Local Church of Christ Preacher Boldly Questions Relevant Church

I can't remember the last time I read my local newspaper in Hamilton, AL and was surprised by something I read. Word tends to travel fast in this small town. However, as I fingered through the Journal Record today, a commentary, placed off to the side of page three took my breath away. Mr. Todd Clippard, pulpit minster of Burleson Church of Christ in Hamilton, AL has apparently had enough of the relevant movement that has taken place in our little small town and he is ready to do something about it. He has provided the readers of this small publication with a scathing commentary about the wool that many feel are being pulled over the eyes of the residents and children of this little town in northwest Alabama. In a hope that more than just the few who read the Journal Record will get to enjoy this writing, I would like to post his commentary below. Feel free to leave comments as I intend to send a link to this posting to Todd Clippard as well. Enjoy some discernment:

Pentecostal Finger Pointing or,

Not All Ramps Lead Upward

I recently watched some YouTube videos of the foolishness that is passed off as worship at the local RAMP. {find the referenced video below} One young man gave his "testimony" how the Lord had set him free, not from sin or some self-destructive lifestyle, but from (and I quote)"the biggest devil of all... dry, dead, religious tradition & bondage." He went on to rant about how "God wants to act normal again, but God can't act normal because he can't find his church that will act normal."

It must be noted that there is nothing unkind or unbiblical in comparing one's religious faith and practice against the teaching of Scripture. I invite comparisons of my faith and practice with the Scriptures. John warned us not to believe every spirit, but to put them to the test since many false teachers were in the world (1 John 4:1). Paul said Jews had "a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge,... being ignorant of God's righteous" (Rom. 10:2-3).

Pentecostals once practiced their traditions privately and were satisfied to leave everyone else alone, though they privately admitted they thought the rest of us were missing out on "real spirituality." But today things are different. There is a belligerent attitude among present charismatics, especially among younger practitioners. Now they openly and loudly point their fingers at us as if we should be ashamed for not acting like fools during our worship assemblies.

While you may find crude or offensive my use of the word "fools," it is actually nicer than Paul's description of those who possessed (unlike today's false practitioners) but misused genuine spiritual gifts. Writing to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 14:22-23, Paul said,

"Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your minds?"

I find it beyond belief how today's charismatics jump around, holler, dance and roll on the floor, and then accuse the rest of us of failing to act normally! Such practices stand in direct violation of the very laws Paul laid down for the exercise of spiritual gifts. Modern day charismatic practice has been divorced from 1 Corinthians 14:22-23 for irreconcilable differences!

Lord willing, our examination of the Bible in view of modern pentecostalism will continue in a follow-up article next week. Until then, we welcome your questions and comments.

Todd Clippard

Burleson Church of Christ

END

Here is the video that Todd references in his commentary: