dCyPl's Discipleship

Cerulean Sanctum takes us on a wild ride of the full spectrum of possibilities when a Charismatic Church goes a bit feral. Dan provide 7 warning flags for the Church that act as warnings to us on the way we move into the 21st Century.

On reading these I had to think that the Charismatic Church had some things right, but as Dan says:

I offer the authority of Scripture and six others tests that are being critically overlooked by charismatics. Any time we encounter a teaching, practice, or supposed moved of the Holy Spirit, we should instinctively start counting red flags.

My observations on the six flags are as follows, (not just for Charismatic Churches):

Flag #1 - Cannot be squared with Scripture or is based on a single verse of
Scripture (usually taken out of context.)

For sure this is the biggest error in today's churches.... Given that we have the whole bible available to us, perhaps we should use it :-)

Flag #2 - Is pronounced by direct revelation through a single individual or a small group of people.

I've never experienced this first hand, but I've heard plenty of stories. I think our warning from this should come from the number of cult spinoffs that have distorted the bible to suit their own desires.

Flag #3 - Is considered relevant for today, yet has no historic precedent in the Church.

In our church, I feel that the relevance argument is being ignored as we do things that are perhaps aiming at cultural relevance. (Not doctrinally, but service format etc.) As the church has grown, I think there has been a relaxing of fairly fundamental means of communicating within the service. We have always been casual, but on occassions now that has passed to being informal.

Flag #4 - Attempts to make a New Testament practice/theology of an Old Testament practice/theology rendered moot by the finished work of Christ.

I must say this one baffles me, Isn't this the basis of Christianity?

Flag # 5 - Involves "Restoring" or the "Restoration" of a practice or theology.

Again, isn't this part of what Christ came to save us from?

Flag #6 - Is a "redeemed" version of a secular/occult concept or practice (usually which has been abandoned or discredited by secular/occult practitioners.)

Cult and Relevance issues again.

Flag #7 - May produce immediate results, but does not move the Church or individual into a deeper, biblically-based relationship with Christ in the long run.

This is like dieting to me.... you may look great for a while, but then either you start to feel hungry or the results wear off...

I see a link with the whole "5 steps to...", "7 habits of highly effective people"

The cult of the new is then questioned with three "case studies", well worth reading.

I agree with Dan's conclussion of needing more discernment of practices and biblical knowledge in our churches, whether they be Charismatic or otherwise. No one said life would be easy, and no one said that it would be exciting, we can get excited, but this doesn't form the basis for our doctrine or our worship services. What God has promised to us should help us understand how he wants us to worship, we are here to share His news to the world; that which we have graciously received, we should pass on; instead its so easy to get wrapped up in our relationship with Him.