THE PENSACOLA "

THE PENSACOLA "OUTPOURING"

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November 18, 1996 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The Charismatic Laughing Revival, also called the Toronto Blessing, is sweeping across much of the Pentecostal-Charismatic world. Since June 1995, one of its centers has been the Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida. Charisma magazine calls this the "Pensacola Outpouring." It began in June 1995, under the ministry of Evangelist Steve Hill. Hundreds of thousands of people have visited the services since then. Special nightly meetings are held Wednesday through Saturday. One travel agent said her company books flights or reserves rooms for more than 1,000 visitors each week.

THE PHENOMENON

The phenomenon at Pensacola is the same as that manifested in Toronto and in Rodney Howard-Browne crusades--uncontrollable laughter, Spirit slaying, shaking, etc. The pastor of Brownsville Assembly of God, John Kilpatrick, describes his initiation into the "outpouring" in June 1995. He said he fell to the floor and lay there for almost four hours. "When I hit that floor, it felt like I weighed 10,000 pounds. I knew something supernatural was happening" (Charisma, June 1996).

The leaders of the Pensacola meetings claim that a turning point in the "outpouring" occurred in August 1995, two months after the manifestations began. A 19-year-old female college student stood and prophesied: "God is in a hurry. There's not much more time. He aches and He grieves for your spirit." As she spoke these words she was shaking so violently that "a casual observer might think she suffered from cerebral palsy." When she completed this prophesy, she fell to the floor. This testimony was recorded on videotape and thousands of copies have been distributed. "When churches show the clip, people often weep and fall under conviction."

THE CHANGED LIVES

According to Charisma, 25,000 people have "made decisions for Christ" through the Pensacola manifestations. We are told that drug addicted young people have given up their drugs, topless dancers have given up their immoral occupations, broken homes have been reunited, young people have burned their occultic literature and music.

Evangelist Stephen Hill says that "conviction of sin and reaching the lost--not charismatic hoopla--is what this revival is all about."

Let me say, first of all, that I do not doubt that people are being saved, and I praise the Lord for every soul who is genuinely born again, regardless of what I might think about the church that reached him. When the Gospel is preached and the Lord Jesus Christ is lifted up, God saves people. This Editor was saved through the witness of an old-line Pentecostal brother who loved me enough to spend three days with me when I was spiritually blind and following a hippie lifestyle and eastern religious philosophies. The fact that God uses a man or a church to save people does not necessarily mean that He is pleased with everything that individual or church stands for. When I began to search the Scriptures for myself as a young Christian, I was led by the Holy Spirit to see the errors of the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement.

Let me also hasten to add that a "decision for Christ" is not necessarily the same as salvation. Religious enthusiasm in itself is not evidence of the truth. The Pharisees had great religious enthusiasm. Roman Catholic mystics and Mormon missionaries have religious enthusiasm. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of those who will do many wonderful works IN HIS NAME and who will cast out demons IN HIS NAME, but they are lost (Matthew 7:21-23). Paul spoke of those who have a zeal for God but who are lost (Romans 10:1,2).

One of the Southern Baptist pastors who are participating in the Pensacola meetings is Fred Wolfe, Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, Alabama. He stated his philosophy in regard to testing spiritual movements: "It would be idolatrous for anyone to seek a sign instead of God. You're to test any phenomenon by the Word of God. Does it give the individual a hunger for God? Does it lead them to a holy life? Does it make them love Jesus more? If it does these things, it is of God."

This sounds good but it is insufficient. A "hunger for God" or a "holy life" or a "love for Jesus" is not necessarily evidence of salvation and the truth. What "Jesus" does the person love? The Apostle warned of false christs and false spirits (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Similarly, what God does the person hunger for? Is it the God of self esteem, such as the one preached by Robert Schuller? Is it the God of rock 'n' roll indulgence, like that preached by some contemporary rock musicians today? Is it the God of the Catholic wafer or the God who has a Queen (Mary, the Queen of Heaven)? I am saying the Bible warns us in the strongest language that religious enthusiasm itself is not evidence of the truth. The Lord Jesus Christ warned that the last part of this age will be characterized by religious deception so subtle that even the elect will be deceived if it were possible (Matthew 24:24).

I refuse to participate in or support any alleged "revival" which includes "Spirit slaying" or uncontrollable laughter or other manifestations which are so patently contrary to what we see in the New Testament Scriptures. Laughing Revival proponents say, "You are putting God in a box." That is nonsense. God has given us His Word, and it is the greatest confusion possible to think that God would act contrary to His own Word. Laughing Revival proponents say, "Don't worry about the manifestations." That is unscriptural advice. We are instructed to prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Laughing Revival proponents say, "Just open up and don't be so uptight and lighten up and let God do what He pleases." That is unscriptural. We want God to be in absolute control of our lives and churches, but it is folly and rebellion to ignore the fact that God's Word warns of false spirits and false teachers. The Apostle Peter did not advise that we open up and lighten up. He warned: "BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). To be sober is to be in complete control of oneself and not to allow any outside influence to control you. To be vigilant is to be on alert, on guard, on the outlook for enemies and deception. This is the very opposite of what the Laughing Revival tells us to do. When Vineyard pastor Ron Allen decided to go to Toronto to investigate the Laughing Revival, he claims the Lord told him, "If you go to analyze, you will end up in criticism, and I will take My Spirit from you" (End-Time Handmaidens, January 1995, p. 18). That was not the Lord of the Bible who so instructed Pastor Allen. The God of the Bible has commanded us to prove all things (1 Thess. 5:21) and to judge all things (1 Cor. 2:15).The God of the Bible has also promised that He will not take away His Spirit from the believer (Ephesians 1:12-14; 4:30).

ECUMENICAL UNITY

One of the fruits of the Pensacola "outpouring" is ecumenical unity. Charisma magazine noted, "Although the majority of visiting clergy are Pentecostals and charismatics, others from Southern Baptist, Roman Catholic and Episcopal backgrounds have been attracted by the fervor" (Charisma, November 1996, p. 18). Many United Methodists are also participating in the Pensacola meetings. Members of the Pine Forest United Methodist Church in Pensacola are official prayer counselors at the services.

At least one Southern Baptist pastor has led his church to leave the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) as a result of the "Pensacola Outpouring." The McCullough Baptist Church in Escambia County, Alabama, changed its name to McCullough Christian Center. Pastor Richard Daniels said local ministers pressured him to leave the SBC, "because of his Pentecostal leanings." He testified, "I don't understand how any denomination can oppose the Pentecostal experience in this day and time--because people from all faiths are being filled."

This is a strange statement. Multitudes of godly preachers have opposed the Pentecostal experience ever since its appearance at the turn of the century. They have done so because they believe it is unscriptural. They have opposed it on doctrinal grounds. They don't agree with the teachings and practices of Pentecostalism. They have compared the claims and doctrines and practices of the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement with the Bible and have been forced to reject it.

DENOMINATIONAL DIVISIONS ARE DOCTRINAL

Pastor Daniels also said, "God is destroying denominational lines." His statement was echoed by Evangelist Steve Hill. This, of course, is one of the theme songs of the Promise Keepers movement. They are breaking down the walls between denominations. This is a gross error which ignores the reason for denominational divisions. Some divisions between Christians are manmade and unnecessary, but many others, most, in fact, are doctrinal. Why, for example, is an Episcopal church different from an Independent Baptist church, generally speaking? Different doctrine. One teaches baptismal regeneration; the other teaches baptism is symbolic only. One baptizes infants; the other practices believer's baptism. One sprinkles; the other immerses. One has a priesthood; the other has pastors and deacons. One has a hierarchical church structure; the other practices the autonomy of the New Testament assembly. One interprets prophecy literally and is looking for the imminent return of Jesus Christ; the other interprets prophecy symbolically and is working to establish the kingdom of God on earth. One allows its leaders and members to hold every sort of heresy and immorality; the other practices discipline and separation.

What is the difference between an Assemblies of God congregation and an independent Baptist church, generally speaking? Doctrine. One believes the baptism of the Holy Spirit is something the believer must seek and that its manifestations are tongues and other spiritual gifts; the other believes the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred at Pentecost and that every believer has the Holy Spirit and has no need to seek a Spirit baptism. One believes the sign gifts are operative today; the other believes the sign gifts were given to the Apostles and ceased with the passing of the Apostles. One believes the Holy Spirit "slays" people; the other believes "spirit slaying" is unscriptural and demonic. One believes the gift of tongues is operative today; the other believes the gift of tongues had a temporary purpose and that its purpose ceased in the first century. One believes salvation can be lost; the other believes salvation is eternally secure. One believes ecumenical unity is the work of the Holy Spirit; the other believes ecumenical unity is the work of the devil.

Those who call for the removal of denominational divisions are ignoring these serious doctrinal differences. Why did Pastor Daniels leave the Southern Baptist Convention? Because there are doctrinal differences between him and the pastors with whom he was affiliated in the SBC. Are those pastors ungodly because they have doctrinal convictions which do not allow them to participate in the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement? That is foolish thinking. Any Bible doctrine worth believing is worth fighting for and separating over.

When Paul wrote to Timothy to instruct him in the work of the church, he did not tell him to "lighten up" and to ignore doctrinal differences. He solemnly instructed him to remain absolutely steadfast in the apostolic doctrine and not to allow ANY other doctrine to be taught.

"As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach NO OTHER DOCTRINE" (1 Timothy 1:3).

"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, THE SAME commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).

Many Pentecostals and Charismatics are practicing gross hypocrisy. They teach their doctrines about the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts and ecumenical unity and they expect everyone to agree with them. Those who do not support their doctrine are labeled schismatic and unloving. Why is it right for the Pentecostal-Charismatic to teach and practice his doctrine, but it is wrong for the non-Pentecostal to teach and practice his doctrine? Why is it the non-Pentecostal who is unloving and schismatic? Why is it not the Charismatic ecumenist who is unloving and schismatic for calling upon non-Pentecostals to give up their doctrinal convictions and join hands with them?

Those who have the most to lose from the ecumenical call to dissolve denominational walls are those whose doctrine is based upon the Word of God. A man who is convinced his doctrine is based on the Bible is a traitor to hold hands with those who oppose his doctrine.