to the article for his reasons:
1. One cannot hold to the validity of charismatic “sign-gifts” in the church today and be consistently Biblical and reformed in his theological outlook.
2. The emphasis on modern day occurrences of the extraordinary and the miraculous undermines the Biblical emphasis on the “ordinary means” of grace.
3. Those who deny the cessation of extra-ordinary charismatic gifts and experiences in the church today ignore the Biblical parallel to the cessation of some Biblical offices.
4. The promotion of non-cessationist doctrine fuels an overriding desire for extraordinary spiritual experiences that can lead to confusing theological beliefs and practices.
5. The emphasis on extraordinary experience undermines the sufficiency and authority of Scripture.
End quote.
The Doctrines of Grace (which, by the way are not only biblical, but what historic Baptists have held to for centuries), are diametrically opposed to the Charismatic doctrines. At the heart Charismaticism denies the sufficiency of Scripture and therefore has a low view of it, as well as a low view of God and a very high view of Man. The Docs of Grace have a HIGH view of Scripture and God, and therefore a LOW view of Man. Charismaticism is extraordinarily man-centered and the Docs of Grace are totally Christ-centered. As you can see from the foundation, the two are INCOMPATABLE and therefore one is to be rejected, not accepted.
When a person has a low view of Scripture, which many Reformers today have, then they are willing to accept anything. Their motto (sometimes actually spoken, sometimes not) is: truth in everything. While that sounds quite tolerant and open-minded, it actually is rebellion against the Truth. God is the God of truth, not truth AND error. All it takes is one lie to turn truth into a lie, just as one work makes grace cease to be grace, or one false prophecy to make a false prophet.
Isa 45:19 …I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right.
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1Jo 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.
John 17: 17SANCTIFY THEM IN THE TRUTH; Your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
2Co 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
When God has given His means to live in His ways, and the world is diametrically oppsed to Him in all things, why would a Christian seek after the world’s ways thinking they honor Christ? That is preciscely why Scripture prohibits us from going to philosophy to find truth. Jesus IS Truth. His Word IS Truth. If that’s not enough, then you need to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.
Its seems as if many of the Reformers today are not content with Scripture alone for truth in dealing with life and godliness. I think they have fallen into Post-modern thinking that truth isn’t that knowable, therefore we can’t REALLY know truth in Scripture (“who has perfect doctrine” silly response), and “all truth is God’s truth” aka “truth in everything”. It leads to bad doctrine and produces bad fruit.
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
1Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
1Co 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Ecc 10:1 Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Luk 8:15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
1Pe 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation--
Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
2Co 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
1Co 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Gal 5:7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Its not like we don't have the Bible to know what truth is. We do. The issue is, are you going to obey God's Word or live as a rebel and merely slap the name of Christ onto it? Are you going to commit treason against the Lord of lords and King of kings?
Where is your loyalty?
No comments:
Post a Comment