from the Spirit of God, great difficul ties will result. Emphasizing the Spirit of God apart from the Word of God means fanaticism. Emphasizing the Word of God above the Spirit of God brings a cold dead orthodoxy or legal ism. Many who have been the victims of the latter have felt that tongues is “a way out” into a deeper life. In the fourth place, among evan gelicals, there has been a lot of fight ing. We have wrangled and tangled with one another on many of the min ute doctrines; we have majored on the minor. In order to escape the weari ness of this needless battle, many are finding refuge in the tongues move ment. These are the four leading mo tives, I believe, which have become a part of the growth of tongues. There are two possible authorities for such a discussion. We must either use the authority of the Word of God, or the authority of human experience. It is hazardous to support experience by Scripture for by personal interpre tation, almost any idea can gain sup port. The needed approach is to follow the Word of God and make sure that any event or circumstance of life is in accord with the light of God’s Holy Writ. Usually, testimonies by those who have been a part of the tongues movement have been extremely weak doctrinally. Their authority has been a “supernatural” experience. I would be the first to admit that they have had an experience. But is this the New Testament truth? We need, and we must pray, that the Holy Spirit will lead us in the teaching of God’s Holy Word. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). “The Holy Ghost . . . shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance” (John 14:26).
Tongues (continued) tional aspect. There are many people within formal churches who become emotionally starved. Speaking in tongues offers an opportunity for re lease and expression. Secondly, those in the collegiate world have been a part of the move ment. They have gone to colleges and universities where the Bible has been exploded in their faces; they have been taught that it is not the Word of God. So their hearts have been left empty HITHERTO THE LORD HATH BLESSED US When our soul is much discouraged By the roughness of the way; And the cross we have to carry Grows still heavier day by day; When some cloud that overshadows Hides our Father's face from view, Oh, 'tis then to remember. He has blessed us "hitherto." Looking back the long year over, What a varied path— and yet All the way His hand has led us, Past each hindrance we have met; Giv'n to us the pleasant places. Cheered us all the journey through. Passing through the deepest waters, He has blessed us "hitherto." Surely then our souls should trust Him, Tho' the clouds be dark o'erhead; We've a friend that draweth closer When our other friends have fled; When our pilgrimage is over, And the gates we're sweeping thro'. We shall see with clearer vision How He's blessed us "hitherto." and hearts cannot stand a vacuum. Thus, the emotional experience of speaking in tongues has given them the idea that what they cannot find in the intellectual world is attainable in the emotional religious world. In the third place, as far as the evangelical groups are concerned, there are several reasons why the movement of tongues has gained such an impe tus. God warns in His Word that when ever we separate the Word of God
DR. RALPH L. KEIPER will be featured for Biola at
Mount Hermon, Calif. AUGUST 11 and 12
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