Newmom123 said:
I know that the reformed belief is that there is no more prophecy and does not believe in tongues... but anyone know why?
I used to be in a church that was pushing itself to charismatic paths. I became involved in seeking miraculous gifts like tongues, prophecy, healings, etc, and knew a great deal more people like myself. While my church desired these things, and practiced them (people being prayed for and falling over laughing, crying, unconscious, etc), it never went fully down the path. On the whole though, the church desired it. I was also involved with projects outside of my church, but within the same sphere, that had strong charismatic leanings (hence my attraction to them).
However, I learned over time about the doctrine of election (which I had previously rejected as untrue), and also about the ceasing of these miraculous gifts. It took me many months to decide on the former, and years to decide on the latter.
I have now gone from pursuing the miraculous gifts to believing that God has caused them to cease in this age. Now I'm a member of the reformed Church, and glad of it.
However, I still feel a need to warn people against pursuing miraculous gifts - I know many friends and family who are involved with the Charismatic movement, and I don't like it to say the least. So it is more of a passion and interest for me than just idle thoughts. I have a vested interest in seeing people I know come to understand that these things they seek are almost certainly not from God.
I will give you the practical reason why I believe these gifts are no longer given today. It is personal experience that comes down to two things:
1. There has not been a single prophet I have encountered or heard of who prophecied nothing but truth from the day he opened his mouth and dared to declare the hidden mysteries of God. In fact, when teaching someone how to become a prophet you are given such artificial restrictions as no dates and mates, nothing negative or that brings someone down. Whoever heard such things? God's power to prophecy should not be limitted - thus my conclusion is that these limitations are placed because it is not by the power of God that they speak, but by their own voices speaking to them as if it was God. People are taught that when they learn to prophecy at first they will make a lot of wrong ones, but as time and practice passes, their prophecies will become more accurate. This is completely unscriptural and nothing to do with God.
2. All the miracles done by the Church today can be duplicated with equal power and same results. Prophecy, healings, miracles - all are seen in foreign religions undistinguishable. So I do not consider these a sign or a guaruntee that God is with them. God's miracles by His apostles and prophets were of far greater power than any we see today. Today are tricks that can be mimicked by foreign religions, hypnotists, emotional speakers, cold readers, etc.
So, then, if I can be shown a prophet who:
a. Spoken nothing but prophecies that came to pass since the day he first prophecied
b. Teaches the true doctrines of God
Then I will reconsider that God speaks today. Until then I am content to understand that God, as He has in the past, caused the miraculous gifts to be withdrawn as they were no longer needed.
I have seen and heard people speak in tongues. I have even prayed for someone who fell over as you see on TV. I have seen it happen many times with people I know personally. I have felt the longing and desire to speak in tongues and work great miracles. I know the jargon and the emotional high that comes with it. This is why I feel that my decision was not made rashly. I've tasted what they have to offer, and have been familiar with the feelings that make them say "If you felt what I felt and had seen what I have seen, you would believe". I have.
So as I explained above, the primary objections I have to today's miracles are that they are nothing special or unique with the power of God behind them, and there are no true prophets. Just a sickening sense of confusion as one tries to determine if another really heard the voice of God, or if they let their carnal minds interfere (such is the nature of today's miraculous revelations). I have quoted this times before on these forums, but think it's worth showing again the words of Jonathan Edwards:
Jonathan Edwards said:
"One erroneous principle, than which scarce any has proved more mischievous to the present glorious work of God, is a notion that it is God's manner in these days, to guide his saints, at least some that are more eminent, by inspiration, or immediate revelation. They suppose hemakes known to them what shall come to pass hereafter, or what it is his will that they should do, by impressions made upon their minds, either with or without texts of Scripture; whereby something is made known to them, that is not taught in the Scripture. By such a notion the devil has a great door opened for him; and if once this opinion should come to be fully yielded to, and established in the church of God, Satan would have opportunity thereby to set up himself as the guide and oracle of God's people, and to have his word regarded as their infallible rule, and so to lead them where he would, and to introduce what he pleased, and soon to bring the Bible into neglect and contempt." From "John Wesley, Journals, Volume Four, p. 365, Sage Digital Library,PO Box 1926, Albany, OR 97321.
