The Pilgrim Band

Old time conservative bible believers do not go along with the modern Pentecostal movement and renounce it, believing this modern movement is not bible based.

This publication is intended to give twenty sound reasons why conservative bible believers will remain true to the old time Christianity of our spiritual forefathers and will not be swept away with this delusive movement.

I implore you to read each scripture given carefully and objectively. (See Acts 17:11)
Obtain The Authorised Holy Bible and examine the scriptures given.

THE FOLLOWING REASONS ARE GIVEN...

REASON ONE  Most Pentecostal advocates disregard the dispensational program.

The Bible breaks up man's history into certain dispensations of time in which God deals with humans in particular ways. The dispensations are:

A:  Conscience - before the Law was given via Moses.   

B:  Law - from Moses to the Cross of Calvary.

C:  Church age - from the Cross to the Second Advent.

D:  Kingdom age - 1000 year reign after the Tribulation Period.

The time periods of the book of 'Acts' and the 'Tribulation Period' are both TRANSITION periods from one dispensation to another. This is vitally important to know when tempted to build a doctrine on matters related to these two periods of time, when God does unusual things to vindicate His message and messengers. It is not good bible exposition to build a doctrine solely from these two periods of time when unusual and oft unrepeatable events take place. Yet the modern Pentecostal churches have built their whole framework upon the book of 'Acts' period.

 

REASON TWO   The Bible says that in the latter days of the Church age we can expect apostasy,
NOT a worldwide revival which Pentecostals are claiming to have.
Read 1 Timothy 4:1-3  &  2 Timothy 3:1-9  &  4:3, 4  &  Revelation 3:14-22

The prediction of Joel 2:28-32 (Acts 2:16-21) is fulfilled during the Tribulation Period.

 

REASON THREE   Tongues in the Bible were only given by God during the era of the Apostles.

The Apostles were ordained to impart the 'Apostles Doctrine' to the pastors and churches and to keep the new churches on track. The temporary sign gifts were given to prove that these men were from God and that God was beginning a new program called the 'Church Age'. When the Apostles died, the sign gifts were over, and the canon of the Bible was completed about 100 A.D. Now we have pastors and the completed Bible which is enough!

Read 2 Corinthians 12:12  &  Mark 16:15-20  &  Hebrews 2:3, 4  &  1 Corinthians 13:8-10

 

REASON FOUR    The tongue gift was a supernatural gift given by the Holy Ghost - it was
 NOT expected by the recipients, NOR was it taught in a class by a man.

Read  Acts 1:8, 14  &  2:1-4  &  Acts 10:43-48   &  11:15-18

REASON NINE    There are only four bible passages which list the gifts, and when they are put in their chronological order, tongues are seen to be fading in importance in the churches as we near the completion of the Bible canon.  In other words, the early Christians did not major on minors like the modern Pentecostals do.

 

 

REASON TEN  The Bible draws a distinction between:

A: Temporary sign gifts. 1 Corinthians chps 12-14

B: Gifts of service in the church.  Romans 12:3-8  &  Ephesians 4:7-13  &  1 Peter 4:8-11

Gifts of service are to stay in the Church during the church age, to build up the Church.  BUT temporary sign gifts were only designed to get the Church started on the right track, like scaffolding around a building project - they were to be done away with eventually.

 

 

REASON ELEVEN    Paul the Apostle wrote the book of 1 Corinthians to correct errors in a worldly church. Every chapter is written to address an imbalance among the people.

Chapters 12-14 show us that they had an imbalance and immaturity when it came to spiritual gifts. They were abusing the gifts and were out of control, proud, and a bad testimony to visitors who came in to the assembly.

Paul's writings are not to sanction the use of the gifts, but to give them rules until they could get over them and advance to spiritual maturity in the serving gifts. He writes not to encourage them, but to discourage them in the use of tongues.

REASON TWELVE  The modern day use of tongues, healings by handkerchiefs, words of knowledge, laying on of hands, slaying in the 'spirit', being 'drunk' in the spirit, laughing fits, holy spewing and a host of other thrills are not biblical - here is why: 

A: For centuries in occult movements, those in trances have spoken in tongues (babble), performed healings and done phenomenal feats.   People such as voodoos, gurus, shamans, witch doctors, etc - Mormons and Catholics can speak in babble - IT IS NOT RESERVED FOR JUST CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.

Read  Matthew 7:13-23  &  24:23-26  &   2 Thessalonians 2:8-12  &  Exodus 7:9-12

B: Eastern religion advocates teach that there are three points in the body which are important for channeling the 'life force energy'.

- The pit of the stomach

- The right arm/hand.

- The third eye/forehead.

All three of these points are used by Pentecostal pastors/healers when dealing with people on the stage in the church building. The testimony is that they channel the 'spirit' (force) through their right hand to the forehead of the recipient. Those 'slain in the spirit' testify of a rousing feeling in the pit of their stomach. 
The karate champions use these three points to break bricks.

C: The Devil uses these three points to deceive the recipient and to gain a foothold/possession of the individual. The Devil will give counterfeit experiences of ecstatic feelings in the pit of the stomach, of babble, of power through the right arm, etc, to gain a subtle foothold in the life of the one who 'opens' up to anything coming from the spiritual realm.

When one believes that all such experiences are from God, then this is ground for the enemy who is the great counterfeiter/deceiver. When one believes that the Devil can't come into the church building or stand
behind the pulpit, or influence a sincere person, then that is his advantage.
Read  2 Corinthians 11:3, 4, 13-15  &  Ephesians 4:14  &  Book of Jude

In the Pentecostal church, the pastor will encourage you to open up to the spiritual realm and to receive the 'spirit'. Have no resistance of mind or will.  This is exactly what a guru will tell you when meditating. This is what the Pentecostal songs are DESIGNED to do to you - open you up! Everyone is encouraged to raise their arms up in the air to:

-  Open up to the spiritual realm.

- Have no resistance to whatever may come to you.

This modern raising of the arms is not biblical!  The Jews raised their arms with head bowed down as a sign of reverence. They were conscious of Jehovah God and kept their mind and will engaged.

Devils enter a life via the avenue of PASSIVITY of mind and will, and once a foothold is gained, they carefully manipulate the body and circumstances to make it appear as if this thing is from God and that one is right with God and 'spirit filled', able to perform healings, speak in 'tongues' (babble), give a word of knowledge, etc 
-------- BUT it is not biblical!

Demons are able to counterfeit the voice of God and give a word of knowledge, revelations, dreams, tongues, etc, when one is open to anything from the spiritual realm as being from the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible does not speak in your head today, but speaks through His WORD.

The Bible NEVER tells you to open up to the spiritual realm, but rather to guard yourself, be watchful and to test the spirits. Read  Proverbs 4:23  &  1 Peter 5:8, 9  &  1 John 4:1-6

D: The power of the Holy Ghost is NOT transmitted through your right arm. There is a Hindu sect which experiences healings via the use of the arm. This is NOT the laying on of hands mentioned in the Bible.

The modern 'slaying in the spirit' is NOT even in the Bible. In fact there are only two times when it mentions people falling backwards at the presence of God, and both are a sign of a CURSE -  Isaiah 28:13  &  John 18:6

The Apostle Paul said that the one who speaks in bible tongues has power/control over his own spirit - to break it or not.  1 Corinthians 14:26-33  In the modern movement people are laid unconscious on the stage, speak in babble uncontrollably and burst into laughing fits which they cannot stop = this smells of demon influence.   Compare Luke 9:38-40  with  Acts 4:8-12 

REASON THIRTEEN   The Pentecostal system encourages experiences and discourages enquiry.

In the Pentecostal system one is encouraged to open up to the spiritual realm and seek for fresh experiences and fresh assurances of 'God' in one's life. When the experience is given from the spiritual realm, then one believes that as FACT regardless of if it is in the Bible or not. The ability to discern is stripped away and discouraged; the ability to reason and to test the spirits is put away as insulting to God; the mind and will are set aside while in church. Intelligent people put aside their reasoning/testing powers while in church. This is both unbiblical and spiritually dangerous.  Acts 17:11

The correct operation of the man is this: He hears the FACTS and with reasoning powers still intact, he CHOOSES by the will to obey, and good feelings may or may not accompany his obedient action.

REASON FOURTEEN   The error of the Pentecostal system is that it teaches:

A: Tongues are necessary for salvation.  Pentecostalism began in the year 1901, in New York, when a lady spoke in babble in a meeting.  What about the millions of Christians who lived between 100 A.D. and 1900 A.D.   Are they saved? 
 
B: Tongues are an evidence of salvation.

Nowhere in the Bible does it teach this!

Mark 16:15-18 is for the apostolic era, and is not a sign of salvation but of confirmation that these men were from God. 
Acts 1:8 teaches that the sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit is power to evangelise and get people to church. 

Pentecostals believe that after salvation, down the line, you can receive the Holy Spirit.

This is NOT taught in scripture. Read Ephesians 2:12-14  &  Romans 8:9 

In Paul's day, not all Christians spoke in tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:29-31

 

REASON FIFTEEN   Pentecostals believe that they are in a new age. This means that they:

A: Give lip service to the Bible being the absolute authority, but in practice they will change anything they need to, to attract a crowd into their church building.  e.g. new bible, new songs, casual clothing, non-offensive sermonettes, etc.

B: Believe that western Christendom is having a true revival today, but as we have already mentioned, the Bible states that the Church is in self-deceived apostasy in the days just before judgment is poured out. This is always the biblical pattern in any dispensation = ends in apostasy and judgment. (E.g. Book of Malachi).

C: Can adopt a new bible version which this modern generation is more 'comfortable' with. (But the versions are diluted and come via the Catholic system).

D: Can adopt new songs and discard the old hymns. (The new songs are written by new-age people who want you to open up to the spiritual realm).

E: Can lower the standards to make people more 'comfortable' in church. This includes not judging immorality among the teens, wearing immodest clothing, rock band on stage, etc. 

F: Can allow for women to be pastors and deaconesses. They say Paul was a chauvinist, and that was his culture = now we can change the rules.

The Bible however teaches a continuing principle concerning the roles:

God - Jesus - Man - Woman - Child - pet.

It is always God's plan to have men to lead their family and church family.
Read 1 Timothy 3:2  &   Ephesians 5:23, 24   
             

REASON SIXTEEN    The error of Pentecostalism is the ecumenical spirit.

The modern Pentecostal effort is to focus on our similarities and to forget DOCTRINAL differences among religions and to unite under one common banner to evangelise the world.  Doctrines divide, they say, so let's minimise bible doctrine and give the people cheap sermonettes - keep them ignorant, so we can unite better.

The Pentecostals put their arms around any one from any religion and call them brother. They hold meetings together and all from any religion speak in modern tongues. Tongues are given as a sign of 'God' being in it, they claim.

This is in line with what the Bible calls the 'mystery of iniquity' - Satan's master plan of the ages, culminating in the last days of the Church age and climaxing during the Tribulation Period.  Satan will soon put forward his MAN (Anti-Christ) who shall rule over a one world religion. All religions shall embrace and submit to this world ruler and believe his miracles, signs and verbal claims. (They will hunt down and kill fundamental believers).

The Pentecostal system is preparing the world's populations for this time. 
Read 2 Thessalonians chp 2  &  Revelation chp 13

 

REASON SEVENTEEN    

 If Pentecostals are having true revival, then why don't they:

A: Go up to the hospital and heal everyone - empty the beds & save taxpayer money.

B: Drink poison and handle deadly snakes.  Mark 16:17, 18

C: Realise they are thousands of miles away from Jerusalem, 2000 years too late for a Pentecost feast day which saw the Holy Ghost given, and not Jewish enough to celebrate a Jewish feast day.   Acts chp 2

REASON EIGHTEEN    Pentecostals claim the gift of healing.

If it doesn't work with someone they say he or she did not have enough faith. This is erroneous and makes a scapegoat out of naive participants.

 Furthermore the Bible teaches that it is not God's will to heal everyone. Conservatists believe in a God who can heal, but not necessarily in modern faith healers.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:5-10 & 2 Timothy 4:20 & 1 Timothy 5:23 & James 5:14 - 16

REASON NINETEEN   The Bible says that by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-23
What are the fruits of the modern Pentecostal system?

A: A belief that the Bible is not enough and we are open to new revelations (like new-agers teach). 
This produces an unstable, gullible, immature life.

B: A belief that the Bible is not the final authority, but EXPERIENCE is. This produces a crowd ready for the Anti-Christ system. See 2 Thessalonians chp 2

C: A belief that to question experiences from the spiritual realm is wrong. This produces a gullible and deceived crowd who lack discernment.

D: A belief that voices in the head, babbling and other phenomena are from the God of the bible. This produces a crowd who are mass demon influenced.

E: A belief that 'love' is all we need and we are not to judge those who differ in doctrines from us. This produces a crowd who are undiscerning, easy pushovers and ready for the Anti-Christ system.

F: A belief that the 'spirit' works in a new way today. This produces confusion in the services and a lowering of moral, pulpit and dress standards.

 

REASON TWENTY  The modern Pentecostal error in the area of the Gospel.

A: A belief in easy believism - minimising bible truths such as repentance, sin, Hell and judgment.

B: A belief in mass evangelism - raise your hand and sign this card and you are all saved, or let the pastor pray over a group and pronounce them saved.

C: A belief in 'health, wealth and prosperity' gospel - come to Jesus and He will fix your problems = He is here to help you achieve success. (Man centered gospel).

 

D: A focus on the healing of the body, minimising the soul's true repentance.

 

E: A belief that salvation is verified by an experience/feeling.

 

 

All of these are unbiblical beliefs.

Read  Galatians 1:6-9  &  2 Corinthians 11:4  &  1 Peter 1:22, 23  &  Luke 5:31, 32  &  13:1-5  &  Acts 20:21

 

IN  CONCLUSION

 

 

Conservative bible believers do not go along with the modern Pentecostal system because of the above reasons, which are reasons enough. We love Pentecostal people and therefore we lay out this information to help seekers find the answer to this complexity. If one is in the Pentecostal system, it is advised to seek out and join a conservative bible based assembly.

 

Read  2 Corinthians 6:14-18  &  11:1-4, 13-15  &  1 Thessalonians 5:21, 22

 

We are commanded to judge matters of error and truth - to warn, rebuke, counsel and comfort.
Read  1 Corinthians 2:15  &  2 Timothy 2:15  &  Hebrews 5:11-14  &  Jude v.3, 4

 

In conclusion, let us spell it out - Pentecostalism is not true old time Christianity, but rather new age Hinduism dressed up in a church sheep skin. This is why we don't go along with it. The 'spirit' is another spirit.

Read  Matthew 7:15  &  2 Corinthians 11:4  &  Galatians 1:6-9

 

You may say to us that the people in the Pentecostal churches are nice, sincere people (and it is so true) - but when was that ever a criteria for being in the right way? Many members of cults and false religions are nice people, but being nice isn't the same as being saved and walking in the Truth.

 

Read  2 Peter 2:13, 18  &  Acts 8:9-24  &  Colossians 2:4, 8, 18

 

 

I implore you to consider yourself, the Pentecostal system and joining yourself to a conservative church which is fulfilling the great commission.