(By Jeremiah Johnson) Since I can remember, I have attended Charismatic meetings and preached/led at Charismatic meetings where the following has happened and appeared. I’ve seen it/them with my own eyes many times: Gold dust, miracles of all different kinds (the lame walking, deaf hearing, blind seeing, legs growing, tumors disappearing) angels visiting, the entire sanctuary including the preacher slain in the spirit, holy drunkenness and various physical manifestations, uncontrollable laughter for hours, prophecy, tongues, demons manifesting and being cast out, mass salvation, nightly revival meetings breaking out for weeks and months. And the one message that I have seen with my own eyes that will literally drive out 75 percent of Charismatics who attend and preach at these kinds of meetings is this:
REPENTANCE! – I have had the privilege and honor of being around the “glory” and all the above manifestations listed most of my Charismatic life, but start preaching holiness and repentance and you will upset and turn off 75 percent of Charismatics attending and leading. This is not theory. This is reality. Without Steve Hill and the Brownsville Revival where simultaneously the glory of God manifested and repentance was preached nightly, we would have zero modern day examples of the two being married together. Name me one church/movement in America where the glory falls AND repentance and holiness are constantly preached and you will have found an extremely rare community of believers. Again, I can name you MANY where (Gold dust, miracles of all different kinds (the lame walking, deaf hearing, blind seeing, legs growing, tumors disappearing) angels visiting, drunkenness and various physical manifestations, uncontrollable laughter for hours, prophecy, tongues, demons manifesting and being cast out) are happening but HARDLY any where repentance and holiness are taking place as well. Heartbroken and deeply grieved, Jeremiah Johnson
Unless a person has been in a pentacostal church, and seen some of this, it is hard to grasp the reality of this article. Eventually, the desire to have a holy ghost throwdown overshadows any occasion for the Holy Ghost to touch our hearts truly. I heard one man say that it was so loud, he couldn’t hardly think about what he was praying about. I have had several discussions with my pastor about what I believe is in error about the way we handle this concern. The old school holiness group actually believes in instant sanctification. That isn’t in the Bible. Tongues are just one gift of the Holy Spirit, but that is the number one mentioned. I wish that once we we’re saved, that all of our struggles were over. That is what Heaven is for. Some members don’t like being referred to as sinners. Well, we are saved sinners, struggling with things daily. Paul said he died daily. Died to what? I think that all churches need to reevaluate their nature’s, and put Jesus back at the top. Our Saviour. Our only source of salvation. That there is no good in us, except Him. And live daily with our struggles, giving them to Him. And we need to fellowship more with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Exhort, edify, and support. Churches need to fulfill the two commands that Jesus left. That is hard enough to last us a lifetime.