I often think about the ‘super spiritual’ people I have met. Some are innocently deceived but many of them I met were not innocent. Let me talk about a few without mentioning their names. I write the story so the young preachers will be guarded in their spiritual walk from the super holy people. a. In my early Christian life a highly super spiritual man said, that a believer should not take medicine but pray for divine healing. The idea was good. But where is the promise in the new testament? But later when he meet a scooter accident, he was admitted in the hospital. (he was an army officer so it was necessary to go to hospital.) He later told that he did not let them apply any medicine but give only bandage. But when he took class to us, he said that even if a bullet will hit a solder and the bullet is embedded in the back bone, one should believe in divine healing only. Later it was found that he has taken injection. When we asked him, he said that he did not take medicine for healing but it was taken so his eyes will not have infection – a precaution as a preventive covering. b. Another man who taught about divine healing and refused to give holy communion to those who took vaccination, was visiting the dentist and also wearing specs. His explanation was that one can take medicine for eyes and teeth – and it is not medicine. I am told that in his old age, he was taking medicine. I have a question, how many innocent people were deceived by him? How many lived with guilt because they took an aspirin? How come they take black pepper soup and water boiled with cumin – for throat trouble or common cold but when a believer will take an aspirin – it is classified as a sin. – or lack of faith. I believe in divine healing. Also I believe in visiting a doctor when sick. If medicine is a sin why we are sending our daughters and sons for medicine? c. Recently a pastor came to our church from Kerala and in his last message he was speaking against ornaments. Thank God, I was not there on that day. But I will meet him one day and ask him a few questions: How come there is one doctrine for Kerala Pentecostals but for the same denomination outside Kerala there is no such doctrine. The churches of the international Preseident of this pastor’s denomination are wearing ornaments. There are ornaments wearing believers in the church of the General Secretary of that denomination. (First in north India and second in Kerala) Many believers of that denomination outside Kerala are wearing ornaments. The sad part is that the girl who was interpreting his message –a Hindu convert and strong believer – was wearing ornaments. Thank God – the girl or another believer did not ask him where it is written in the New Testament not to wear ornaments? Even if they will take two verses to talk about gold or silver there is no verse about ornaments. And those two verses it is not talking about wearing gold or silver but decorating. And I can give two other verses where it is written that Jesus talked about wearing a ring and the woman having a necklace. Also James talks about believers wearing rings in the church. Is there a heaven for Kerala Pentecostals and another for the Pentecostals outside Kerala? I appreciate those who have decided not to wear gold and silver or any ornaments. But if they have to push down the throat of others, there must be Bible verse. (I nor my wife wear ornaments.) d. My son while studying at Trivandrum was attending a good church that I recommended. One day the pastor, a man with a doctorate in science, preached against mustache. My son knew that he was talking to my son because he was the only one having mustache. After the meeting my son asked him where in the Bible it is written that a believer should not have mustache. His explanation was that mustache was a sign of rebellion. My son found another church that was not preaching condemnation and legalism. I stop here. But I urge my fellow preachers and teachers – let us preach the Bible and not the doctrine of our denomination. If we have to preach the doctrine of our denomination, let us preach it in our own church. pg
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 09:13:02 +0000
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