Consequences of Truth Based on Experience

Consequences of Truth Based on Experience

Pentecostalism, in all its waves, bases truth on experience. They are moved by intuition and feelings. They interpret Scripture based on experiences. This is a trait held by others also but my background is in Pentecostalism so I can address this. They see the anointing as the power of God to move them in ministry and power to live holy lives. This anointing gives them power to interpret Scripture. They also have revelations that are extra-Biblical, this accounts for the many heretical teachings. God speaks to them and reveals to them new truths. They have leaders that are able to hear from God and reveal even more to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. Many charismatic leaders are able to move numbers of people by controlling emotions.

Have you ever heard of the “law of diminishing returns” This is a law of economics. The law states "that we will get less and less extra output when we add additional doses of an input while holding other inputs fixed. In other words, the marginal product of each unit of input will decline as the amount of that input increases holding all other inputs constant." That being said, whew, here it is in simple terms. Think of what is called a “runner’s high” this is where a person increases the production of endorphins in the brain and they get a buzz or a pleasant feeling from it. Eventually the runner will have to run further and further to experience this high. This is the law of diminishing returns. This is why many in the experiential movement will make statements that their Pastor is no longer feeding them. The Pastor has taken them as far as he can. The Pastor measures this law of economics by looking at the bottom line like all good business people do. When you see a flat line or a dip in the bottom line, you change something. In a movement based on experience you may hire a special person, Evangelist, end times teacher, or maybe hold a revival, to raise the level of endorphins (excitement) in order to keep the pews full.

Many Pastors will join other Pastors to bring in some well known conductor of a crusade and bus their people to it. There is an old trick of manipulation that I have seen first hand. These meetings are choreographed with the intent to manipulate. They start off with exciting uplifting singing, then drop it down to a low “holy worship”. Then they ramp it back up, then down again. They do this in the entire “crusade”, singing, entertaining, preaching, healing services, etc. The goal is to get the entire audience to peak and valley in their emotions at the same time. When this happens, they are in control and you are being manipulated.

The “anointing” of these leaders is a thing that is untouchable by anyone else. We are told, taught, commanded, to not touch the anointed of God. These people become an island unto themselves unable to be corrected or advised. "There's a lot of soul searching in our movement right now," says J. Lee Grady, editor of Charisma magazine, because of the spectacle of highly successful preachers losing their way. "There's a saying, 'Your anointing can take you to a place where your character cannot sustain you.' I'm hearing that a lot more often these days." These men think, as Tiger Woods thought, that they are different than other men, that they are not bound by the same rules.

Have you ever stopped to think that a Super Hero would be the most horrid and vile villain that ever existed? The Fantastic Four would be kings and queens, rulers. They would attempt to gain all authority. They would use their powers to conquer nations and amass wealth and fame.

Those in Christ can not be an island unto themselves. We must be accountable for our actions. We must have others to correct us, advise us, even rebuke us when needed. We must confess our sins to one another. This will humble us. Humility is the measure of true Holiness.