The Miracles

 

I remember watching "The Ten Commandments" with Moses being played by Charlton Heston. After the movie, one was almost convinced Charlton Heston was Moses. The movie debuted in 1956 and was an amazing film for the time. Although sporting some Biblical inaccuracies and considerable freedom taken for the storyline, the Exodus story was vividly brought to life on the big screen. As popular as it was, we didn't see very many folks after the movie claiming to be able to divide the Red sea. However, that is not the case with the New Testament miracles. In the previous five series posts, I have written a number of arguments in favor of Cessationism in contrast to Pentecostalism and the movement that began at the turn of the 20th Century. As an extension to those articles, I want to take a look at the miracles in the New Testament and what Pentecostalism claims is still operating within the frame of Christianity. 

In over 25 years of traveling in the Pentecostal / Word of Faith churches, I have seen people lying on the floor supposedly slain by the power of God. I have seen adults and children dancing in aisles supposedly being inspired by the Holy Spirit, one particular form of this dancing was tagged by the critics as "the bunny hop". I have seen people run around in the church and even run out of the church supposedly under the power of the Holy Spirit. I have seen people who were prayed for with allergies, back pain, soreness, stiffness of joints, etc, with testimonies following of some measure of healing. There were a number of people who had cancer prayed for over the years that later died from the disease. I personally prayed for a blind man to be healed while at work one day. As far as I know, if he is still alive, he is still blind. A few in wheelchairs were prayed for but no one got out of their wheelchair. In one large Kenneth Hagin meeting I was in, about 6,000 were in attendance, I heard Kenneth Hagin say during one of his sermons he felt like someone needed to get out of a wheelchair. In the line of wheelchairs off to the side of the platform, someone stood up. I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, they were too far away, but the place went crazy with praise and people shouting. However, nothing was ever said about who it was or what was wrong with them, or if standing up was even something they couldn't do before. You just heard people saying someone got out of a wheelchair during the meeting. Not really an eyewitness that would hold up in court probably. These and many similar things were presented and practiced while claiming it was a continuation of the signs, wonders, and miracles we read about in the Bible. 

Let's step through the Bible and examine just what it is that is supposedly continuing today. The first of these Apostolic miracles are recorded in Acts 3:1-21 ESV

(1)  Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

(2)  And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

(3)  Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

(4)  And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

(5)  And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

(6)  But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

(7)  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

(8)  And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

(9)  And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

(10)  and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

(11)  While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.

(12)  And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

(13)  The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

(14)  But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

(15)  and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

(16)  And his name by faith in his name has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

(17)  “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

(18)  But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

(19)  Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

(20)  that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

(21)  whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

In the previous chapter Act 2:43, we are told in general that many signs and wonders were done by the hands of the apostles. From the many miracles which were performed, Luke selects one of which he gives a more full account, especially as it gives him occasion to record another of the addresses of Peter to the Jews. The point to be made here is the signs and wonders were done by the Apostles. It is very clear such miracles were limited to the Apostles and those to whom they ministered. The manner in which it is done is also noteworthy, it was spontaneous, unexpected, immediate, and with a very distinct purpose. It is also notable that Peter and John did not organize a healing meeting or a week-long miracle crusade. 

The man was not required to have any faith, he simply expected or hoped for a monetary gift. He didn't even know to ask for a miracle. Peter and John seemed unaware also and Luke uses the word "ἀτενίζω" (gaze) to describe the moment. It carries the meaning, "to gaze intently: - behold earnestly (steadfastly), fasten (eyes), look (earnestly, steadfastly, up steadfastly), set eyes." It is used by no other writer in the New Testament, except twice by Paul, 2Co 3:7, 2Co 3:13. In both those instances you get the idea of an extended look, it seems when the man asks for alms, Peter and John's attention was drawn and as they looked they became aware something was about to occur. After contemplating and understanding what they were to do, Peter takes action. It was done to a man who was well known in a local community whereby all present could testify to the truth of his condition from birth, and no one could suspect foul play.

Notice what happens next, everyone in the temple was utterly astounded and ran together to the portico with their cell phones to capture the momentous event! Well, not exactly, that would be today. Don't you think it is somewhat strange with these signs and wonders continuing so often today we are not seeing a lot of that?

The human mind, though brilliant in so many areas, seems to tend toward mysticism when confronted with the metaphysical. Though the mind processes faster than the speed of light and gives you a vision of the universe, those in the most advanced mathematics and other fields of higher study, find themselves falling prey to mysticism and the faith it produces in the most absurd understanding of metaphysical thought. With the world population estimated at around 8 billion, it is estimated 7 billion are associated with a religious affiliation. The human mind by a vast majority is compelled to look beyond itself to something greater. It has a compelling desire, (though brilliant in its studies) to either worship or to become a god or gods. As you are processing that thought, consider that includes you and me. It seems we are looking for God to speak to us, touch us in some way, and let us know He is real. As a result, we fall prey to mysticism reaching for anything we can grasp to affirm that desire. What God says to us or how He touches us it seems is at the mercy of our own imagination.

The Roman Catholic Church is said to have a rigid, formalized vetting process when evaluating miracles, which are defined as divine events that have no natural or scientific explanation. Investigating a single miracle could take years.

After a 14-year process, the Vatican released its verdict on a young boy’s sudden recovery from a debilitating gastrointestinal condition: It was determined to be a miracle. The doctors had tried everything: antibiotics, diets, and numerous tests. But it seemed nothing could stop the 4-year-old boy from literally wasting away in 1998. The doctors began to suspect cancer, and the boy’s mother, a devout Catholic, began looking outside of medicine for a cure. She asked nuns to pray for her son. She found two Nuns who knew what to do. They prayed and asked Mother Theresia Bonzel, a dead German nun who lived 100 years ago, to intervene. The nuns prayed a novena, which is a nine-day vigil, asking Bonzel to heal the boy. As soon as their novena was complete, (not nine days of continuous prayer, but a prayer said every day for 9 days) the boy woke up and his stomach no longer hurt him. The illness never returned. This certainly is a compelling story and confirms in the minds of many Catholics the reality of God and the practice of praying to dead saints.

On September 21, 1995, a most unusual religious event occurred. It was called the milk miracle and the experience cut across the entire social strata from the most simple of people to the most educated of doctors, lawyers, and engineers. The most ardent and consistent worshippers had the experience, as did those for whom religion meant little and God was a dim concept. 

Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and atheists shared in having their offerings accepted by Lord Ganesha, who even obliged TV news cameras with live coverage in many countries. In Sanskrit, the "milk miracle" would be called "kshira chamatkara." All observed the miracle in speechless wonder. "It was like union with God," said one engineer. This was not the result of any mere human's entreaty. 

When a spoonful of milk from a bowl was held up to the trunk of the statue of Lord Ganesha, the milk would disappear, apparently taken in by the idol. Word of the event spread quickly, and by mid-morning, it was found that statues of the entire Hindu pantheon in temples all over India were drinking milk. The unprecedented incident caused even curious non-believers to rub shoulders with believers and even fanatics all standing in long queues outside the temples. Most of them returned with a sense of awe and reverence and a firm belief that, after all, there may be something called God up there! 

India's media outlets were not sure at first if such a thing should merit a place in their news release. However,  they soon found themselves convinced that it was in fact true and so, newsworthy from every angle. Never before in history has a simultaneous miracle occurred on such a global scale. Television stations such as CNN and the BBC, radio, and newspapers (among them The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, and Daily Express) eagerly covered this unique phenomenon, and even skeptical journalists held their milk-filled spoons to the statues of gods and watched as the milk disappeared. A very compelling story and this time it establishes the practice of praying to Ganesha as well as any number of idols and serves for confirmation as a touch from the gods.

On June 1997, according to a reporter from the Express newspaper, UK, they were calling it the Miracle Tomato of Huddersfield. For when a schoolgirl sliced it in half she found written inside what thousands believe to be a message from God.  A young Muslim girl 14, was astounded to see the words, spelled out in Arabic, "There is only one God" and "Mohammed is the messenger" in the veins of each segment.

More than 50 worshippers a day were making a pilgrimage from all over Britain to see the wonderful tomato. And the shop which sold it did a roaring trade in the fruit since the find on that Sunday afternoon. The young girl made the discovery as she helped her grandparents prepare a salad at their terraced home in Lockwood, Huddersfield.

She paid about 60 pence for a bag of tomatoes on a trip to a store across the road with her cousin, also 14. When She returned she cut up the first two tomatoes into small pieces. But she took a third from the brown paper bag, and something made her stop. She turned to her grandfather who was 68, and asked: "Which way shall I cut the tomato, granddad?" After following his instructions the miracle was discovered. I am sure today, the impact of this event upon such a young mind is still a great confirmation to her and all who witnessed it of the Muslim faith. 

It appears miracles even happen outside of religious context, on October 27, 2015, A 3-year-old girl who was pronounced dead after a fever woke up a day later in a coffin, during her funeral ceremony. Police confirmed the incredible incident to the Philippine media outlet, after footage of the child seemingly rising from the dead at the funeral service in Bayabas went viral over the weekend. Citing accounts of the girl’s parents, the Police Senior Inspector said the toddler was taken to a local hospital on Friday after suffering a severe fever. He stated, “During that time, the attending clinic personnel and physician confirmed that the young patient had no more pulse and was clinically dead last Saturday morning about 9 a.m.,”. She was discovered to be alive when a funeral attendee removed the cover of the girl’s coffin and saw her head move. The parents immediately gave the girl water and rushed her to a clinic for a check-up. It was not mentioned if the family was affiliated with any particular religion or not. If they were, I'm sure this is confirmation of the truth of their faith and that whatever god they serve is the real god. If they were not, there was an opportunity open for someone to witness to them they were praying for her, and god (whichever one they happen to hold to) had answered their prayer and raised her from the dead. 

I present these accounts with much sensitivity to illustrate the danger of mysticism and the great confusion it brings with it. Opportunity for Confirmation Bias abounds. Confirmation Bias is the tendency to look for information that supports, rather than rejects, one’s preconceptions, typically by interpreting evidence to confirm existing beliefs while rejecting or ignoring any conflicting data. 

It seems we may be fashioning ourselves like many eastern religions looking for an experience with God through our emotional and sensory facilities. These facilities are not trustworthy, one psychological publication states, "there are deeply religious people who want to hear gods and spirits speak and cannot and atheists who report anomalous sensory events nearly indistinguishable from religious experiences". They would further explain by saying, "The central claim of this paper is that cultural models of the mind and personal orientations toward the mind shape people’s phenomenological experiences and their interpretations of these experiences in ways that manifest as cultural and individual differences in reports of spiritual presence events." 

In other words, mysticism. The Gospel and mysticism are to have no relation with each other. Many observe these phenomena and conclude all religions are basically the same, that perhaps there is a great something out there trying to communicate with us. Of course that leaves you not knowing what or who. For the Christian, all are clearly defined for us in the Scriptures. However, what God tells us in His word and what we may feel He is telling us through our human intuition are two completely different things. What we "feel" God wants us to do and what He actually tells us to do in His word may or may not agree. However, the only sure word is Scripture alone. The one major distinction in the miracles above is in the direction they take the mind. Only the Biblical account of Peter and John points you to the Gospel, all the others point you to mysticism and experience. Perhaps science has an answer to the phenomenons that presented themselves in each case but that is not the point. The Bible is about the Gospel from beginning to end, it is the running theme that builds from the fall to the consummation. The miracles in the Bible present their timing and purpose in such a way as to direct your mind toward what is being said as well as validate what is stated. Concealed in this framework the Biblical miracles are chasms apart from any other extraordinary phenomena or so-called miracles that may occur. We will continue to look at the Biblical miracles in the next post and I think you can see a clear distinction between them and what we are seeing today.   

2 Peter 1:19 KJV

(19)  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

David

Cessationism and Pentecostalism (Part V) "The Bible Says"

    

I was listening to a sermon recently by one of my first Pastors in Pentecostalism. This is a man I put great trust in and grew to love him and his family dearly. We were about the same age so our boys played together, and we ate at each other's table. Our families were very close, and his influence in my life was greater than any previous Pastor I had known.

In the sermon, he told the story of how he personally prayed for a young child that had been dead for 4 days and raised it back to life. He told of the time he was preaching and God told him to call a man in the congregation up for prayer. The man had been in an accident and had gotten his foot caught in some machinery and his foot was crushed and it was said he would never walk again. God told him to take the man's foot and beat it against the floor three times. The man was reluctant to allow it because of the pain, but after doing so the Lord immediately and totally healed him. What before was just a limp lump of crushed flesh was now a brand-new foot.  He told of the time he prayed for a 14-year-old girl that had been born without a spine. After several operations, she now had a 10-inch steel rod in her back supporting her. After praying for her he told her to touch the floor with the palms of her hands. She immediately became flexible and was able to do so. She came back a few days later in another service and presented X-Rays of her spine before and after. The steel rod had disappeared and a brand new spine was in its place. He told of the time a woman came to him and wanted him to pray for her daughter that was in a mental hospital. He had two peppermint candies in his pocket. He took those mints out and prayed over them in Jesus's Name and told the lady to give them to her daughter. By the end of the week, the hospital called the woman and told her to come and get her daughter, she was normal. All of these things affirm his calling as a modern-day Prophet and Apostle. 

The difficulty of this is, because of who he is, I still want to believe this man after many years of absence. Compounding the difficulty, his whole family affirms what he says, a whole congregation of people whom I love and trust affirms him still to be trustworthy. However, the substance of our faith must rest in scripture alone and not the words or experiences of men.  We as Christians at one time placed everything upon what the Bible says, and men often quote the Bible saying, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) They imply since he does not change and he did signs, wonders, and miracles then he must still do so now. It was an argument a young scripturally naive man like myself found reasonable. 

I have come to understand what the Bible says is more than a phrase quoted without its context. There was a friend at work who told me one time, "you can make the Bible say anything you want it to". That's a common argument for those who want to reject its authority. 

You may remember the Christmas video where someone took clips from the Star Trek series and so comprised them together they appeared to be singing a Christmas song. You can weave through the Bible and do the same thing. However, if you take it as a whole in its meaning, the real truth of the Scripture is revealed. Watching the whole series of Star Trek reveals it had nothing to do with Christmas. So it is with Scripture, you must take it as a whole and weigh its doctrines in its entirety. Therefore, I cannot accept his statements as true. What the actual facts concerning those events are I do not know. Perhaps they occurred in such a way that he himself believes them to be. Perhaps there is some truth to them which has been embellished to appear more than they are. I cannot answer for him, I can only know from the Scriptures they cannot be as he has stated them to be. I know there is a debate within Christianity between Cessationism and Continuationism. The fact there is a debate affirms for me there is no continuation of the Apolostic offices and gifts. They were so profound in their time there was no debate if they existed or not. That was their purpose, and they did not fail. Every argument I have heard or read for their continuation eventually falls apart. Everything presented as their evidence and every testimony in their favor is swallowed up in the providence of God.  

In this series so far the emphasis has been on Pentecostalism, its practice, and behavioral experiences. Very little has been mentioned concerning Cessationism as understood in Christianity. Let's begin by defining Cessationism. The word is not in Webster, only cessation, which is defined as: "a temporary or final ceasing (as of action)" Theopedia defines Cessationism stating, "in Christian theology, is the view that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, such as healing, tongues, and prophetic revelation, pertained to the apostolic era only, served a purpose that was unique to establishing the early church, and passed away before the canon of Scripture was closed (comp. 1 Cor. 13:8-12 with Heb. 2:3-4)." The purpose was to affirm and validate the words and actions of the Gospel message. The Apostle Paul uses this argument as a ground for his authority in 2 Corinthians 12:12 ESV

(12)  The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. The use of the word "true apostle" would seem there were those claiming apostleship, but a distinction was made between the true and the false by the works.

Cessationism states these signs, wonders, and mighty works as done by these men ceased as the church was firmly established. However, Cessationism does not promote the idea that miracles, healing, and God's governance have ceased in the world today, only the apostolic gifts and office. Cessationism would confirm by the process of prayer the bringing forth of healing or some miraculous work through his divine providence. The contrast would be Peter in Acts 9:32-35 ESV

(32)  Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

(33)  There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.

(34)  And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.

(35)  And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Cessationism would suggest that Peter's Apostolic office and gift are no longer operating in the church. It would however embrace a Christian walking in and praying for one like Aeneas and perhaps later hearing they had unexpectedly recovered and regained their health. Cessationism allows for God through His providential means to provide for and meet the needs of his people and accomplish His will and purpose. It appears more miraculous to me for God to govern the acts of an untold number of events and circumstances to bring about a particular purpose than to do it in one miraculous act. 

Now let's move on to Christian doctrine and how the church has experienced and lived the faith throughout history. Beginning in the book of Acts, we can see a salvation experience in its infancy.

 Acts 8:30-38 ESV

(30)  So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

(31)  And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

(32)  Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.

(33)  In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

(34)  And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

(35)  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

(36)  And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

(38)  And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

This is a wonderful example of Christian conversion, you have a man reading the scriptures not quite sure of his understanding. Another man comes to his aid explaining how it is to be understood and the Gospel's meaning. The Holy Spirit so working upon the mind that a clear understanding is achieved and faith arises. Having repented and believed the Gospel, he inquires concerning baptism. The requirements being met, he is baptized in water and begins his Christian walk. Notice the simplicity of the Gospel, no fire tunnels, no being slain in the spirit, no speaking in tongues, no signs and wonders, nothing but faith and repentance necessary. As this man left that day, his life would be changed. How would he now live? How would he now think? We do not know how much doctrinal understanding he had received that day from Phillip, but he began like the rest of us on a journey of studying the scriptures and learning Christian doctrine. Through the teachings of Christ and the Apostles, their writings, and the Old Testament Scriptures, the Christian church learned and grew.  Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV

(19)  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

(20)  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

(21)  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

(22)  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

This in its essence I think is what Jude was referring to in Jude 1:3 ESV

(3)  Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. This common salvation and the Christian faith was once and for all time delivered to the saints, it was not to be altered or changed. It is that faith we as Christians are to hold to and long to preserve. 

Most likely the understanding the Ethiopian eunuch left with that day would have been very similar to what is seen in the Apostles Creed. It was so named as a sum and substance of the early Apostolic teaching that the disciples would have taught. The earliest version found is A.D. 215.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Amen.

For the protestant reader, the term "holy catholic church" does not refer to the church in Rome. Catholic is a term meaning the universal church, it is in connection to the statement by Jude concerning the one faith delivered to the saints for all time. There is only one true universal church and it consists of and rests upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. It is upon that foundation alone that Christian doctrine resides. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

We also have a document called the Didache, simply meaning "Teaching". It is a collection of instructions drawn from the teachings of the Apostles as well. The Didache was widely read by the early church and used much like the great Confessions of the Reformation. It consists of various parts, starting with the “Two Ways” ethical instruction and including community rules for liturgical practices and leadership conduct, before ending with a short apocalyptic section. While some of the material is dated before the year 100, the current form of the document is probably mid-second century at the earliest. It gives instructions concerning baptisms and the Communion meal along with other church activities. Today, one feels like they are navigating a maze trying to discern what Christian doctrine actually is. Churches are so diverse from one another that you can call them anything but a universal church. Discovering the early church creeds gave me a compass to navigate with. I realized the doctrine laid down in those early creeds we scripturally based and those core beliefs were consistent in the true church throughout its history. I found more solid ground reading the early church liturgies. I realized, if I were to walk upon a church service from 2,000 years ago, even without knowing their language, just by observance I would recognize it as a church service. That is how consistent the Christian Church has been in history. 

Within the Didache you find statements such as these:  

1. Whosoever then comes and teaches you all these things aforesaid, receive him.

2. But if the teacher himself be perverted and teach another doctrine to destroy these things, do not listen to him, but if his teaching is for the increase of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.

3. And concerning the Apostles and Prophets, act thus according to the ordinance of the Gospel.

The Church in its beginning was very serious about maintaining orthodoxy. If anyone were to bring such behavior as we are seeing in the Pentecostal churches today into their fellowship, it most certainly would be brought into question. In all the early liturgical practices recorded in the first few centuries, we find no instructions for practices such as "slain in the spirit, fire tunnels, impartations, dancing, running, jumping, or any of the Pentecostal manifestations we see today. 

This can be demonstrated by examining the teachings of Montanus. Like Pentecostalism, his teaching took on an "ism" Montanism. He was active under Antoninus Pius who ruled from 138 to 161 AD. He felt the church was falling back into worldliness and needed to be reformed. His primary emphasis was like our Pentecostalism, on the charismata. He claimed to be able to receive direct revelation from the Holy Spirit. Because of this revelation from the Holy Spirit, he promoted the idea he could interpret the scriptures properly. He believed (like my previous Pastor) he had special prophetic gifts like the Apostles. The Montanists held to the traditional orthodox views of church doctrine which made them even more dangerous. They looked and talked like every other Christian, their error was their addition of continued revelation and miraculous gifts. They like Pentecostalism believed that true Christianity depended on a mystical experience with the Holy Spirit, and they taught a two-tiered division of believers, distinguishing between ordinary believers and the "pneumatakoi", or “spirit-filled” believers. Those who were filled with the Holy Ghost were “more spiritual” because they had received a special indwelling of the Holy Spirit after conversion. According to the Montanists, a life of true holiness or godliness was not possible if you were not numbered among the "pneumatakoi" those baptized with the Holy Spirit. 

 Like many in Pentecostalism, Montanism taught that, ultimately, any believer at all, could become a “prophet” for Christ had promised the Paraclete or Holy Spirit to all believers.  

Montanist worship services included prophetic declarations much like we see today on Christian television. Another belief was to minimize entanglements with the physical world. According to historical accounts, Montanus, a recent Christian convert, appeared at Ardabau, a small village in Phrygia in about 156 AD. He fell into a trance-like state similar to the Pentecostal "Slain in the Spirit" doctrine and began to “prophesy under the influence of the Spirit.” He was soon joined by the two young women, Prisca and Maximilla, who also began to prophesy and they would eventually introduce women into church leadership. The movement spread throughout Asia Minor and inscriptions have indicated that a number of towns were almost completely converted to Montanism. This was no small controversy and troubled the church extensively. They insisted on being called Christian and possessing the true Christian doctrine. They were eventually deemed a heresy, however, they had gained such a large following it took over 400 years for it to finally fade away. 

The Church recognized that the Montanist prophecies were of a different order. True prophets did not, as Montanus did, deliberately induce a kind of ecstatic intensity and a state of passivity and then maintain that the words they spoke were the voice of the Spirit. It also became clear that the claim of Montanus to have the final revelation of the Holy Spirit implied that something could be added to the teaching of Christ and the Apostles and that, therefore, the church had to accept a fuller revelation. The tongues speaking also was like the Pentecostals today consisting of a non-discernable jibberish instead of known languages as demonstrated in the Apostolic record. Before its popularity waned, even Tertullian, the great defender of the Christian faith became a convert. 

Pentecostals today for the most part have no idea their beliefs and practices are nothing more than the old heresy of Montanism revisited. It took 4 centuries last time to purge the church of its teachings, we have had it again now for slightly over 120 years. Like then, it has now spread over the entire Christian world. Like then, it retains much of the Orthodox Christian teachings and insists on being recognized as Christian. Yet, it suffers the same fault of continued revelation and spiritual mysticism. I would implore you to avoid any of these groups and search the scriptures yourself for true Christian doctrine. 

Acquaint yourself with the early Church creeds and confessions as most of these heresies have been fought and defeated by previous generations and Orthodox teachings reaffirmed. For those outside of the Christian faith, I would implore you to avoid what is seen today on Christian media. I would instead direct you as well to the scriptures and early church teachings for an understanding of true Christian faith.

David