| A “religious revival” recently took place on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore. How should Christians respond to occurrences like this one? Paul told the Thessalonians, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–22 ESV). John wrote, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world,” (1 John 4:1). The apostles called for discernment. Christians have an obligation to examine claims involving the Holy Spirit. We must cling to the good, and we must not endorse anything that fails to meet the test.
God’s Word must serve as our criteria for examination. Sincerity does not necessarily create accuracy. Emotions should follow our religious experiences, but emotions alone may lead us astray (cf. Jeremiah 17:9). Even claims of heavenly visions may not be trusted (cf. Galatians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14). Instead, we must evaluate the doctrinal claims that are connected with any supposed manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Three features of the recent phenomenon at Asbury deserve our attention. First, the “event” began during a chapel service in which instruments were being played as worship to God. Second, although there were claims of conversion, there was no evidence of immersion. Third, men and women alike were taking the stage to lead the worship. While the majority of religious people who identify as Christians today worship with instruments, we find no such worship in the New Testament. For one thousand years, no public worship services included instruments. Simply because “everybody is doing it” doesn’t mean it’s right. Asbury University traces its roots to a movement that began in England, led by the Wesley brothers, known as Methodism. One of the key distinctions of the Methodist tradition is that it downplays religious “rites” including baptism. The Bible teaches, with clarity and simplicity, the necessity of baptism (cf. Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). Finally, the New Testament regulates worship such that no woman may take a position of authority over a man (1 Corinthians 14:34; 1 Timothy 2:12). A house divided will fall (cf. Mark 3:25). If the events at Asbury do not pass the Bible’s doctrinal test, we cannot believe they came from the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit would not work against Himself or the truths He has delivered in Scripture (John 16:13). Clay Leonard
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Commentary for the Sermon on the Mount
