Resolution 61:10
RESOLUTION ON THE BROWNSVILLE ASSEMBLY "REVIVAL" MOVEMENT


The 61st General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church meeting in Tacoma, WA July 31 to August 5, 1997, hereby expresses its opposition to the Brownsville Assembly "Revival" Movement.

From the Brownsville Assembly of God Church in Pensacola, Florida, Pastor John Kilpatrick said that God asked him to "bring a sword into the church." He said God wanted to separate those who were against the flow of the Spirit from those who wanted it.

Mr. Art Katz expressed the concern that "perhaps one of the most ominous features of this "revival" movement is those who have some concerns and reservations are called "obstructions," "enemies" or "threats" to this outgoing of God. This would be what they would call us.

What happens, as reported by pro-Pensacola writer Beth McDuffie, is the following: "As people went forward, they begin to fall down shaking and crying, etc., just like the Toronto meetings everywhere."

Uncontrollable shaking is the most prevalent manifestation. Charisma staff writer, Lee Grady, gave this description of Alison Ward: "As she spoke, Alison shook in a manner so awkward that a casual observer might think she suffered from cerebral palsy. Then while trembling violently, she issued a plea so heartful that those in the room say they heard God speaking through her. Choking back tears, she said intently: 'God is in a hurry. There's not much more time. He aches and He grieves for your spirit!' At that moment Alison fell to the floor. A deafening chorus of >moaning and wailing filled the room as people were moved by an almost eerie sense of God's love for lost souls...."

God has plead for lost souls ("And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15). "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men...." II Corinthians 5:11a) However, God does not express this pleading with souls through our violent shaking. Although Jesus also pleads for the lost, the Scripture never says he did violent shaking. Furthermore, one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23 is "self-control." Yet in this Brownsville assembly there is not only violent shaking, but also shrieking and hyena-like laughter. And this is called "holy."

"Another aspect of this so-called "revival," "outpouring of God," and "flow of the Spirit" is getting "drunk in the Spirit." Pastor Kilpatrick admitted that he has been so "drunk in the Spirit" that he actually struck his youth pastor's car with his own. He said that while driving he had hit many garbage cans sitting at the curb on several occasions, because he was so "drunk." He added that his wife has been so drunk she couldn't cook. Sometimes his drunken stupors are so severe that he has to be taken from the service in a wheel-chair," Kilpatrick reported.

Toronto style churches have "designated drivers" for their too-drunk-to-drive parishioners. Students missed classes because of "Holy Ghost hangovers," or disrupted classes with their laughter and other erratic behavior.

Under the subheading "Surprises of the Spirit," Pastor Kilpatrick says: "God is taking us from glory to glory, and this glory won't be the last glory." He defends being drunk in the Spirit by adding to, and misstating, the Scriptures. He says, "On the day of Pentecost, the believers were staggering as if drunk." No one has ever, or should ever, interpret that passage in Acts to mean that those who spoke in other languages were staggering around like someone drunk. However, "apologists" of the Toronto blessing have also used this argument.

We meet their accusations that we are "obstructions," "enemies," and "threats" to the "outpouring of God" and the "flow of the Spirit" by stating that such behavior has no biblical precedent, and is obviously an unbiblical practice, and we warn God's people to stay away from this growing apostasy among some churches.

Adopted by the 61st General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church, meeting in Tacoma, WA, July 31-August 5, 1997.


Originally from: "John T. Dyck"
Originally dated: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 07:01:43 -0600