The Contagion of Emotions

by Terry Wane Benton At Ephesus, there was a stirring of emotions causing the idolatrous people to start a long series of chants and emotional outbursts of “Great is Diana of the Ephesians” (Acts 19:34). This constant chant went on for two hours. There was a contagion of emotions, and perhaps the fervor for Diana…

Read More

I’m not certain about my salvation

Question: I’ve been very anxious about my salvation and baptism. I was saved at around 12 years old and baptized when I was almost 14. I was so on fire for God when I was baptized. I was wondering if I should be baptized again because even though I was very genuine about it, I’m not…

Read More

The Anointing of the Spirit

Text: I John 2:18-29   I.         The other day, one of my boys needed help with a math problem, so I asked him to show me the problem. He brought in his paper on which he was working.             A.        “No,” I said, “I need to see the original problem in the book.”             B.        “But I copied just as…

Read More

The Charismatic Movement

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CharismaticMovement.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 14:6-12   I.         As we continue our tracing of how various denominations came to be,             A.        We examined how the Pietiest influenced the beliefs of John Wesley and the Methodist societies that he established.                         1.         In particular was an emphasis on the need for a personal experience to become sanctified,…

Read More

Coming Out of Pentecostalism

by Bill Davis One of the greatest challenges for any Pentecostal to overcome is to accept the fact that God no longer works miracles today as he did in times past. Three years ago I wrote a series of three articles in Seek the Old Paths on Why I Left the Pentecostal Church (June, July, August 2013). In those…

Read More

What about the prophecy and tongue-speaking that I’ve witnessed?

Question: Whether prophecy has ceased or not ceased is one of the issues I am struggling with as a seminary student. I read your article about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and let’s say you are right. But what about those prayer warriors who prophesy and speak in tongues in today’s Christian churches? And…

Read More

Going to the Source (The Anointing of the Spirit)

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/GoingToTheSource.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 2:18-29   I.         The other day, one of my boys needed help with a math problem, so I asked him to show me the problem. He brought in his paper on which he was working.             A.        “No,” I said, “I need to see the original problem in the book.”…

Read More

How do I call prayer points?

Question: Hello Sir, I will be leading a prayer meeting (small group). The title is “Trusting God”, from Psalm 125:1. Please how do I go about it, especially calling the prayer points? I have led prayer meetings in the group in the past, but I want to do this right. My church, the teenage church,…

Read More

Have Miracles Ceased?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/HaveMiraclesCeased.mp3 Text: John 9:14-34   I.         Several denominations teach the continuance of miracles             A.        Proofs offered are based on emotional feelings and indirect evidence (I know a person who heard a person claim they saw …)             B.        The standard appealed to is what a person thinks is right             C.        To oppose is taken as the same as calling the…

Read More

We say a creed at every service. Is this vain repetition?

Question: Hello, My question to you today is concerning a creed that a church I’ve been attending quotes during every service, and I would like to know your thoughts on it. I have recently come to terms with my abusive use of alcohol and the demeaning and shameful things I allowed myself to do under…

Read More

Must a person fall when hands are laid on them?

Question: Dear Sir, Many pastors expect the person they lay hands and pray for to fall backward. Many worshipers also seem to be attracted to this falling, thinking it’s an act of the Holy Spirit though there was no result from this. To me, this act does not seem to be biblical. Please let me…

Read More

Worship: The Emotional Component

by Warren E. Berkley “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” (John 4:24). Every element of true worship involves some emotional component. The emotional component is not driven by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit (as in Calvinism) or “getting the Holy Spirit” (as in Charismatic practice). The…

Read More

Is it proper to grieve over someone who is deluded by false teachers?

Question: It’s been some time since I’ve written. I’m the fellow whose wife joined a charismatic group and said that God told her to divorce me and this was supported by her Christian friends because I was not Christ-like and had an issue with the charismatic stuff. Although I’ve given up any hope of ever reconciling,…

Read More

I enjoyed your article on the Azusa Street revival

Question: I grew up in a Church of Christ. I’m in a foreign country teaching English, and a friend of mine sent me a book about revival. It’s called The Blueprint: A revolutionary plan to plant missional communities on campus. I don’t really like the book so far because of a lot of charismatic gibber jabber.…

Read More

How can one justify being a Christian if he is not baptized?

Question: How can one justify being a Christian if he claims to believe but is not baptized until some time later? Is he convinced that baptism does not save you? Question: Many denominations teach people that belief is all that is required for salvation. Some, such as the Baptists, do practice a form of baptism,…

Read More

What do you think about the Azusa Street Revival?

Question: What do you think of the Azusa Street revival with William J. Seymour? Answer: The events at the Azusa Street revival in 1906 is frequently cited as the beginning of the Pentecostal movement. Numerous charismatic denominations refer to this revival as the beginning of their particular beliefs. Four denominations which were founded in the…

Read More

Must you speak in tongues to have the Holy Spirit?

Question: Is it true, as most Pentecostals say, that if you do not speak in tongues, you do not have the Holy Spirit? Answer: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: … There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same…

Read More

Praying in a heavenly tongue

Question: Would you discuss the idea of praying in a heavenly language where the person is edified even though others don’t know what they are saying? Answer: The mention of the language of angels is only found in I Corinthians 13:1 where Paul states that speaking in any language is without benefit if it is not accompanied…

Read More