Why I Left The Tongues Movement - By Alfred H. Pohl

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REASON # 6

THE UNDERMINING OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

To me it is quite clear that the Bible teaches the personality of the Holy Spirit. The personal pronoun He is repeatedly used when referring to the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, many cults deny His personality and think of the Holy Spirit merely as an impersonal force, a power or an influence, but not as a Person.

Shortly before I left the Tongues Movement a very dear Christian brother and Bible teacher pointed out to me that our denomination and Tongues people in general, were, because of our doctrine of the Holy Spirit, gradually slipping into the error of the cults. Though in theory and in our Articles of Faith we subscribed to the personality of the Holy Spirit, yet in practice we looked upon Him largely as a "Power" or an "impersonal force." Actually, to that time I had not noticed this gradual erosion in my own mind. I began to examine his warning and found that it was indeed so. I asked myself, "Why was this trend in our thinking developing?"

I believe that one of the main reasons for this was our emphasis on experience. The Holy Spirit "fullness" became a desirable experience. We became more occupied with the gift than with the Giver. This appears in the oft repeated question, "Have you got it?" or "You've got it!" Let's just analyze that statement: what did we mean by "it"? (1) If all we are concerned about is an experience, them the word "it" would be quite appropriate. And I am afraid that to many that is all that it is. (2) But if we recognize that this is a meeting with or ministry of God the Holy Spirit in us, then we can hardly use the word "it," but rather it should be "Him." There is real danger here of being more occupied with the gift than with the Giver. (3) Even if we should say, "I've got Him," do we give the right impression of what the Bible actually teaches? Really, is it a case of us having more of Him or is it not a case of Him having more of us? Does not the Scripture emphasize this, that we should yield our members, ourselves, to the control of the Holy Spirit that Jesus might be the Lord of our lives? Romans 6:13 tells us to "Yield yourselves unto God"; so also verse 19 and Rom 12:1-2. And add to that the meaning of the words "be filled" in Ephesians 5:18: "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." The words be filled in Greek mean be constantly under the control of. Christians are thus commanded and expected to be constantly under the control of the Holy Spirit, or to be "led by the Spirit," or to "walk in the Spirit." The case, then, is that the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer, should be in control of the yielded bodies of all Christians so that the Lord Jesus might be glorified through them. No, we really are not to seek a greater "portion" of the Holy Spirit, but we ought to make sure that we ourselves are completely yielded to Him, that He has all of us!

This emphasis and use of the word "it" is reflected in a Pentecostal tract that I, for some reason, still have in my possession. It is Tract No. 4285, published by the Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, Missouri, and entitled, "The Baptism of the Spirit." Let me give you just a few excerpts here to illustrate what I am trying to say:

"Down at the house of Cornelius (Romans) they received it eight years after the day of Pentecost. ... The disciples at Ephesus (Greeks) received it twenty years after the first outpouring ... Multitudes are receiving it today. ... It is for you ... We are commanded to seek it ... Pray for it ... Praise God for it in faith..."

I believe that it is this kind of teaching that undermines and erodes our concept of and faith in the personality of the Holy Spirit. I know how it had, unconsciously, affected me.

Reason #7--Spiritual pride and disunity produced by their doctrine