How Does God reveal himself to us? Jay Bennett covered this question in our course on Church History. Some said certain Scriptures were God’s revelation, but not others (Marcionites, Ebonites). Others said the Scriptures were revelation plus prophetic illumination that was ongoing (Montanists). Orthodox Christianity settled on the Scriptures as the sufficient authority. Though the Church dealt with these errors early in its history, Montanism seems to have never fully gone away.
We see this in the clamor over Todd Bentley, a revivalist Pentecostal preacher in Florida, claiming direct revelation over things like the authorship of Hebrews. If you want the perspective of a non-Pentecostal who witnessed the events in Florida, read here: [Part 1, Part 2, Part 3]
I would like to suggest that Pentecostal preachers like Bentley have given up any claim to the label Protestant. One of the great truths asserted in the Reformation was Sola Scriptura. This meant the final authority and only special revelation we have access to are the Scriptures. And if we take Galatians 1:8 and Revelation 22:18 seriously, people claiming new revelation different from the Scriptures should not just be embarrassed at their eccentricities, but fearful of judgment. To add to what is considered God’s revelation is beyond the bounds.
We see this in the clamor over Todd Bentley, a revivalist Pentecostal preacher in Florida, claiming direct revelation over things like the authorship of Hebrews. If you want the perspective of a non-Pentecostal who witnessed the events in Florida, read here: [Part 1, Part 2, Part 3]
I would like to suggest that Pentecostal preachers like Bentley have given up any claim to the label Protestant. One of the great truths asserted in the Reformation was Sola Scriptura. This meant the final authority and only special revelation we have access to are the Scriptures. And if we take Galatians 1:8 and Revelation 22:18 seriously, people claiming new revelation different from the Scriptures should not just be embarrassed at their eccentricities, but fearful of judgment. To add to what is considered God’s revelation is beyond the bounds.
2 comments:
Cooool, so who did write Hebrews?! Oh wait... reading the rest of the post.... never mind then.
I have edited out my words about Don Piper. I have not read his book and accusing him of the same stuff as Bentley is unfair. I have seen Bentley speak and believe he is dangerous to the church. Don Piper may be mistaken in putting too much faith in his experience, but having people think more about heaven is not a bad thing unless it makes them no worldly good :)
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