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Association of Vineyard Churches
Board Report: Sept / Oct 1994
Summary Report on the Current Renewal and the Phenomena Surrounding It
INTRODUCTION
============
The guidelines that follow represent the majority consensus of the
board. It is not possible in a brief document to adequately express
all the discussion or all of the minority positions that are held by
various board members. It is, therefore, important to remember that
this statement is subject to the autonomy of the local church and its
pastor. All of this must be worked through in a way that does not
violate one's faith or conscience.
THE PASTORAL ADMINISTRATION OF PHENOMENA
========================================
1. WE ARE WILLING TO ALLOW "experiences" to happen without endorsing,
encouraging or stimulating them; nor should we seek to "explain" them
by inappropriate "proof-texting." Biblical metaphors( similar to
those concerning a lion or a dove, etc.) do not justify or provide a
proof-text for animal behavior.
There are some manifestations, that while socially uncomfortable
(i.e., they wouldn't seem "decent and in order" in most church context
today), have biblical precedent (cf. Dan. 8:16-18, 27; 10:8-10;
Mt. 17:6-7; Rev. 1:17, etc.). The absence of a proof-text, however,
does not necessarily disallow an experience. If so, none of us could
go to Disneyland, use computers to write messages, or have worship
bands. The point is, don't try to defend unusual manifestations from
biblical texts that obviously lack a one-to-one correspondence with a
current experience.
We also need to be careful in our use of revival history and tradition
to justify manifestations. People like Jonathan Edwards are helpful
in that they give us examples of how godly men, who submitted
themselves to the Scriptures as their final authority, sorted out
similar issues. But in fairness to them, we don't know exactly what
they would say about the current phenomena. What we do know is that
men like Edwards are shining examples of how to responsibly use
Scripture.
We do not necessarily equate an "experience" as a manifestation of the
Holy Spirit. For example, one person may have a genuine response to
the presence of God which involves shaking and / or falling down. A
person standing next to him or her, however, may do the exact same
thing out of emotionalism or some other excess. While there has been
some excess in our meetings, questionable manifestations have not been
the major part of the renewal, but have attracted a disproportionate
amount of attention.
2. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME particular concern about animal noises
(some would discourage them; others would rule them out completely),
the board was not prepared to make a blanked statement rejecting or
"barring" any particular manifestation unless it is prohibited by
Scripture. Each extra-biblical manifestations must be discerned
individually. The ultimate test of manifestations should be the
long-term fruit produced in a person's life, and the edification of
the body of Christ (i.e., through prophecy, etc.). (See enclosed
article by John Wimber.)
3. RATHER THAN PROMOTING, displaying, or focusing on phenomena, we
want to focus on the main/plain issues of Scripture. For instance,
witnessing, healing, demon expulsion, ministering to the poor and
widows, etc. This way, people will find their identity in doing
Scriptural work, not in experiencing phenomena. We would like people
to be known as "evangelists" or "zealous Christian workers" rather
than "roarers" or "shakers." We do not want manifestations to be a
mark of spirituality. Rather the fruit and gifts of the Spirit and a
godly character should attest to true spirituality.
4. WHEN EXTRA-BIBLICAL OR exotic phenomena do occur, we want to avoid
theologizing form them.