Discernment - How do we react, as Christians, when we encounter claims that a new movement of the Holy Spirit is taking place within the church, albeit involving elements that appear strange and bizarre?

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Discernment

C. Schofield, 09/05/07

How do we react, as Christians, when we encounter claims that a new movement of the Holy Spirit is taking place within the church, albeit involving elements that appear strange and bizarre?  I believe there are two different attitudes which must both be present in our minds as we react to such claims.

Firstly, there must be openness. Although this attitude is not specifically set forth in the New Testament, I believe it is needed today for a number of reasons.

1.        We are living in days of low vitality compared with the New Testament church, and in consequence there is low expectancy. Martyn Lloyd-Jones refers to the danger of dead orthodoxy, where people go to church with 'no conception that God may suddenly meet with them, and that something tremendous may happen'. (Revival, p.72). In this situation it is all too easy to reduce everything to the level of our own experience, and reject a genuine move of God because it seems so different to what we are used to.

2.        There has been a move away from the 'old evangelical view' of the work of the Spirit, namely, that although the Spirit is present in all Christians there are times when his influences are outpoured in an extraordinary manner. In a reaction to the Pentecostal / Charismatic doctrine of the baptism of the Spirit, evangelicals have stated that Christians receive the fullness of the Spirit at conversion, leading to a suspicion concerning powerful post-conversion experiences, and especially, of seeking more of the Spirit. It is interesting to observe that in a nineteenth century work republished by Banner of Truth, George Smeaton wrote of 'the modern notion propounded by the Plymouth Brethren, that believers are not to pray for the Holy Spirit because He was once for all given on the day of Pentecost'. (The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit 1974 p.52).

3.        Church history shows that God has frequently in the past 'shown up' in revival power. Furthermore, such times have always involved extravagances, irregularities and errors which make it all too easy for the critic to say 'this can't be of God'. Edwards wrote 'There never yet was any great manifestation that God made of himself to the world, without many difficulties attending it.' (Distinguishing Marks, 273). We should not be too hasty to reject an alleged move of God because of error or excess.

4.        Unlike the early church, we live in days of clearly defined denominations and groupings in which it is easy to assume that God will favour our particular grouping, and hard to believe that God would significant bless another section of his church. We ask, with Nathaniel, 'Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?'. (John 1:46)

5.        God is still the same God who said through Isaiah 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'. We presume to tell God how he should act. Spurgeon warned: "Let us not dictate to God. Many a blessing has been lost by Christians not believing it to be a blessing, because it did not come in the particular shape which they had conceived to be proper and right' (The Early Years, 1834-1859, p.328, quoted in Chevreau, Catch the Fire, p.)

6.        My final argument for openness is that in a day when we desperately need to see more of God's power, I would rather waste a little time going down what turns out to be a by-path, than miss out on what may prove to God at work.

If openness is one necessary attitude, the other is caution.

1.        The Bible warns us that the devil will attempt to deceive the saints by counterfeiting the work of God. Hence we are enjoined to discern, to distinguish the true from the false. 1 Thess 5:21 'Test everything. Hold on to the good'. 1 John 4:1 'Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world'. This verse suggests that the Christians to whom John was writing were inclined to believe too readily. It also shows the widespread nature of the problem: many false prophets.

2.        Caution is vital because Satan can be very subtle. 2 Cor 11:14,15 'Satan masquerades as an angel of light ... his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness'. Matt 7:15 - false prophets are likened to wolves, but appear in sheep's clothing. Part of this subtlety is to introduce area from within the church, where Christians least expect it (Acts 20:30, 1 John 2:19). In others words, we shouldn't accept a new movement as being of God without careful investigation.

3.        I believe caution is important today because, while some parts of the church are over-sceptical about anything new, other parts are too ready to accept the new. It seems to me that there is a 'faddish' tendency within the Charismatic wing of the church to take on the new, e.g. power evangelism, warfare against territorial spirits. The promises of Restorationism, to bring the church back to the power and giftedness of New Testament days, have not been fulfilled. Hence there is an expectancy that the next move of God will bring in these promises, and in consequence, a lack of careful discernment.

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How then can we discern what are the 'true, certain and distinguishing evidences of a work of the Spirit of God?' We need to consider the means to use, and the tests to apply.

1. The means to use

(a) the scriptures

Supremely, we are given the scriptures. To quote Edwards 'This is the great and standing rule which God has given to his church, in order to guide them in things relating to the great concerns of their souls; and it is an infallible and sufficient rule. There are undoubtedly sufficient marks given to guide the church of ...

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