| Charismatic Movement |
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Milford Bible Church Statement on the Charismatic Movement
The dangers which the Charismatic revival pose to the ministry of the local church, as well as the confusion it introduces to the individual believer, have created the need for a definitive statement. The sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues and healing, we believe to be miraculous gifts, sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit for a limited time and for specific circumstances. These gifts are all transitory in nature and limited in operation. By transitory in nature we mean, that by the time the New Testament Canon closed, these gifts had gradually come to an end, with none of them being operative past the end of the 1st Century. By limited in operation we mean, that these were not gifts which were continually exercised by an individual over an extended period of time, and that the purpose of the usage determined the exercise of the gift. The purposes for which the Holy Spirit gave these gifts were: (1) As signs to unbelievers until the completion of the Canon. (2) For authentication of the gospel. (3) As the seal of divine approval upon the Church. (4) Of revelatory significance to the believers. All of these purposes were and are served in the completed Word of God. Therefore, we are convinced that all of the sign gifts which were operative in the early church were discontinued by the time of the close of the New Testament Canon and are not to be sought nor be exercised in our day. The completion of the New Testament assured accessibility through the Word of God to knowledge and power adequate for life and service to all believers. Therefore, to seek the transitory gifts is a denial of the efficacy of the Word of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) |
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