An Analysis of Today's Tongues (4 of 8)

Some of my readers will know that for many years now I have been examining the present day tongues movement and some of the strange phenomenon that accompany it.  This chapter is an attempt to set forth my main findings and to bring them to the attention of Evangelical Christians.  I have felt that an inquiry of this nature was essential because the shock waves from the tongues movement are now affecting the Church worldwide. 

The thing that has given me most cause for concern is the fact that whole sections of the Church have taken on some very disturbing characteristics and are now heading off in a different direction.  If I am correct in the conclusions I have drawn, the Church is heading for a crisis of great magnitude.  People with more thoughtful minds will want to know the nature of this crisis and what they and their families are likely to face in the future.

In examining this subject, we should as far as possible, shut out our own preconceptions, and attempt to analyze the phenomena appearing on the religious scene today.

SPIRITISM IN OUR MIDST

When I embarked on this present inquiry, there was just no way that I would have suspected any connection between Evangelical Christianity and Spiritism.  On the contrary, there appeared to be irreconcilable antagonism between the two.  You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that Satan was embarking on an extremely clever take-over bid.  He is super-imposing Spiritism over Evangelical Christianity, or, to put it another way, he is bringing about a merger between the two.

This will no doubt come as a surprise to many readers because Evangelical Christianity and Spiritism seem so diverse in appearance.  However, if my readers cast their eyes about them, they must surely observe the fact that mysterious forces have arisen and have made inroads into all denominations even the most conservative.

Large numbers of people seem to be shaking off their spiritual lethargy, getting into gear and heading off in some direction but the all important question is what direction?? 

It is now my personal conviction that what we are now witnessing on both the religious and political scenes is what can be expected to characterise this period of time.  A great period of apostasy has been clearly foreshadowed in Scripture (2 Thess. 2:3) and all with a high degree of spiritual discernment will not only see that this is well underway, but rapidly gaining momentum.  I state these things not just to stimulate the interest of readers but to underline the magnitude of what I am saying.

I will endeavour not to press my own conclusions, but rather leave the readers to draw their own conclusions after giving due consideration to the facts I lay before them.

I strongly urge all readers to earnestly seek the Lord in prayer, that He will enable us to understand the significance of the strange phenomena we are now witnessing.  To my mind, it is wholly unprecedented in the history of the church and is leading us all towards a great climax and the Second Coming of the Lord.

"SLOPPY" EXEGESIS

When analysing the present-day tongues movement it is very enlightening to listen carefully to what many of its heralds are prescribing.  Among other things there are material prosperity, exhilarating experiences, total exemption of from all illness and hyper-faith.  It is now my considered opinion that all of these doctrines have not only been taken out of their Biblical context, but have been subjected to an extremely subtle twist in the process.  This I believe is part of a NEW and very sloppy system of interpretation that is in vogue in these last days and will most certainly lead astray all who do not take the time to examine what the Bible really teaches on these important matters.

POISON INJECTED

I feel that it is incumbent upon me to at all times be charitable and to give credit where it is due and I therefore concede that many of the high-profile men in the tongues movement do set forth such doctrines as:  immediate forgiveness for sin, personal salvation, and incorruptible inheritance, assurance of membership in the Body of Christ, and a prepared place in the Father's house.  These doctrines are set before the unsuspecting adherents like a delectable fruit salad but sadly Satan has successfully added a sprinkling of arsenic.  The arsenic is not only in the form of the things previously mentioned such as the prosperity gospel, scintillating experiences and unrestricted healings but in the more frightening form of religious Spiritism.  By religious Spiritism I mean today's gibberish known as 'speaking in tongues.'

All who are capable of making a penetrating analysis of this phenomenon will see that it is one of the most gigantic deceptions ever foisted upon the Church.  In fact it such a stupendous fraud that nothing short of supernatural power could give it acceptance among men.  I often wonder just how great is the power of deception exercised by "that old serpent called the devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world."  Not only has he foisted this deception onto the Church, but has caused it to become immensely popular.

DON'T BE FOOLED!

The subject of Spiritism is of course too large for anything like a thorough consideration here.

Our present object is to point out how Satan has successfully merged it with Evangelical Christianity through the tongues movement and is now using it to shape the thinking of Evangelicals.

At first glance, there would appear to be no relation whatever between Spiritism and Evangelical Christianity.  Because Spiritism actually discredits all the major doctrines of the Christian faith.  However, let it be remember that both Spiritism and Christianity have supernatural elements.

It is when these supernatural elements become merged into one that the deception takes on such gigantic proportions.  It seems that when the masses witness some of these supernatural elements in Christianity, they conclude that it is all of God.  If they do draw this conclusion, it is certain they will come under the influence of ever-increasing degrees of Spiritism from that point in time. 

Now the most striking present day development on the religious scene, is the fact that some church leaders including some men of high profile are not only giving their assent to the tongues movement, but are vouching for the genuineness of all its phenomena.

The average man, of course, does by nature firmly believe in supernatural things.  So Satan has been very carefully to include some of the supernatural elements in the tongues movement, in order to "get in" Mr. and Mrs. Average.  These elements though, when carefully analysed, will be find to be cleverly disguised Spiritism.  We must never lose sight of the fact that Satan is himself a spirit. (Eph. 2:2, 1 Cor. 2:12 and 1 John 4:6).  His various religions will therefore all have a supernatural element.

END-TIME PROPHESY

We should also bear in mind the fact that end-time prophesies place great stress upon the supernatural demonstrations which are to accompany the establishment of the last great religio-commercial system.  We read in 1 Tim. 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."  Scripture would seem to indicate that not only will supernatural demonstrations take place, but false doctrines will be supernaturally taught.  In other words, these doctrines will be taught by men who are themselves under the influence of deceiving spirits.  These same men will also have the ability to prophesy, cast out demons and perform wonderful works "in thy name" (Matt. 7:22-23).  I would urge readers to have a good long look at these verses and ask the Lord to give them light on their meaning.

Paul pinpoints the time when that prophesy will be fulfilled.  This will be in the "latter times."  The departure from the faith, about which he gives warning, seems to be well underway.  This end-time apostasy is, I believe, being brought about by deceiving spirits who are putting forth "doctrines of demons" or doctrines originated by demons.  In prophesies such as this, we have unveiled for us the fact that powerful teaching spirits are setting forth doctrines that are specifically designed to cause a departure from the faith and, let it be stressed again, that this will be done supernaturally and therefore will be undetected by the average Christian. 

The Christian Church at this point in time has 3 major problems with which to contend:

1. The one we have just mentioned, namely, false doctrine, being taught supernaturally.
2. Witches infiltrating the churches and parachurch organizations.  These also will go undetected until enormous damage has been done.
3. The unprecedented spread of occult practices among Christians.

Is it any wonder that many thoughtful observers can foresee the total eclipse of Evangelical Christianity?  What we are now witnessing is the disintegration of the Church as an effective organization.  If my understanding of the prophesies in the Book of Revelation is correct, this disintegration must of necessity take place to pave the way for the coming World Church.

SATAN'S TAKE-OVER BID

To put this another way:  Satan has launched a powerful take-over bid aimed at bringing the Church under his control.  Now in order to keep the whole picture in perspective, we must bear in mind the fact that our Lord said "I will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."  I take this statement to mean that the church is the Lord's Building, being built by the Lord Himself.  He is the chief Corner-stone and each believer is put in place by the Lord.  Each believer becomes a "living stone" and part of "a holy temple."  So Satan cannot destroy the church as such!  It is a supernatural structure being built by the Lord Himself and is eternal but these facts do not negate Satan's power to destroy the church  as an effective organization and that is where the emphasis needs to be placed.  Satan cannot destroy the Church, but he has the power to render it virtually ineffective and this is exactly what he is in the process of doing right at this point in time.

"UNCHALLENGED ERRORS MULTIPLY."