Reformed. Christianity. Evangelism. Modern Culture.
Well the debate on what continuationists may and may not do will be as endless and bottomless as the question, “what is the next Christian fad going to be?” This time (as an ex-charismatic) I am still baffled and scratching my balding patch as I slowly struggle to interprete this latest development. Well …
Prophetess Bynum
In a series of posts published on Aug. 17, on one of Bynum’s many Facebook pages, the minister typed messages where it was believed by commenters and critics that the she was praying in tongues.
In the first message time stamped 3:57 p.m., it appeared that Juanita Bynum II, the account holder for the Facebook page, started praying for Zachery Tims, the Florida megachurch minister who was found dead in a New York City hotel room on Aug. 12:
GOD WE PRAY FOR THE DESTINY CHURCH FAMILY….WE PRAY FOR THE STRENGTH OF PASTOR RIVA TIMS….[Furthermore] GIRD THEM UP IN THE SPIRIT…GIVE THEM A MIND TO PRAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE….WE CALL ON YOU JESUS….YOU ARE OUR HELP AND OUR HOPE!!!!!!!!NDHDIUBGUGTRUCGNRTUGTIGRTIGRGBNRDRGNGGJNRIC YOU ARE OUR HELP AND OUR HOPE….RFSCNGUGHURGVHKTGHDKUNHSTNSVHGN YOU GOD……YOU ARE OUR HELP AND OUR HOPE!!!!!! OUR HOPE IS IN YOU FATHER……OUR STRENGTH FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS IS IN YOU FATHER……HELP US NOW……LORD WE DONT ASK FOR HELP FOR JUST THEM….THIS IS US….THIS IS A PART OF OUR OWN BODY…..
I know there is a grieving family involved. But in the same vein how will the family or church members say amen if they do not understand the content of the prayer or exhortation? How will they be encouraged by un intelligibly tweeted gibberish or a doodled Facebook message?
[Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 1 Cor 14: 8-9]
Or is this (tweeting and facebooking in tongues) just another trend that will soon pick up and become widespread in evangelicalism? In which case I will soon consider “blogging in tongues”. On the other hand it could just be that a prayer tweeted in tongues is more powerful than any other.
In which case the continuationists (or the haves) have a definite head start now and the cessationists (have nots) had better learn fast and not just depend on grace alone.
Just saying. 😉
A Twisted Crown of Thorns ® 
I believe that the spiritual gifts have continued and did not cease at the conclusion of the canon. My problem is that most of the crazy, unbiblical stuff is coming out of the Charismatic camps and they are destroying the testimony of God’s church. It seems to me that they are constantly chasing a new expereince. The newest experience brings some kind of spiritual high to those seeking it, but it wears off and leads them to chase after the next new thing God is doing.
It would be great if someone could chronicle by date or at least order of apperance, all the whacky things these people chase after, calling it “the new thing God is doing.” Perhaps it would help stop others from going down the same path. (Hey, i think I just got an idea for a post!)
I have a friend who runs in these circles who is just as concerned. He tells me that now these people are getting into soul travel and spirit guide stuff, calling it the newest thing God is doing. Can we please get back to the Gospel? I think that is actually the new thing that God has been doing for the past 2000 years.