Considering answers to those faith-questions we all ask…
Tag: Christian Apologetics
Within the spectrum of expression in the Christian Church the Charismatic movement provides many great and commendable blessings. It appeals to those whose character traits and preferences demand freedom and vitality. However, at and near its fringe there's something dark and destructive at work.
What is the mark of a good Christian? What is the evidence that he or she is living life they should live as a professing Christian? I've heard people say that the fruit of the Spirit is not enough to make you effective and legitimate: you need the gifts of the Spirit. You need to have a second blessing and to speak in tongues to be an effective Christian. Once again, the self-proclaimed spiritual giant has missed the most important fact which is what God has said on the matter through His word, the Bible.
In the seventeenth chapter of Revelation John is shocked to his core at the sight of a woman riding a dragon or "beast". She is named, "Mystery Babylon, mother of Harlots", and the horror of her appearance easily matches her title. The beast has seven heads and ten horns. As I've noted in previous parts of this series, the beast's seven heads represent kingdoms or empires in chronological order, and as a rule in Scripture they're epitomised by specific kings who defined those kingdoms or are icons of them.
Jesus and his apostles (the real ones) gave a clear picture of societal and cultural conditions which believers would experience in the times before Jesus' return. Some like to point out that New Testament references of the "last days" or "the day of the Lord" are referring to the entire time period from the resurrection of Christ, or from Pentecost onwards. We've always been in the "last days" they say. In a way that's true, but there's more to come. Go to any passage of Scripture where someone is speaking of end times things and you'll find they're speaking of the future, not their own time.
Reading through Paul's letters I'm struck by how little he talks about the Holy Spirit, in comparison to the regularity with which the Spirit is spoken of and to in our present time in some circles, as though the object of our worship should be the Spirit above all else. To those of us who pay attention to the New Testament over "what God is saying to us today" there's a clear picture and a clear message in it for us all.
Fuel for Faith, Food for Thought 