Holy Spirit -13-III. Holy Rollerism and Other Isms

III. HOLY ROLLERISM AND OTHER ISMS In my last chapter I discussed the direct operation of the Holy Spirit and the faith and "practice" of modern-miracle heresies. In this paper I want to discuss the latter doctrine further with direct reference to "Holy Rollerism." I shall also deal with other forms of alleged "faith miracles.’’ Modern denominationalism has held that conversion is a miracle no less wonderful than the raising of Lazarus from the dead! See the "Nashville Debate" for the position of J. B. Moody in his discussion with James A. Harding. Holding this view, and claiming generally that people are now "baptized in the Holy Spirit," it remained for Nazarenes, Holinists, and other forms of "Holy Rollers" -more "rolly" than "holy"-to carry the doctrine to its logical conclusion. This they have done with a vengeance. Holy Rollers, reading the New Testament. found that in every case of baptism of the Holy Spirit, those baptized in the Holy Spirit spoke with "new tongues"--tongues that had not been learned-and, that also those baptized in the Holy Spirit could work miracles, they (the Holy Rollers) simply protest that they have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and proceed to try to "speak with tongues," "heal the sick," and handle rattle snakes ! This logic was and is invincible except for one thing, viz., They have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit, as no one is being baptized in the Holy Spirit now. See discussion in former article entitled, "The Holy Spirit and His Work," and note the following: In times past there have been several baptisms. There were washings, baptisms, under the law of Moses (Hebrews 6:2; Hebrews 9:10). These were done away when the law was changed (Hebrews 7:12; Hebrews 10:9). John came with his baptism. This was also done away (Acts 19:5) being superseded by the baptism of Christ found in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:48).

Christ’s suffering was called a baptism (Mark 10:35-45). This passed away at the cross. There were but two others, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and the baptism of the commission. Around the year 60 A. D., when Paul wrote the church at Ephesus, he declared, "There IS…one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:6). At that period one of these two baptisms had passed away. Which one? The baptism of the Holy Spirit was to open the door of faith to both Jews and Gentiles, hence we find a case of such baptism at the beginning of the gospel message’s being given to each, i. e., to the Jews in Acts, second chapter, and to the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius as recorded in the 10th and 11th chapters of Acts, but we find cases of baptism in the Holy Spirit nowhere else-and such is needed nowhere else, as there are no human beings who are not either Jews or Gentiles ! Then when Jesus gave the commission to the apostles, he said: Go make disciples and baptize them into the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and promised them, "Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the world." Only the Lord could baptize with the Holy Spirit-no human being could do it-but the baptism that they were to perform was to extend to every creature in all nations and to last till the end of time-always. They could and did baptize in water. Therefore baptism still exists, as it existed when Paul said, "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism." But since water baptism is the only one now remaining Holy Spirit baptism has passed away.

Every man admits this every time he raises his hand over a candidate and say., "I baptize you into the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Holy Rollers claim that they have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, and they utter inarticulate sounds and call it "tongues." They should call it "jabbering," for that is what it is. How unlike the "tongues" of New Testament times! Then the speakers knew what they said and the hearers heard them and understood them. Take the case on Pentecost as an example. Then the sojourners in Jerusalem, speaking fifteen or more dialects, for they were gathered at Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost from various parts of the Roman world, exclaimed, "How hear we every man in the tongue wherein we are born?’ The apostles were not jabbering-they were speaking! "Tongues" served a good purpose, in that the people who spoke and understood only their native vernacular, could be preached to by the apostles, who, under the Holy Spirit, could preach in languages they had not learned, and that they did not have to learn. Since apostolic times, when men desire to preach to people having a different language they have to learn the language in order to preach to the people of a foreign tongue. The case of the church in Corinth is a further exemplification of the same principle Some had the power to speak with tongues; others the power to interpret tongues. This was necessary in the infancy of the church, and the power was conferred by the apostles through their laying hands on certain ones in the church.

Sometimes men would come into the assembly of a strange speech, then the one who could speak with tongues could instruct him; at other times, a Christian of a strange language would meet with the brethren and would have a message of instruction and encouragement. He would deliver it, but the people would not be benefitted except that one in the church had the gift of interpreting. When interpreted, all would be benefitted. When there was no occasion for tongues, they were out of place. Then it was time to speak the words of understanding. Though Paul could speak with tongues more than all in Corinth yet he never exercised the power except when needed, for he said that he would rather speak five words with understanding than ten thousand in a tongue, in order to teach a needed lesson. Even when "tongues" existed, Paul would have them used with discretion that people might not think the brethren crazy. Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 th chapter. Holy Rollers not only would rather have "tongues" than intelligent speech, but even prefer their jabbering to the gospel.

What applies here to the Holy Rollers applies with exactly the same force to the Mormons, and other alleged miracle-workers, tonguers, etc. But they claim they do actually speak with tongues and that we people who know better are opposing God! But is God the author of Holy Roller "jabbering" and not Mormon "jabbering"? Or is he the author of Mormon tonguing and healing but not of the Holy Roller activities of the very same sort? Indeed he is the author of neither. God is not the God of confusion nor of contradictory systems.

Besides God said tongues would cease. He also told when they would cease. At the same time he said other miraculous "gifts" would cease. When were they to cease? and have they ceased? Let us see. Paul told the Corinthian brethren to covet earnestly the best gifts and yet he would show them a more excellent way (Last verse of the 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians). He had discussed these gifts, and then in the next chapter he developed the more excellent way, the way of faith, hope, and love. He showed why this way is more excellent than the way of miraculous gifts, as they were to be purely temporary, while the more excel lent way was to "abide." Hear him, "Whether there be prophesies they shall fail, whether there be tongues, they shall cease, whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away" (1 Corinthians 13:8). When were prophesies and tongues to cease and this knowledge through "gift" to pass out? "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come these things in part shall be done away" (1 Corinthians 13:9-10), "When that which is perfect is come." What is perfect? "Whoso looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and continueth therein, this man shall be blest in his deeds" (James 1:26). In other words, when the New Testament is completed, tongues, prophesies, knowledge, faith that can remove mountains, healings, government of the church by gift, interpretations by the Holy Spirit, etc., will cease. The New Testament was finished, men were forbidden to add to it or take from it. It contains the faith once for all delivered unto the saints, and everything pertaining to life and godliness, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be "perfect" thoroughly furnished unto every good work. Incidentally, if the Bible were not perfect it could not lead men unto perfection. But when that perfect thing came miracles of every sort and kind ceased. Don’t be deceived. God cannot be mocked success fully. Those professed "tonguers," "healers" by divine power, etc., have an awful day of reckoning ahead of them. Do not be en meshed in their delusions. Brethren, expose these pernicious, false prophets. Preach the word. Not only will our religious neighbors not preach a full gospel but they are helpless in the presence of these "wonder-workers," because the average sectarian believes in miracles, and holds that conversion is a miracle. We have the truth, God’s law. Let us hold to it. "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).