The revival was marked by what were said to be great manifestations of the work of the Holy Spirit—speaking in tongues, ecstatic prophecies, miraculous healings and even the claim that somewhere around thirty people had been raised from the dead. Just about every major media outlet covered it at one time or another. Most of them went looking for evidence that miracles had actually happened; not surprisingly, not a single miracle was ever verified. Read more»
Watching the video right now. 27 steps to your miracle. Charles Finney might be embarrassed.
Mass hysteria?
Delphic Oracles?
What happened to the “Toddlers” when he walked away from it all?
Interesting to watch the worship leader from So Carolina discuss how to distinguish genuine from false religious experience. Interesting too that the congregation meets where Jim and Tammy had their property. A new burned over district.
Bentley: “I’m not really hearing anything from heaven right now and we’ve got a few hours to fill up on the TV cameras.”
Bentley: “Shocka-bam!” “Chicka-bam bam.” Right out of Acts.
I heard that in some Reform churches Charismata is creeping in. There are some people in my church that don’t believe there is error in believing that the gifts continue. Sadly what I’ve not noticed many reform pastors get into why many error in their interpretation of 1 Corinthians and Acts. That’s why men like Wayne Grudem confuse many on the true gifts and something similar which is not the biblical gifts.
Beginning i the early 19th-century American Christianity has been Anabaptist. What is called “Charismatic” and “Pentecostal” Christianity is really nothing more than a revival major elements of the early Anabaptist movements.
There are 60 million evangelicals and about 1/2 million people connected to confessional Reformed churches. The marvel is that the charismatic/Pentecostal movements haven’t had more influence.
The source of the influence is what I call the Quest for Illegitimate Religious experience, i.e., the desire to know God in an unmediated way. That’s a powerful, deeply-rooted desire. When it is the norm (as many assume) then Reformed piety looks second rate. It isn’t but it’s a long explanation as why it isn’t and why an encounter with God that is mediated by the Word preached and made visible in sacraments is superior.
Dr. Clark.
You should see the documentary Audience of One – http://www.audienceofonemovie.com/
Movie Trailer on Youtube