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

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REASON # 15

THE TENDENCY TO BLIND, UNQUESTIONING DEVOTION TO POPULAR LEADERS

There is a dangerous tendency in the Movement to idolize and give undue reverence to leaders with abilities and strong personalities, or we might say, "charisma." Even when there are glaring errors, inconsistencies, and unscriptural practices, many will support, defend, and blindly follow these leaders. In a previous section I referred to a "prophet-evangelist" who visited one of our churches. I remember the unquestioned respect, reverence, and awe that people showed, especially when he "prophesied" (so-called). It reminds me of the Samaritans in Acts 8:9-11, who also gave undue reverence to Simon the sorcerer. We read these words in verse 10: "To whom [that is, Simon] they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God." I believe many today are similarly deceived by false prophets and miracle-workers (so-called), in spite of the oft-repeated scriptural warnings against deception. The prophet evangelist I mentioned above turned out to be a false prophet, yet he was given great honour and respect by practically the whole church.

It is amazing how these clever personalities can capture the minds and hearts of unsuspecting sincere Christians and blind them to their own errors and faults! I remember hearing, when still a young boy, the glowing reports about Aimee Semple McPherson. She was the originator of one of the tongues denominations, and was acclaimed as a great leader. Many of us would have considered it a great privilege to see her and hear her speak.

But though great crowds followed her and idolized her, the "behind-the- scenes" picture is not pleasant. An examination of her record is as disappointing as it is revealing. But I am sure that many of her devoted followers will not believe anything that might be proven against her. They can't and won't believe that their revered leader could be guilty of doing any wrong.

Another popular faith-healer, Mr. A.A. Allen, whom I heard on the radio years ago, and who must have had a considerable following of supporters, was found dead in his hotel room in San Francisco in 1970. He apparently had come to the city for an operation on his arthritic knee, but died in his hotel room. The coroner reported that he had died of acute alcoholism and fatty infiltration of the liver. But I dare say that many of his loyal followers will not believe the coroner's report. They just can't believe that their leader could do such a thing.

It is this "blind loyalty" that is all too prevalent in many areas of the Movement that is alarming. In the area of financial support, many sincere people of God, overcome by the "charisma" or personality of some leader, give very generously to line the coffers of these people, without investigating or questioning what use is made of their offerings and gifts.

Just to illustrate, I refer to a news item that appeared in the Calgary Herald, June 7, 1980. The article made reference to evangelist Rex Humbard's pleas for financial support for his television programs, and then told of how he spends some of that money. Here is a quote in part:

"Evangelist Rex Humbard, who last year said his television ministry was strapped for funds and appealed to viewers for more cash, admits he and his sons recently purchased a home and condominiums in Florida for $650,000.

"`My people don't give a hoot what I spend that money for,' Humbard said.

"Humbard said last September 24, his ministry was $3.2 million in debt but purchased a home and condominiums near Palm Beach, Fla. with his sons for the $650,000 sum, the Cleveland Press reported this week" (Calgary Herald, June 7, 1980, used by permission of United Press International, 366 Adelaide St. East, Toronto, Ontario).

When Mr. Humbard said: "My people don't give a hoot what I spend that money for," he certainly uncovered an obvious trend and reality among many Charismatic people today, and he underscores what I am trying to point out.

Far too many Christians today are "too-trusting." Dare we handle the Lord's money in this careless manner, either in the giving or the receiving of it?

No wonder, then, that many God-fearing pastors and missionaries serving the Lord in small churches or in difficult areas, are suffering for lack of sufficient support—because God's money is being "drained off" by appealing personalities. Also think of what the non-Christian thinks of all this. Is it a good testimony? By no means! The very fact that this newspaper reporter investigated and the Calgary Herald published this article tells us something.

This tendency, then, to blind devotion and faithfulness to leaders with strong personalities, I believe, is very dangerous. We see much of the same in some of the better known cults today. All we need to do to emphasize this point is to mention the name of Jim Jones. In 1978 the world was shocked by the mass suicide of hundreds of Jones' loyal followers. Why did they do it? Because long before that fatal day they began to give blind, unswerving loyalty to Jones. They began to trust him, for everything and with everything, even when he did wrong. They ceased to think for themselves. They were deceived. They certainly did not follow God's Word closely in its teachings or they could not have followed Jones too long. It is so important, Christian, that we stay very close to the Bible. Study it!

Believe it! Trust it! Follow it!

Someone might object here and say that I am too hard on the Tongues- Charismatic people in this area. May I then add this thought: it is also true that among non-Tongues Christians we can find leaders with strong personalities who take advantage of trusting Christians. But there is this difference—if the Tongues people are correct in their claim that they "have more" and are "filled with the Spirit" because they speak with tongues and are therefore "more spiritual" than the non-Tongues people, then they should have a better record in this area! If they indeed have more than we have, then it should be evident! It is one thing to make a claim, it is quite another to produce the evidence.

May we all, by the grace of God, strive to be more Bible-oriented, and to be more loyal to our Lord Jesus Christ and the Scriptures than to personalities!

Reason #16--The possibility that the Charismatic Movement will be instrumental in producing the prophesied world ecumenical church of the last days