Charismatic Confusion: Another Gospel

Charismatic False Teachers

The Charismatic confusion is rife with false teaching. And perhaps none so sinister as the false gospel associated with it. But, then, what else would you expect from a devil-possessed people? 

The Bible is clear that we should, as Christians, “mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17). And the primary identifying “mark” of every false religion is “another gospel,” which the Apostle Paul explicitly states is “not another.” No matter what form this “other gospel” takes, it is invariably always perverted by the addition of works in some way. The defining characteristic is that there is always something you must do, either to obtain it or to keep it.

In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Paul declares for us the gospel in all it's glory.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). And in (Romans 1:16) the Bible says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

To drive this point home concerning the simplicity of the gospel of the grace of God, there is only one place in the Scripture where a person asks the question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). And in verse 31, the very next verse, Paul and Silas give the answer. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved..." Notice they didn't say "Repent and be baptized" as Peter told those Jews and Jewish proselytes in Acts 2:38. And they didn't tell him to go home and clean all the beer out the fridge. And they didn't say to quit fornicating. And they didn't say confess your sins to some priest. Or pray the rosary. Or say seven Hail Marys. And they didn't say join the church. No Sir! They simply told that man to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved..."

In 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, Paul states, I “…am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

You see, the gospel of the grace of God is simple as the Apostle Paul clearly states, and is based solely on the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And this is exactly what unregenerate man cannot accept and outright rejects. He rejects the notion that there is nothing he can do to merit the favor of God. And this is why they all seek to add something to it. Anyone who adds to the gospel by telling someone that they have to turn from all their sins in order to be saved, or if they can't “live it” they were never saved, is not only an “enemy of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18), but is "accursed." (Galatians 1:8). Paul says in Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

When the Lord spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit after His departure, he said, “And when he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me”. (John 16:8-9). Notice that He's not reproving them over their drinking, or smoking, or cussing, or any other sin other than the sin of unbelief. And this is exactly where satanic blindness is focused.

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-5). 

Notice again that there is no mention of any particular sins like drinking, smoking, or cussing, etc. And why? Because the only sin Satan is worried about is the one that will put you in hell—unbelief. And this is why all the satanic powers of hell are focused on that one thing.

And this right here is where the rubber meets the road. You see, the reason these people believe you can lose your salvation and constantly need to be saved again and again is that they are trusting in their own works to save them. This is why they will never know true peace, and why they constantly live in fear. And this is true for every counterfeit Christian religion that places undue emphasis on how people live (works) rather than the finished work of Christ. It is why Esau was ultimately rejected, though he sought it with tears, and it is the reason the Bible says Judas Iscariot repented himself and died and went to hell.

Now, I don't want to get off out into the bushes, but the reason these Charismatic services are so jazzed up is that they are filled with “another spirit.” And that spirit is preaching “doctrines of devils.” The reason these services are filled with ungodly (self-righteous) people listening to ungodly music (CCM), and their services are completely centered around how you feel rather than what God said, is because of the counterfeit spirit that pervades them. It is these same people who, while being conformed to this world musically, will turn right around and boast to you about how good and godly they are, and how they don't do this, and don't do that. And that is exactly how that lost Pharisee was, Jesus described.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14).

Now, as that text shows, it was the Publican who went away justified, rather than the self-righteous, hypocritical Pharisee. I mean, you want to talk about some ungodly mess. You've got to be some kind of brazen fool to come before the presence of Almighty God and strut around like some proud peacock. But, then, I guess if you got your iPod on playing some Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, all is forgiven. Folks, you can't make this stuff up.

You see, the idea is that because they don't sin as other men sin; they're righteous, but not before God. Jesus made this clear as He went about exposing their hypocrisy. And this is the reason they wanted to kill Him. They couldn't stand to be told they were “hypocrites,” and that they were “of their father the devil.” Jesus said they were “blind leaders of the blind.” And told them, “…woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” And this is the reason they get so angry when you point it out. You want to see the devil come out of one of these people, just tell them what Jesus said, and watch out! That's exactly what happened to Stephen. Heck, they stoned Paul to death and left his body outside the city. They didn't even want his carcass to remain there. They left it so the buzzards and wild dogs could eat it. Now that's disdain. And these are the same people who, when Pontius Pilate said of the Lord Jesus Christ, "I find no fault in Him," desired a murderer to be released unto them, saying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"

I once sat in a Charismatic meeting when a fellow taught on spiritual gifts (go figure). And when he was done, he made the mistake of asking if anyone had any questions or comments. Well, as the Lord would have it, I simply read from 1 Corinthians 13 and made the connection that the antichrist was gonna deceive the world through “lying signs and wonders.” Brother, if looks could kill. I'm probably lucky to be alive, especially considering these people's track record.

Now, I do not think it's a coincidence that the church in which Paul had the most problems was the church that placed the most emphasis on spiritual gifts. In fact, I believe that the church at Corinth is the church of the last days, or a type of the church in the last days. The overwhelming emphasis will be on spiritual gifts, tongues, and so-called spiritual healers and the like. And this will pave the way for them and the world to be deceived by the antichrist. These people are looking for signs and wonders. They are looking for visions and the manifestation of the spirit and power. But this is not the Holy Spirit, it’s the spirit of antichrist. (1 John 4:3). And this is the exact thing the Apostle Paul warned us about.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10).

Now, think about this. These people are going to worship the devil all the while believing they are worshipping God. "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." (Revelation 13:11). Notice he's "like a lamb." That means, he's the perfect counterfeit. And he has the sign gifts. In fact, he's going to raise the first beast from the dead. "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:3-4).

"And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." (Revelation 13:12-14).

Furthermore, I think it’s interesting that they (these Charismatic nuttas, as our British brethren would say) stand up in those services and say, “Prophesi, brother prophesi!” Or nowadays, Sister. And how they supposedly cast devils out of people, and yet Jesus says concerning the time of the end that “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Now, if I was a betting man (and I'm not), it would seem clear to me that as we approach the end of our current dispensation (of grace), works will be the primary characteristic of every false church. Notice the emphasis Jesus places here on works. "Have we not...". "...in thy name have cast out devils". "...done many wonderful works". "...depart from me, ye that work". You know, I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that there is and will be more and more emphasis placed on "works" rather than "grace" as we approach the coming of our Lord from heaven. Again, as Paul writes in Galatians 5:4, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

"...who hath bewitched you..."

Paul again, writing to the Church at Galatia, said, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain." (Galatians 1:1-4).

Now, this is very interesting, what Paul does here. Notice that he likens "the works of the law" to witchcraft. "...who hath bewitched you..." he says, "are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Of course, the answer to this rhetorical question is a resounding NO! No person is made perfect by the flesh under grace. I am complete in Him, and my life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 2:10) "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 3:3) "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

I can hear some self-righteous hypocritical Pharisee saying already (in my best snooty voice), "If you sin willfully..." "Faith without works is dead." Blah, Blah, Blah! Give me a break. Of course, we know that even "the thought of foolishness is sin" (Proverbs 24:9). But none of them is guilty of that, right? Or how bout this one: sins of omission. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:17). Of course, none of these self-righteous do-gooders would ever be guilty of that. And even though you point these things out well, I mean, ole honest John would never lie to us, would he? Nonsense. 

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10).

Now, folks, to claim to have no sin as long as you are in this flesh is to make God a liar according to those verses. And I don't know about you, but I'd hate to have to face God on those terms. I mean, you talk about blaspheming God? And you talk about pride?

The simple truth is, no matter how self-righteous you think you are, one day "every knee" is going to "bow" before Almighty God and "every tongue is going to confess." You won't be strutting then. There'll be no boasting, and no proud looks in that day. And the sad truth is, all these folks who think they are not as other men are, are going to find out too late that they weren't as righteous as they thought they were. That the only way to enter into the presence of God with blessing is by grace through faith, believing in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ as the payment for sin. That none of these works can in any way merit the favor of God. The great agony of this day is going to be that there are going to multitudes of people that sat in church their entire lives and will be told, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire." (Matthew 25:41).

May God help everyone of us to realize the gravity of this truth. And to realize that "there but the grace of God go I."

Though I can't speak for anyone else, I will say that I'm so thankful that in October 2005, sitting alone in my barracks on Osan Air Base in South Korea, God stripped me of all my pride and self-righteousness. It was the first time in my life, I truly realized I was a sinner who was deserving of the hell I was going to get. See, that's the place we all gotta get. We've gotta come to the place where we realize God would be just in sending us to hell. When we get there, there's no other option than the cross. And here's the thing, the last thing I remember saying before climbing into my bed and sleeping the best sleep I've ever slept was, "Lord, the only thing I can do is trust your Son." It was at that moment that it was like God opened the windows of heaven and lifted the greatest burden I ever carried off me. I knew then, as I know right now, that when I close my eyes in death, I'll appear before Him not as His enemy, and not as an alien from the commonwealth of God, but as a son.

Friend, if you're not saved, that can be your testimony right here, right now, if you'll but only believe. You don't have to carry the weight of this world on your shoulders all alone. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30).

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in thee;

let the water and the blood,

from thy wounded side which flowed,

be of sin the double cure;

save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands

can fulfill thy law's demands;

could my zeal no respite know,

could my tears forever flow,

all for sin could not atone;

thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,

simply to the cross I cling;

naked, come to thee for dress;

helpless, look to thee for grace;

foul, I to the fountain fly;

wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,

when mine eyes shall close in death,

when I soar to worlds unknown,

see thee on thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in thee.

One last note: There is a lady I've done work for, I know God sent me to, and I'm asking everyone who reads this and is saved to pray that God will open her eyes.