MAY 20

Matthew 24:24
Memorise 1 Corinthians 13:8
“…when I became a man I put away childish things”

WHY DO WE REJECT THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT?

The Charismatic Movement was popularly known as the Signs and Wonders movement in the 1980’s and 1990’s. As foretold by God’s Word, there shall arise false Christs “shewing great signs and wonders that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect”. We reject the Charismatic Movement simply because it is not of God.

Supporters of the Charismatic Movement claim that gifts such as prophecy, tongue speaking, miracle healing and special revelation still exist today. Their own active involvement in these activities are proof to themselves that these phenomena are genuine. However, the Bible says that these phenomena shall cease (1 Corinthians 13:8) as they shall no longer serve the purpose for which God had intended. The Apostles were given such gifts to establish their authority and authenticity to the early church after which there were no accounts of them performing miracles in the Bible. Furthermore, God’s Word tells us that these gifts were necessary due to the spiritual immaturity of the believers in those days. However, we are told to put away such childish things as we grow spiritually (1 Corinthians 13:11). As we now have a more sure word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19)-the very Word of God recorded in Holy Scripture, these signs and wonders are no longer needed.

Dear Teen, do take heed. Those empowered by God to foretell the future did so with perfect accuracy but this is not true of Charismatic prophecy. Likewise with miracle healing – those who were healed in the Bible were instantly and completely healed the first time round. Tongue speaking is not the incoherent babbling observed in Charismatics but the speaking of actual languages by people who have never learnt them before. God no longer reveals extra-biblical information to believers as God’s Word is already complete and the Bible carries a warning to those who add to or subtract from it (Revelation 22:18, 19). If you have friends involved in the Charismatic movement, do pray for them and speak to them in love, as you show them the truth of God’s Word.

Thought: Let us separate ourselves from those who claim to be believers and yet engage in practices not supported by the Bible.
Prayer: Give us, O Lord, the wisdom to discern that which is of God and that which is not in these last of the last days.