A gracEmail subscriber writes concerning a man who claims to be an apostle, and whom a number of believers regard as such. Are there living apostles today? What makes a person an apostle? * * * The word "apostle" literally means "one sent." "Emissary" or "delegate" are more contemporary synonyms. The greatest Apostle is Jesus of Nazareth, whom God sent into the world with authority to make atonement for sin and to give eternal life to those whom God had given him (Heb. 3:1; John 17:1-3). The New Testament assigns the 12 Apostles a unique role in the Church -- with Matthias replacing Judas … [Read more...]
Archives for 2012
DOES GOD STILL DO THAT?
A gracEmail subscriber who desires to be open to whatever God might wish to do in her life expresses difficulty with the idea that he still bestows gifts of tongues, prophecy and healing. What is the gift of "tongues" supposed to be, anyway? * * * You could not possibly have more difficulty with the spiritual gifts of healing, tongues and prophecy than I did for many years. You and I both grew up under teaching that all such things ceased long ago. Yet eventually I had to yield my firmly-set mind to the strong evidence that God gives all these gifts to whomever he wishes -- even today. What … [Read more...]
CHARISMATIC?
A friendly but curious subscriber asks, "In view of your book's title (The Sound of His Voice: Discovering the Secrets of God's Guidance) and some recent gracEmails, I wonder whether you have become one of those charismatics." * * * If one defines a "charismatic" Christian as a person who thinks we hold the controls to manipulate God according to our own will, or that every Christian must possess some particular spiritual gift, or that believers who exercise certain grace-gifts are spiritually superior to believers who receive different gifts, then I wholeheartedly reject the label, and … [Read more...]
NEW NATURE REQUIRED (3)
Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus tells us three important truths which we must not allow our opinions, traditions or religiosity to obscure. First, we must all receive a completely new nature, a new kind of life generated by the Spirit of God from above. Without this, we are mere "flesh" that cannot see or enter God's realm of eternal reality. This is a solemn and inescapable truth, twice affirmed by Jesus' double phrase "truly, truly" -- literally "amen, amen" (John 3:3-7). Second, this is a great mystery, for no one can decide to be born. Parents decide to have children, not the … [Read more...]
NEW NATURE REQUIRED (2)
By nature, fallen humans cannot participate in God's eternal kingdom, Jesus says, unless they are born again from above (John 3:3). We must move from religion to relationship, from head to heart, from church to Christ. We must be regenerated with a new nature to become a new life-form. Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night (v.2) and spiritually also he was in the dark. "How can this be?" he asked, thinking in literal, fleshly terms. Jesus explained: "Truly, truly, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (v. 5). What does Jesus mean? Three … [Read more...]
NEW NATURE REQUIRED (1)
Picture a seacoast rising in green forested cliffs to mountains and valleys beyond. Imagine mischievous boys discovering turtle eggs in the sand and removing one to an eagle's nest high on the hillside. In time all the eggs hatch, eaglets and turtle alike. Eventually the parent eagles teach the young to fly. They lecture, explain and demonstrate. They teach, motivate and inspire. One by one parents push the baby eaglets from the nest. One by one the young birds gasp for breath, stretch their wings, respond instinctively and soar into the ocean breezes naturally and without a thought. The … [Read more...]
SUPERNATURAL MANIFESTATIONS (2)
An e-mail from an acquaintance in the USA describes a series of prayer meetings at which the author says that God's presence was visibly manifested by "weeping, violent shaking, loud groanings and travail in the Spirit, ardent prayers and cries for the lost, trembling, tongues, prophecies, visions and the glory of God swooping around the room like a iridescent blueish light." Do I have any comment? * * * How greatly all of God's people need his divine visitation! However, a word of caution is also in order. Physical manifestations, even marvelous phenomena, are neither reliable nor … [Read more...]
SUPERNATURAL MANIFESTATIONS (1)
An e-mail from an acquaintance in the Church of Christ describes a series of prayer meetings at which the author says that God's presence was visibly manifested by "weeping, violent shaking, loud groanings and travail in the Spirit, ardent prayers and cries for the lost, trembling, tongues, prophecies, visions and the glory of God swooping around the room like a iridescent blueish light." Do I have any comment? * * * Many who make up the Churches of Christ, Independent Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ would be surprised to learn that their own "restoration movement" had roots in … [Read more...]
FEEDBACK ON ‘HOLY LAUGHTER’
My comments here recently concerning the so-called "holy laughter" or "Toronto Blessing" generated feedback -- which I always appreciate receiving. Following are five responses and an additional comment. #1 -- "I am a firm believer in the power of the Holy Spirit, in his real presence among us, even to the point of making us laugh out loud. However, I am also a firm believer in the presence of evil, of counterfeits and frauds. Your article concerned me in this distinction. My understanding is that the Toronto Blessing, holy laughter, and most experiences related to it have been discredited … [Read more...]
‘HOLY LAUGHTER’
"I recently attended a religious meeting," a correspondent says, "at which people were moved to what they called `holy laughter' or a 'manifestation of God's joy.' One man sounded like a fire engine siren and another like a rooster crowing. Is there biblical basis for believing this is from the Holy Spirit?" * * * There is a time to weep and a time to laugh (Eccl. 3:4). The Bible associates God's blessings with laughter -- an altogether natural and proper expression of gladness and joy (Job 8:21; Psa. 126:1-3). When Isaiah foretells the messianic community, he regularly mentions rejoicing … [Read more...]
