SHOULD WE EMPHASISE EXPERIENCE, DOWNPLAY DOCTRINE?

Should believers pursue sensational experience even if it goes against sound doctrine?

Some church leaders seem to support this premise: “Experientialism is the way to go; experience it and you will come to know the truth.” 

Do you think the preceding statement is valid?

Is it true that the proof of the pudding is in the eating? Nothing like trying, isn’t it? Don't we sing, O taste and see that the Lord is good?

Let me begin by saying that I have nothing against experiences and the miraculous realm, coming from a Pentecostal and Baptist background of more than 40 years.

But when teachers like Bill Johnson exalt the experience of signs and wonders to the extent that doctrine, scholarship and the use of one’s sound mind are all downplayed and even the deity of Christ is denied, red flags go up. http://bit.ly/1vnWGyq

Are we so mesmerised by the miraculous and sensational that we are willing to depart from sound doctrine and whatever we hold dear in our faith?

                                                                 

For Bill Johnson and his followers, the presence of signs and wonders is more important than anything else—the more of the miraculous the better. http://goo.gl/z4WzZa

Should believers be willing to “go off the map”—go beyond what is found in the Word—in order to embrace the realm of the miraculous?

Johnson claims, “For decades the Church has been guilty of creating doctrine to justify their lack of power.”

He warns believers of the danger of embracing a “powerless Word”: "Those who feel safe because of their intellectual grasp of Scriptures enjoy a false sense of security. None of us has a full grasp of Scripture, but we all have the Holy Spirit. He is our common denominator who will always lead us into truth. But to follow Him, we must be willing to follow off the map—to go beyond what we know."

The above (in blue) **  is an attempt by Johnson to denigrate scholarship and the Word to pave the way for believers to venture into the exciting realm of the miraculous.

**  Source: http://apprising.org/2013/01/06/an-invasion-of-error-review-of-when-heaven-invades-earth-by-bill-johnson/

Firstly, to set the Word against the Holy Spirit does not make sense. The Holy Spirit can only prompt believers to embrace the things found in the Word, not anything that is outside the confines of the Bible. After all, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13). And the Word is the Truth (John 17:17). Needless to say, we don’t have to set the Word against the Holy Spirit. How can we set one person of the Trinity against another person of the Trinity? Both work together to fulfill a common purpose. Most of the time, we can only know what the Holy Spirit is saying when we have a firm grasp of the Word.

In fact, Christians with a firm grasp of the Word should be more secure—not have a false sense of security as Johnson insinuates—for then they will be able to overcome deception. Those who do not emphasise the objective Word but depend on emotional highs and the leading of various spirits are more likely to falter and be deceived. 

Secondly, the Bible is our “map”. To go “beyond what we know”, as asserted by Bill Johnson, is to go beyond the bounds of Scripture. When we denigrate the Word and exalt the realm of the supernatural, we no longer have any guide, compass or plumb line. We will be treading on uncharted territories. Whatever supernatural phenomena that we assume as originating from the Holy Spirit may not necessarily be so. 

That’s dangerous and leaves us at the mercy of deception by diverse spirits.  For deception goes hand in hand with the following: Letting our minds be on passive mode, setting aside discernment and downplaying of doctrine and scholarship. As such, believers will play into the hands of the devil if we adopt such a position. http://bit.ly/1kLjwYF

Thirdly, every teacher claims that he or she stands for the truth. But how do we know the truth? Start with the objective Word. Study the whole Word. Be open to the Holy Spirit’s illumination. Learn know how to rightly handle the Word. And then within the constraints of the Word, be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit. http://bit.ly/1nQkr0L

The apostle Paul emphasises the importance of sound doctrine which should be upheld at all costs. We need to hold fast to the Word, which must be preserved intact in its unadulterated form.

To imply that the Word should play a less important role in the believer’s life for the sake of greater supernatural experience—that we should be willing to be "led by the spirit" and follow "off the map” if we want to be more adventurous and venture into the realm of the miraculous—is another gospel.

• Test all things; hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

• Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16)

• Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1: 13-14)

• But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it. (2 Timothy 3: 14)

No, we must never go "off the map”—that is, entertain doctrines or practices that are beyond the sanction and bounds of the Word.

And all miracles or supernatural phenomena should be tested for authenticity against the Word.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
(1 John 4:1)    
                                                   

REPENTANCE AND OBEDIENCE VS EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES AND MANIFESTATIONS

What is the litmus test of an encounter with the living God?

“We know that the manifestations affect the emotions, but the Bible places much more emphasis on repentance (changed mind) and obedience (dedicated will) as the appropriate response to an encounter with the living God. The ultimate test of any experience is whether it leads to real repentance and observable obedience. This yardstick is especially necessary in an age which is addicted to novel experiences and regards all religious experiences as self-authenticating. The Church must not fall into this way of thinking but faithfully 'test all thing’” – David Pawson

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TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR BETHEL FANS

Here are some searching questions for fans of Bill Johnson and Bethel church

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SHOULD WE RUN AFTER SIGNS AND WONDERS?

Is there a rationale for pursuing signs and wonders?

http://goo.gl/xxQRH0

TESTING THE SUPERNATURAL

Are the supernatural manifestations in church today invariably of divine origin?

http://goo.gl/vno09t

WORD OR SPIRIT?

The battle that has been raging for centuries: Should the believer emphasise the Word or Holy Spirit more? Some believers ground themselves so strongly in the Word that the Holy Spirit has little relevance in their lives. They become wary of spiritual gifts or “being led by the Spirit”, thinking that by doing so they may be opening themselves to self-deception and counterfeit spirits of darkness. So they reason it’s better to play it safe by staying in familiar territory.

http://goo.gl/l9D5Gb

RIDING OUT THE STORM

How to experience God’s providence in times of economic uncertainty

If we are looking for explicit, step-by-step instructions from scriptures on how to deal with economic crisis, we will be disappointed. However, it doesn’t mean that we can’t glean important principles from the Word on dealing with hard times. 

Let's take for example the prophet Elijah who was fed by ravens and a widow during famine. How God chooses the most unlikely sources of sustenance to meet His servants’ needs is indeed mind boggling and unfathomable.

Divine providence comes to us in wondrous and diverse ways and we should not try to limit the workings of an infinite and omnipotent God.

                                                                          

Firstly, Elijah was told to go a brook, near the Jordan river, where ravens would feed him. For water, he merely needed to help himself from the brook.

When the brook dried up, the prophet was told to go to the village of Zarephath in territory of his enemy, Jezebel. God was trying to tell Elijah that He can protect him even in the enemy’s lair. We would have surmised that Elijah would be directed to a rich man’s house to be fed. But again, God chose an unlikely candidate, a poor widow, to feed the prophet.

Those who trust God, serve and honour Him must put full confidence in God in times of need. Elijah and the widow relied entirely on God for their sustenance.

                                                                           

Elijah was blessed when he obeyed God’s instructions to go to the brook and, later, to Gentile territory. His needs were miraculously met through unclean birds and a poor widow.

Similarly, the widow benefitted by obeying Elijah’s instruction to prepare a meal for him first, even before serving herself. The result was nothing short of a miracle—there was enough food for her and her son throughout the duration of the famine.  

If we focus on obeying and serving God, not only will our own needs be met; we will also be a blessing to others. First, we ourselves are filled; next, we will bear fruit and bless others even in times of famine. We will buck the trend during hard times (Matthew 6:33, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalm 1:1-3).

The moral of the story is that we must listen to our Master’s instructions during hard times or economic crisis, which will surely befall us in these end times. But how do we receive His instructions? By abiding in His word, dwelling in His presence and listening to what He says to us (John 10:27, John 14:26, John 15:7, Psalm 37:18-19).

If we do so, we will experience His blessing and provision, which may come from various sources and “delivered” to us in unexpected ways—even through “unclean birds”.

                                                   God’s faithfulness and provision   
                                                           

Let's now consider another example of famine in the Bible. When famine struck the ancient world, Joseph’s brothers came down to Egypt to buy grain. Unknown to them, God had already prepared way ahead for their needs to be met through Joseph, the influential governor of Egypt, second in rank to Pharaoh. This reflects the foreknowledge of a faithful God. Has it ever crossed our minds that God has our welfare at heart all the time (Jeremiah 29:11)?

Guided earlier by divine wisdom, Joseph had built storehouses to stockpile grain—with the blessing of Pharaoh after interpreting the king’s dream that seven years of famine would follow seven years of plenty. This ample provision of grain met the needs of the Egyptians and Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 41: 53-57).

May we learn from this story as we prepare for end time global economic crisis. To insist that believers will continue to experience effortless success and that good times will continue to roll is being naïve. This kind of teaching makes people with itching ears feel good.

Notice that God does not shield His children from famine or trials. He does not remove tribulation from the life of believers: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). http://bit.ly/1w2LYfH

But He promises to be with us through it all, good or bad times (Hebrews 13:5b, Matthew 28:20b). God’s faithfulness coupled with obedience on our part—proactively preparing for hard times when times are better, like Joseph—will help us to ride out the storm of economic uncertainty.

                                                                          

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Will there come a time when many believers lose faith in God?

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HARD TIMES

Whether it’s a global economic downturn or a personal financial crisis such as retrenchment, no one fancies going through dire financial straits. Can we learn something positive through it all? Can we emerge stronger and better through it all?

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WILL CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION?

A popular teaching tells us that Christians will not have to go through the Great Tribulation because they will be raptured first. But is such a 'pre-tribulation rapture' view valid? Is it true to say Christians will be airlifted to safety before the Great Tribulation begins?

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MORE THAN ENOUGH

Facing hard times? An all-sufficient God is able to meet all our needs. How can we affirm and declare this truth?

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HOW TO ATTAIN FINANCIAL FREEDOM

http://bit.ly/NIWat8

BIBLICAL INSIGHTS ON FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT

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DOES FINANCIAL PLANNING NEGATE FAITH?

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DOES GOD CARE WHETHER WE MAKE A PROFIT?

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HOW TO SHARE THIS BLOG POST

You may use any one of the following introductory passages:

RIDING OUT THE STORM

How to experience God’s providence in times of economic uncertainty

http://goo.gl/engJ50

BRACING FOR A ROUGH RIDE

May we prepare ourselves for end time global economic crisis. To insist that believers will continue to experience effortless success and that good times will continue to roll is being naïve. This kind of teaching only makes people with itching ears feel good.

http://goo.gl/engJ50

GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE AND FAITHFULNESS

When famine struck the ancient world, Joseph’s brothers came down to Egypt to buy grain. Unknown to them, God had already prepared way ahead for their needs to be met through Joseph, the influential governor of Egypt, second in rank to Pharaoh. This reflects the foreknowledge of a faithful God. Has it ever crossed our minds that God has our welfare at heart all the time?

http://goo.gl/engJ50

REFERENCES
The Lord knows the days of the blameless,

    and their heritage will remain forever;

they are not put to shame in evil times;

    in the days of famine they have abundance.

(Psalm 37:18-19)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

(Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Blessed is the man

    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

    planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

    and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

(Psalm 1:1-3)

ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS AND A WIDOW

Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” And the word of the Lord came to him: “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

(1 Kings 17:1-16)

PROVISION IN TIMES OF FAMINE

The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”

So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

(Genesis 41:53-57)