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 The
current rash or tongue -speaking, miracle -sanctioning, and the
far more common errors concerning direct Spirit indwelling, that
infects many institutional churches of Christ, was not brought
to earth in the Apollo 11 moon dust. It sprang from causes
within the ranks. Last month we suggested that reaction to
coldness may have triggered some of this error. As an
interrelated cause, some sought to promote “genuine worship”
with material props, such as dimmed lights, mood music (a
cappella, of course) and other “devotional” clap-trap; and
the resulting emotionalism was glibly assigned to the Holy
Spirit.
Serving
God “from the heart” involves the emotions, to be sure —
but such emotions as proceed from knowledge of God’s will, and
desire to serve Him. The “art work” and parties of the
popular Young People’s Classes produce only a superficial
knowledge of the Bible, (“doctrinal” studies, you know, are
no longer “relevant”) so churches that have gone along with
the modern trends are poorly equipped to combat “direct Spirit”
errors.
But
the underlying cause of this and practically every other “brotherhood”
problem is subjectivism — looking within ourselves
for authority. When brethren no longer feel the need for
Bible authority (external authority — going to the
Bible for their faith — Rom. 10:17) they look inward,
to human reason, practical experience or “feelings” for the
answers. This may begin with their feelings about instrumental
music (I like) or the care of orphans (Surely that
is good) or other churchhood projects (proven right by “mainstream”
acceptance) until finally, demands for Bible authority become
most
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distasteful.
Subjectivism
takes many forms. The rank modernist makes God’s word subject
to his approval — divine truth becomes “relative” to his
understanding, or so he thinks. But the same error is at work
among those who say God’s word can be understood only by the
Spirit-endowed elect. And those who believe they are cut by the
Holy Spirit (apart from His sword, the written word) are but a
step away.
When
Pat Boone says that God communicates with Him “in a way that
maybe you wouldn’t understand except inwardly and in a
spiritual way” — this is subjectivism. The product of the
communication is put upon exactly the same ground as the
feeling, or “still small voice” of the sectarian, that he
offers as proof of his salvation. Neither can be proven by the
external authority of God’s word, as revealed to the Apostles
and Prophets. ( 1 Jn. 4:6; Eph. 3:3-5; 1 Cor. 14-37)
Conservative
brethren, who have steadfastly demanded Bible authority for
faith and practice, are little affected by the current Spirit
craze. It is the brother who has been softened by earlier forms
of subjectivism who now “feels” that the Holy Spirit helps
him to find a parking place. I feel no joy in stating this. I am
saddened by the defection of Pat Boone, and all the others. But
my sadness began long before they got this far. It began years
ago, as they took their first steps in institutionalism and the
social gospel movement.
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