The Charismatic Gifts

[jacinda]

Bro. Ben I hope I don't overwhelm you. Please take your time in these replies I just simply have been starved for likeminded doctrinal discussions ...

I will try to summarize my thoughts here.
As you know this world seems so bent on following what they can SEE and We as christians are constantly being faced with discussions with others on the gifts of tongues and healing - many well meaning otherwise very spiritually grounded christians - as well as those that are less balanced in their christian walk or understanding of christian fruit bearing.

So I have a dear Sister that I've met online that has greatly encouraged me during the last several months of my walk. She is very conservative in most areas. We discussed this issue early in our friendship and she and her dh simply said that they were well, undecided and don't participate in these things but weren't ready to rule them out as they are indeed in the Bible.

So I haven't been mailing her as much the last month or so both of us are Busy busy. I have however started reading her blog and she made recent mention about coming across a used book and gave this website link to share the book content with others
www.divinehealingrooms.com/history.htm

I am only praying for her as we had already decided to leave off the discussions in this area.

How do you stand in this area and how do you discuss this with others?

Also I actually have been introduced to Charity Ministries by this Sister and wondered how they stand in this area.

DH and I basically believe that these gifts were in a earlier dispensation and primarily for the jews - I believe this is a Baptist teaching not only that I think it makes the most sense out of the confussion that the faith healers and babblers cause.
However
That being said if a christain would recieve a gift of instantly speaking a KNOWN language I would probably have to rethink on this.

BTW I do firmly believe that the Lord does heal in some instances ( as in George's experience and sometimes with medicines and sometimes not ) but I question anyone that claims to have a healing gift.

Jacinda

[Brother Ben]

I don't have any problems with diving healing, my problem lies with divine "healers." Most that I have come across have proven to be religious Charletons making profit from sad people in desperate situations.

I have always kept the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement at arms length. It has strong ties to Eastern Mysticism and many other non-Christian philosophies blended in through creative wording. One must be VERY careful about the information and materials that come out of that movement. I would not recommend it to most people.

Charity believes in the fulness of the Spirit, and being empowered by the Spirit, but they are careful, also, on the Charismatic emphasis.

DH and I basically believe that these gifts were in a earlier dispensation and primarily for the jews - I believe this is a Baptist teaching not only that I think it makes the most sense out of the confussion that the faith healers and babblers cause.
However
That being said if a christain would recieve a gift of instantly speaking a KNOWN language I would probably have to rethink on this.

One must be careful of dispensationalizing, and yes this is a Baptist thing. I know an evangelist (non-Baptist) from South Africa who was preaching in English to a group in a prison. There was a man there who only knew Afrikaans (a form of Dutch) who heard the entire Salvation message in his "tongue" and received Christ. After the sermon he was talking to the preacher and told him he knew the Lord sent him there that day so he could be saved. Bro. Daniels was astounded at what the Lord did, he never knew it was happening, but the the inmate that didn't speak English heard the gospel in his tongue.

Be discerning.