Common Charismatic Criticisms of Biblical Testing
(articles by Chris Good)

Click on a title to read the full article

• Don't judge, lest you be judged - you hypocrites!
  There are a lot of accusations going around in Christian circles about people "judging" other people and not being "tolerant". Often the passage above is cited to support those bringing new teachings and practices into the church. Indeed, in our post-modern age, the greatest sin is "intolerance" and it seems this is also increasingly the case in many churches. Anyone who wants to critique something is instantly dismissed as 'judgemental'.

• Don't touch the Lord's anointed!
  This is a common cry levelled against people who are trying to uphold Scripture by testing their leaders' teaching and practice against the Word. However, if this is a valid defence, why do we never see the Apostle or other leaders of the New Testament churches resorting to this argument? Is it possible that this phrase is being misused to justify an authoritarian leadership?

• How dare you blaspheme against the Holy Spirit!
  A common criticism levelled against those who seek to test modern claims to prophecy, miracles and healings by God's Word is that we are in danger of 'blaspheming against the Holy Spirit'. This is a very serious charge, which (if true) would mean that such people cannot be saved! Indeed, many are so intimidated by this charge that they bury any doubts, relying on the claimant's self-proclamation for proof of the validity of the claims, rather than testing it by the Word.

• How dare you quench/grieve the Holy Spirit!
  Often such verses are quoted to prevent people testing claimed prophecies. The implication is that this verse clearly tells us not to 'despise prophecies' by testing them - that to do so is to quench the work of the Holy Spirit. No Christian wants to be guilty of that! Often such an argument is linked in with the accusation that doing this grieves the Spirit. Let us look at these passages to see if this is indeed what the Holy Spirit says.

• The Letter Kills, but the Spirit gives Life!
  This phrase from 2 Corinthians 3:6 is perhaps one of the most misused in Scripture. Regularly those who test claimants for special manifestations of the Spirit by the Word are charged with allowing the 'letter' of Scripture to kill the 'Spirit'. However - what is this passage saying - and is this a correct way to apply it?

• You Legalists!
  "You Pharisees! Who lets you impose your rules?!" This is often an objection faced by people seeking to follow the rules that Christ by His Spirit has laid down for his people in His Word. The "legalist!" label is rolled out. But what really is a legalist - and what is legalism? Are we guilty of it when seeking to follow Scriptural standards?

• Who are you to divide the Body of Christ?!
  When people in the Church stand up seeking to test things by God's Word, an accusation often made against them is that in doing so they are "dividing the body of Christ" and "bringing disunity". But how can upholding the Truth bring disunity? Is it not error and unrighteous practice that divides? To understand these issues - we need to turn, not to our preconceived notions of unity, but to the Scriptures, and allow God to show us the true notion of Christian unity and what it is to 'divide the body of Christ'.

[ Back to Library ]

© 2003 by

Page last updated:
October 2007