In Reply to: Kuhlmann posted by CB on March 12, 2007 at 19:23:56:
Well, I avoid the charismatics, lessed I get "burned" by the wrong type of fire, I've watched/observed the "scene" from some "save" distance in the past & now I think I have sufficient "ammunition" to protect my soul together...yes, they appeal a lot to the "soul"...I have a book of Watchman Nee (I think) somewhere, that interprets many of these workings & "wonders" as workings of the "soul"...the backward falling in those meetings are interpreted by critics from the fundamental wing as something bad, since backward-falling in scripture is a type of judgement...
You're right, the Catholics have quite a bunch of those Charismatics, new and old...one early deviation from the straight seems to me the "Montanus-movement", with his female seers etc.,
to which in his late years also Tertullian joined.
I think the danger has always been there, similar to Simon the Magician in Acts, to cling to the Christian faith initially for the want/desire of some miracles & some heavenly gifts...To be fair it should be mentioned, that I think even Berg in a compiled letter about the Holy Ghost says, that many like the gift or desire it more than the giver(God)...& although I am not "bergophil"...I think that's right & might be a quote of some of his Christian "heros"...
I mean, who wouldn't want healing & resurrection of the death of some loved one...all that is reported, but strange enough doesn't happen at all those fancy, big meetings...rather the rat-race for money is pretty weird.
However there is also some danger on the right wing, that a lot of things for them have to appeal to the mind...& that is also some weakness of mine...
As far as Billy Graham is concerned, I heard of criticism...e.g. some thought/type of universal reconciliation of his...which I'd personally "like", but have right now come to put again under bigger/biggest scrutiny...it's really dividing the ranks, be it under the Catholics or elsewhere.
It's good to keep an eye on all those "leaders",
especially since we are warned of wolves in sheep-clothing...I continue to marvel, how much the word is able to divide soul & spirit & is a discerner of the intents of (my) heart.In my youth
I didn't want to have anybody tell me what's right & wrong - although I did listen - & found
how difficult it is to adhere to the straight & narrow...to even find it...I am thankful to have the Word (although I do have problems with understanding it & adhering to it!!!)