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The
Signs and Wonders Movement—EXPOSED
is authored by Mark Haville, Chris Hand, Philip Foster, and Peter
Glover, each of whom discusses a particular aspect of the “signs
and wonders” movement/Word-Faith Movement. Haville shares his
personal experience as a former Word-Faith minister, Hand about the
“Toronto Blessing” and its fruit, Foster about what is really
happening when leaders perform many so-called signs and wonders, and
Glover about what the Bible says about signs and wonders and their
place in the church today. What I would like to discuss further is
the character of many “signs and wonders” leaders, what is
actually happening at the meetings, how it compares to what the Bible
teaches, and some more personal reflections. This is something I was
often very suspicious of when I heard about it or saw it on videos,
and this book has given me the confidence that what I see is not the
working of the Holy Spirit.
First, Haville gives a lot of insight as to who the leaders in the
movement really are and what their lives look like. Many of these
preachers experience great personal fame and fortune, and a lot of
the money raised for them at meetings only serves to increase their
personal comforts. Their “seed sowing” teachings aren't
benefiting the givers, but serving to line their own pockets. Many
claim exaggerated numbers of converts, many of whom are never seen in
churches again. Also, Haville noticed that many preachers wanted
nothing more to do with ordinary people after their meetings were
over. This kind of character and lack of integrity in leaders is
enough to raise serious questions among believers. However, many also
claim to have received personal revelations directly from God, which
are not necessarily supported by scripture. All of this, completely
apart from the fact that what they're doing at meetings is merely a
performance, falsely taught as the working of the Holy Spirit, is
enough to ask if they're really preaching according to God's will, or
if they're actually wolves dressed in sheep's clothing.
What is happening at many Faith-Word meetings is far from
“manifestations” or “anointings” of the Holy Spirit. These so
called “manifestations” are often characterized by people falling
over, laughing or shaking uncontrollably, becoming rigid like
statues, having visions, or experiencing emotional and physical
healings. (Also, interesting to note is that 95% of people have a
“good trip” in a trance, but 5% have a “bad trip”, whereby
they are often damaged for a long time.) What is actually happening
though is stage hypnotism, where the leader draws people into
alternate states of consciousness. This is a process leaders have
been taught by other leaders, and many don't even know that what
they're doing is related to occultic practices and opening people up
to dark spirit worlds. The preacher has to be in complete control of
the proceedings, build expectation, and create an atmosphere that
brings people into trances. Music is a big part of how they do this.
Attendees are taken through a process where they are encouraged to
empty their minds, not to think, not to pray, not to analyze what is
happening to them but rather to “just drink.” In the end, what
people experience can all be achieved by hypnosis, and the physical
healings people claim are temporary, something that can also be
achieved the same way. Also, Haville points out that a lot of modern
speaking in tongues is nothing but gibberish, something that can be
learned as well, whereas genuine speaking in tongues can't be done
randomly at a person's own will. These explanations all make it very
clear that this isn't God moving; not on His own, and not through
occultic practices.
What the book analyzes as well is what does the Bible teach about
signs and wonders and how does it compare to what is really
happening. A big emphasis, which I think is very important, is how
the Holy Spirit is the primary focus in these leaders and at these
meetings. However, the Bible clearly states that the purpose of the
Holy Spirit is to testify of Jesus, not of Himself. Also, signs and
wonders in Acts were performed primarily by apostles and a few others
closely connected to them; it was not common or normal for all
believers, nor should we expect it to be today. “We are not called
to expect on-going signs and wonders. The sign-gifts were for a very
specific purpose and attached to a very specific office—that of the
apostle.” (pg. 91) The authors do believe that God still works
signs and wonders today, but that they are not the norm and are
performed at God's will, not man's. The Bible also never tells people
to empty their minds, stop thinking, or stop praying, but rather to
pray, be watchful, sober, awake, and to test the spirits. Although
there are indications in Acts that it was a significant event when
believers received the Holy Spirit, it never tells of people being
unable to control themselves, falling down, or laughing hysterically
as a result. What I'm not sure of is if I agree with all of Glover's
points about how little place there is for signs and wonders or
apostolic gifts now. I would not call myself a cessasionist, but I
think he brings out good points of what we need to beware of, and I
believe that a large amount of the spectacles we see are not actually
God at work.
There
were some things I personally noted through reading the book that
also helped me to see more that the “signs and wonders” movement
is not of God. In having to be in complete control of meetings and
“anointing” people at their own will, it became clear to me that
many of these leaders are seeking to put God under their control,
rather than placing themselves under God's control. They want to
decide what God does and when. Also, throughout the book, I had to
consider what people are seeking at these meetings. Foster explains
how people become addicted to the euphoria they experience in their
trances and return to meetings, seeking the same experiences again
and again. This reminds me a lot of the “high” people often seek
in drugs and sex. Could it be that most are just seeking a
self-fulfilling “feel-good” experience? And finally, what is
noted in the book, and I also see in the Bible is that a lot of
people just want a show. They want to see something exciting happen.
It's nothing new; people came to Jesus repeatedly seeking signs, but
He knew their hearts and knew it wouldn't cause them to believe in
Him. I would venture to say that overall, the hearts and intentions
of many leaders and attendees of these meetings are just not right.
I
would be quick to recommend The Signs and Wonders
Movement—EXPOSED. It's
something I have long been suspicious about, and now I understand
that was for good reason. Many of the leaders don't deal with
integrity and they are (knowingly or unknowingly) deceiving thousands
of people by telling them they're experiencing the Holy Spirit when
really they've been trapped in occultic practices. They encourage
practices and produce results not found in scripture, but rather
engage in occultic practices that the Bible forbids. The results
produced by these “anointings” are not scriptural. Also, leaders
seem to be trying to make God their servant, and attendees are
seeking self-fulfilling experiences to make them feel good. I'm glad
I read this book and now understand what many of these so-called
“signs and wonders” are really all about.
