Fundamental
Evangelistic Association
selected
articles from:
©FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
Where Is the Charismatic Movement Headed?
by M.H. Reynolds, Jr.
©FOUNDATION Magazine, July-Aug 1996
THE ANSWER -- "The Charismatic Movement is headed for God's
judgment." This is an absolute certainty even though this movement is the
fastest growing religious force in the world today. Charismatic deceivers dominate the
airwaves where their programs on television and radio are giving millions of people a
worldly, unspiritual brainwashing in the name of the Holy Spirit.
Believers would be shocked if they only knew the whole story of conspiracy, intrigue,
hypocrisy, selfishness, greed and deception on the part of charismatic and new-evangelical
leaders which, in some cases, has been going on for years. Yet, all the while, these
leaders were putting on a false front of spirituality to deceive the increasing millions
of people who hung upon their every word as they appeared on television, spoke on radio
broadcasts and at huge rallies, and indoctrinated their deluded followers by numerous
seminars, videos, tapes and books.
Do such situations exist? Yes indeed! Are they based upon statements by
"mean-spirited" fundamentalists who are envious of apparent charismatic
successes? Of course not! These revelations of ungodly behavior on the part of top
charismatic/evangelicals leaders are fully documented in several recent books written by
charismatic leaders, not fundamentalist "critics." Of course, our files going
back many years also contain confirming evidence of ungodly statements made and attitudes
expressed publicly by these leaders. So far afield from the truth have charismatic leaders
gone, that even some of the Pentecostals, upon whose basic teachings the charismatic
movement was originally founded, have cried out against these leaders and their false,
twisted, unbiblical teachings.
Furthermore, the constant appeals for contributions by charismatic leaders are based
upon unscriptural premises and promises which, if used by commercial organizations, would
amount to fraud, punishable by steep fines or even jail sentences. To promise contributors
that their gifts to one charismatic organization or another will guarantee financial
bonanzas to each contributor in return is both unscriptural and unconscionable. Yet, these
kinds of fraudulent appeals for funds are bringing in millions of dollars to charismatic
leaders and their ministries, enabling them to further expand their diabolical programs
while at the same time robbing faithful churches and leaders of much needed financial
support for their Bible-based ministries.
Oral Roberts, now 77 years old, is a prime example of a major
religious leader who, from his youth, has been deceived himself and for six decades has
been deceiving others. He is considered the "grand-daddy" of the Pentecostals
and charismatics today and is held in great esteem in spite of his repeated false
prophecies and unfulfilled visions. As a young man, living in rebellion against God and
his Christian parents, Roberts contracted tuberculosis from which the doctors said there
was little hope of his recovery. At this time, Roberts says that he first heard "that
Voice" which he says he has heard many times since. By his own admission, Roberts was
not even saved when he claimed God first spoke to him saying, "Son, I am
going to heal you and you are to take my healing power to your generation. You are to
build Me a university and build it on My authority and the Holy Spirit."
In one of his early healing crusades, Roberts claimed another message from God,
"that Voice," supposedly saying, "Son, you have been faithful to
this hour, and now you will feel My presence in your fight hand. Through My presence, you
will be able to detect the presence of demons. You will know their number and name, and
will have My power to cast them out."
Oral Roberts has probably claimed more direct messages from God, more dreams and
visions with instructions to carry them out, and more unbelievable, preposterous stories
of his many personal visits with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit than any other
major charismatic leader in the world. Once, he supposedly had a seven-hour personal visit
with Jesus Christ. On another occasion, he said Christ appeared to him as a person 900
feet tall. On yet another occasion, when a shortage of funds threatened the future of the
City of Hope which he claimed he originally built at God's command, Roberts told the
members of his huge television audience that he (Roberts) must raise eight million dollars
to keep it going or else God would take him home. This absurd report gained worldwide
press coverage and brought the cause of Christ into great and unnecessary reproach.
However, Roberts reported that some "miracle" gifts came in at the last minute
which spared his life. But, two years later, the City of Hope went into bankruptcy and
closed.
Oral Roberts, and now his son, Richard, both claim the Holy Spirit has given
them the gift of speaking "a word of wisdom." Although very little is
said in the Scriptures regarding this gift, charismatics claim it enables the one
possessing this spiritual gift to give information to others concerning personal matters
of their lives, ministries and future. The following is a sad instance of how the supposed
"word of wisdom" given by Oral Roberts to a well-known charismatic writer and
publisher, Jamie Buckingham, utterly failed.
In July 1990, Roberts gave a special "word of wisdom" to Jamie Buckingham who
was suffering from cancer, assuring him that he would not die but live to continue his
ministry. In 1991, Jamie Buckingham, encouraged by Robert's "word of wisdom",
claimed that God had told him that he would be given at least another 50 years of life.
However, Buckingham died one year later. Were these "words of wisdom" on the
part of Roberts and Buckingham from God? Of course not! Words of wisdom from God are
always fulfilled, and true believers must realize that God does not reveal specific
details of our lives in advance. We are to trust Him each day and be glad He knows what is
best for each of His children.
Today, Benny Hinn is the man of the hour when it comes to promoting charismatic
heresies and deceiving himself and others by supposed miraculous healings and the display
of what he falsely claims to be the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Hinn
has gone even further than Oral Roberts when it comes to making fantastic, untrue,
mistaken statements concerning the past, present and future. Hinn's amazing rise to
prominence during the past twenty years is due to three things: First, his appearances on
the rapidly growing Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) which gave him immediate access to
millions of viewers; second, his first book, Good Morning, Holy Spirit, which
quickly became number one on the best sellers list; and third, the huge
"miracle" meetings he started holding in major cities in the USA and eventually
worldwide.
People are stunned by Hinn's awesome display of power. At his touch or word, people
fall to the floor where they may be unconscious for seconds, minutes or hours, often being
unable to get up again without help. Numerous testimonies are given of those who say they
were healed in Hinn's meetings or even by stretching their palms toward his on the
television screen. Even though Hinn repeatedly tells his audiences that the Holy Spirit is
responsible for those who are being healed, his obvious arrogance and pride contradict the
attitude of the Lord Jesus Christ, His apostles, and those in the early church who truly
manifested the gifts of the Spirit.
It would be difficult to find any other leader in the Charismatic Movement who has made
more theological errors in his writings (he has now written six widely circulated books)
or who has promulgated more heresies in his teachings and led more people astray than
Hinn. So strong were the protests lodged against the errors in his first book, that the
publishers agreed to a revision and Hinn apologized for his mistakes. However, additional
errors were a part of the remaining books he wrote, but remember this -- Hinn always
claimed he received these teachings from the Holy Spirit even though he later admitted
there were mistakes in his books. Was it the Holy Spirit who gave Benny Hinn false
doctrine to preach, teach and write? Of course not! Hinn's books, which he now admits were
written with the help of ghost writer, Herman Eskelin, were the product of charismatic
deception and delusion.
While Oral and Richard Roberts are still claiming to have "words of wisdom"
from the Lord, Hinn makes similar false claims for what he calls "words of
knowledge." Are the "words of knowledge" Hinn gives 100 percent
accurate? No, and he admits they are not. But here is his poor explanation given
in his own words during his TBN program that aired February 23, 1992: "Man, I
remember when God would give me words of knowledge back when I began in this ministry but I
missed nine out of ten. Of course, nobody knew it except me." Seeking to
excuse this terrible failure, Hinn said: "We are not infallible. When you give a
prophecy, sometimes you can be way off. You have to be open enough to say, 'I blew
it.'"
Knowing that some might question his false explanation, because God's faithful Old
Testament prophets and New Testament apostles had no such failure record, Hinn actually
accused Paul, Moses and Elijah of such failures. Here were Hinn's actual words: "Paul
blew it. Moses blew it. Elijah blew it. Even Elisha blew it. They all blew it."
Then, hedging a bit, Hinn said, "Maybe not the prophecies but they all blew it in all
kinds of things."
Hinn then continued his amazing, twisted, confusing conclusions and unscriptural
defense of his own inconsistencies in prophecies and words of knowledge as follows: "We
all blow it and if you don't, you're not human.. .The man who does not know how to say, 'I
blew it' -- you can't trust him. Did you hear that? So, you see, when the gift
begins, it begins rough, but then as you keep going with it, you get better and better and
cleaner and purer. So today, with the word of knowledge (I'm just being open with you) I
rarely miss anymore because I recognize how to operate in it." Benny Hinn is
a deceiver and is deceiving others. He needs to be exposed, not followed!
Paul Crouch, founder and head of the rapidly growing Trinity
Broadcasting Network (both television and radio) with his wife, Jan, wields tremendous
power in the promotion of charismatic leaders and their many heresies. While the Crouch's
often plead for more love for the brethren, Crouch lashes out against those who expose and
oppose the many unscriptural policies and programs of TBN, often using the most vitriolic,
unchristian language in responding to spiritual reproof. Here are some of his recorded
words.
Crouch said, "That old, rotten Sanhedrin crowd, twice dead, plucked up by the
roots... they're damned and on their way to hell and I don't think there's any
redemption for them... the hypocrites, the heresy hunters that want to find a
little mote of illegal doctrine in some Christian's eyes... I say, 'to hell with
you. Get out of my life! ... This is in my spirit, oh Hallelujah ... Get out of
God's way, stop blocking God's bridges or God's going to shoot you if I
don't."
What about Rodney Howard-Browne and his so-called laughing revival?
Endorsed, promoted and encouraged by most of the top charismatic leaders, his teachings
are so far removed from biblical truth concerning the Holy Spirit and revival that it is
utterly amazing that so many are being deceived by it. How did it start? When did it
start? Browne explains in one of his booklets, "I got desperate during that prayer
meeting in July 1979 and made a decision. I said, 'God, tonight is my night. Lord,
either you come down here and touch me or I'm going to die and come up there and touch
you.'" Claiming that God answered his desperation cry and filled him with
the Holy Spirit, Browne writes, "When it hit me in my belly, I began to laugh -- the
Holy Spirit comes out of your belly, not out of your head. Your head says, 'What are you
laughing at?' Your head says, 'shut up.' It bubbles. It was so overwhelming, I couldn't
stop it, and I didn't want to stop it... The next minute I was weeping for no reason. I
got drunk in the Spirit? like the people on the Day of Pentecost. I was
walking around laughing at nothing, weeping at nothing, and speaking in other
tongues." What a tragic confession of how a false spirit can deceive those
who refuse to judge all things by the Word of God!
Browne said God told him to come to America to introduce this new "Laughing
Revival." It caught on quickly and Carpenters Home Church in Lakeland, Florida, and
the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church became springboards to launch this dangerous movement
throughout the USA and around the world. Browne calls himself the "Holy Ghost
Bartender" claiming he introduces people to the "New Wine of the Holy
Spirit." An article in the August, 1993 issue of Charisma reported that "the
audience laughed so loud during Howard-Browne's sermon that he put down his Bible and
joined in the fun." Space limitations prevent a more comprehensive analysis
of this Laughing Revival movement, but it is clear that this is but another deception
promoted by Satan and his angels of light.
Pat Robertson is another extremely influential leader in the
Charismatic Movement. He is a man with great political influence and financial resources
but little spiritual discernment. His Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) is second in
outreach only to TBN. He is one of the chief proponents of the false idea that we must all
forget our differences and work together, not only in regard to political issues but
religious ones as well. He has strongly endorsed Benny Hinn, Rodhey Howard-Browne
and other deceivers who are blinding the hearts and minds of millions of people around the
world.
Many other charismatic deceivers could be mentioned if space permitted. We had hoped to
provide an updated listing of current charismatic leaders together with a list of key
evangelical leaders who are giving the charismatic movement a real boost through their
tacit approval of this growing movement by not only refusing to warn God's people of its
dangers, but also by actually fellowshipping with them and "bidding them God
speed." However, such an update list will have to be prepared and published later,
perhaps in a separate report. Far too many believers are simply unaware of all the
compromises and duplicity being practiced regularly, even when, in some cases, statements
are revealed that show how errors have been made in the past and corrections are in order
now. For most people, it costs too much to take a faithful, biblical stand against what
has become the most popular movement in the religious world.
While we are reluctant to recommend books written by charismatic authors, in the
providence of God, several books have been written in recent years which sadly reveal the
depth and scope of hypocrisy, collusion, deception, selfishness, lavish spending and greed
which has been going on, not only in connection with the charismatic leaders but
evangelicals as well. Sadly, the entire time these things were going on, a public
"front" of pretended spirituality was used to deceive gullible believers and
keep the funds coming in.
A brief listing of such revealing books includes: Ashes to Gold by Patti
Roberts (Richard Roberts' first wife); Integrity -- How I Lost it and My Journey Back
by Richard Dortch who went to jail because of his cover up of Jim Bakker's immorality and
financial fraud; I Had No Father But God by Paul E. Crouch, Sr., founder and head
of TBN.
Those who desire a comprehensive listing of Pentecostal/charismatic leaders and
organizations together with commentary would find the book Dictionary of Pentecostal
and Charismatic Movements, edited by Stanley M. Burgess and Gary B. McGee, to be
informative. This book is definitely pro-charismatic, but the factual, historical data
concerning those listed will be helpful. To discover the deceptive attitude and language
of today's Roman Catholics, the book House United -- Evangelicals and Catholics
Together by Keith A. Fournier with a forward by Pat Robertson is extremely revealing.
The book Expect A Miracle -- My Life And Ministry - An Autobiography by Oral Roberts
should be an eye-opener to believers with spiritual discernment. Lastly, a book titled Behind
the Scenes -- the True Face of Faked Healers gives the personal testimony of a
believer and his family who were at first taken in by Benny Hinn and actually worked with
him and for him until they saw firsthand the deceptions practiced by him and other faith
healers. Write to the author: Yves Brault, 1109-1450 Chestnut St., Vancouver, B.C. CANADA
V6J 3K3.
Charismatic leaders today are brainwashing millions of their followers. They
are mixing truth with error and defaming those who reveal this duplicity.
Claiming millions of converts and boasting of the unparalleled responses to their
ministries, the charismatic leaders are raising millions of dollars from uninformed
believers who are led to believe that their contributions are furthering the Lord's work.
In reality, what is being furthered is the greatest delusion and confusion in the history
of the Church. There are hundreds of failed prophecies and claimed "words of
knowledge and wisdom" which are later proven wrong. Their attitude toward Satan is
unbiblical and dangerous. Because Jesus Christ has gained the ultimate victory over Satan,
these charismatic leaders claim personal victory over Satan now. Satan is blamed for most
diseases and financial losses, leading charismatics to "command Satan" to
restore health and financial prosperity. In fits of false bravado, these leaders
"stomp upon him; laugh at him; deride him, send him to hell, etc." All the
while, Satan is using these charismatic leaders to promote false pride and a false spirit
which is a blasphemous counterfeit of the Holy Spirit.
Not all charismatic leaders promote all of the charismatic errors, but one thing is
sure -- none of them will challenge or rebuke the serious errors of others in their
movement. They are continually making false promises to their followers and supporters
including promises like the one recently made by Benny Hinn that the day will soon be here
when a Christian can expect the conversion of every one of his friends and loved ones
before the return of the Lord. Hinn also claims that the Lord has revealed to him that the
day will soon come when every person in huge charismatic rallies will be healed. Hinn even
promised financial prosperity by the end of the year to every person who would write him
and send a gift by September 2nd. What deceit and fraud!
Heresies from the past are used with new names to disguise old, failed teachings. The
growth of the Promise Keepers Movement is also fueling the charismatic juggernaut, for
many are unaware that this burgeoning men's movement is charismatic and ecumenical in its
origin and through its massive promotional devices.
True believers must take a stand against this error. Benny Hinn is warning that those
who oppose the "anointed ones" (presumably those following charismatic teachers)
will come under judgment and die for opposing God's work. The opposite is true. The
Charismatic Movement is headed for God's judgment! "Come out of
her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues" (Rev. 18:4). We must obey God and not men!
FOUNDATION Magazine is available from the Fundamental Evangelistic Association. Click
here 
to go to the ordering form / price list.
Return to FOUNDATION
Magazine Index Page
