Thoughts on the Bible and Life
There is a dangerous practice in Pentecostal or Charismatic Christianity. It is the practice of trying to receive detailed life instructions from the Lord. By detailed life instructions I am referring to instructions regarding everyday life decisions, e.g., marriage, work, finances, location, etc. Often these instructions are given through a prophecy—one person delivering “a word … Read more
Pentecostal Christianity is exploding. It is the fastest growing segment of Christianity, especially in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. But Wikipedia goes further, “Pentecostalism is believed to be the fastest-growing religious movement in the world.” According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, when linked with Charismatic Christianity, the total number of adherents is more than 600 … Read more
I grew up in charismatic churches so listening to prophetic messages was not uncommon for me. Usually, during the singing or in between songs, someone would raise their voice and address the congregation. Frequently, their exhortation would begin with, “the Lord says” then continue with quotations from the Bible. Occasionally someone would give a prophecy … Read more
American televangelists have been making false promises for decades. They claim if you have enough faith and if you give to their ministries, God will bless you with abundant finances and physical health. They teach that God wants all believers to be healthy and wealthy, thus their message has been dubbed the “health and wealth … Read more
Two thousand years ago on the day of Pentecost something remarkable happened. A group of believers, including the apostles, were “all together in one place” when Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues … Read more