Call for a Biblically Based Movement

Call for a Biblically-Based Movement

Some have stated that as now we have contemporary revelations and increasing experience of the Spirit, we can rely less upon the written word. We believe this to be a totally false position. In issuing the following call, we would ask all our brothers and sisters in the Charismatic Movement to join with us in seeking the Lord afresh in humility and repentance. We need to recognise the pride and arrogance which has given entrance to the enemy and our neglect of scripture which has left us prey to deception and error. We, therefore, call our brethren to:

1. Restore the Primacy of God's Word

We believe the Scriptures alone are the supreme source of authority on matters of faith and practice. We need to recognise that the failure of many leaders both to teach and to encourage the study of scripture has caused the neglect of many important aspects of biblical teaching resulting in ignorance of biblical truth and leaving its members prone to deception.

2. Restore a Biblical Doctrine of Salvation

The preaching of the gospel must include a clear call to repentance and justification by faith alone, with a recognition that such salvation delivers us from eternal judgement. We are in danger of using a superficial message and methods which rob people of a true knowledge of salvation.

3. Restore Objectivity to our Faith

So much of what is encouraged today is subjective experience and practice which is not tested at the bar of Scripture.

4. Restore Truth Instead of Error

Some of the teaching in Charismatic Churches has been based on so-called revelational teaching ( HYPERLINK "http://www.apologeticsindex.org/e32.html" extra-biblical) or even on false prophecies. There needs to be a fresh emphasis on the truth contained within God's word.

5. Restore True Unity.

There has been an overemphasis on unity to the detriment of truth. True unity can only be based on the truth. Prior to Jesus praying that they might be one, He prayed 'Sanctify them in the truth, Thy word is truth'. This is the right order, for truth leads to true unity! In order to seek this true unity we recognise the need for greater openness between those holding different viewpoints. We need to seek every opportunity to express our differences and evaluate them in the light of scriptural truth.

6. Restore a Sense of the Holiness of God

Within the Charismatic Movement we have become far too casual with God. Although He is our Father, He is a Holy God. Jesus often addressed God as 'Holy Father'. Without a sense of the awesomeness of God, there is little development of true and mature Christian character.

7. Restore a Biblical Understanding of the Mission and     Purpose of the Church.

We believe that the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ has often been distorted or neglected by today's Church thus leaving her ill-prepared and equipped for the last days. The Church needs to engage fully in her mission to give a clear proclamation of her eternal hope, and prepare herself to be the Bride of Christ.

This call therefore is not a call to return to dead formalism, but to live and teach the word of God in the power and understanding of the Holy Spirit. This call is not to censure God's people, but to encourage us all to a full-hearted love of the Lord in obedience to His commands and purposes. This call is not to inward introspection, but to a vital outward expression and witness of the love and mercy of God. This call is not to invalidate any past move of God in the Charismatic Movement, but is a fresh call to all believers (in which we include ourselves) to be the 'Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth' (1 Timothy 3:15).

The Lord Jesus sent a strong warning to the Church in Sardis which we believe is a message to us today:

"Wake up and strengthen what remains, and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God" - Revelation 3:2.