_9 Rodney Howard Browne
WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING by Pastor Bill Randies Rodney Howard Browne Two Contrasting Experiences
He walked with Jesus for three years. He had even been in the inner circle of the three closest friends of Jesus. It was he who had first received the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Blessed One. Sure, there had been many rough times as well. Walking with Jesus as a disciple had subjected him to countless rebukes and corrections. With Jesus, the rebuke of instruction was a way of life. But, there had been so many glorious experiences. Like the time they went up on the holy mountain, and had seen the true glory of Jesus revealed, in the transfiguration, the cloud of God had overshadowed them, Moses and Elijah appeared and they heard a discussion between Jesus, Moses and Elijah! Wow! On the way back down the mountain, Jesus patiently answered the questions that the three peppered Him with and then cautioned them to tell no one the experience till he was raised from the dead. And recently, Peter had an even more ultimate experience, he had seen and talked with the resurrected and glorified, Lord Jesus Christ! As he stood up to testify, that Pentecost Sunday morning, he looked out at the crowd which had gathered and with a boldness he had previously never known, preached the significance of the recent events with clarity, and conviction from the Psalms and the book of Joel. He made known to that crowd, that "this Jesus, whom you crucified, God has raised up." The crowd was pierced through with conviction and shouted, "What shall we do?" Peter led 3000 to the Lord that day. An Even Stronger Experience?
He had gone to about 100 of his brother’s evangelistic meetings, but so far had been "untouched," at least not in the way that thousands of others had been, struck dumb, paralyzed, intoxicated, unable to do anything but laugh or weep and moan. And then it happened, an angel walked up to him and touched his stomach. He went down "under the power." The next thing he saw was the angel pouring out of a vase, what looked like honey, on him. The more the angel poured, the drunker he got. When he stood up at a subsequent meetings to testify, his brother asked him, [Rodney Howard Browne] "Basil, tell the people what happened to you."
[Basil], "Um, well, um... [heavy breathing]...We were...we were...um..." [Basil is standing there, with glazed eyes, half stooped, locked in a hunched position, totally out of it.] [Rodney Howard Browne] "And then what happened?" [crowd laughter] [Basil] "Urnm, and then I, umm, ooh, hmmm, [out of breath] OOOH, Whew! Whew! MMMM, Heh, and....ummm."
[Rodney Howard Browne] "The fire..." [interestingly, at this point, Basil is sweating and turning red, physically hot, which is somewhat common in this renewal].
Basil] "OOOH! Oh, whew, and um, then..." [heavier breathing and groaning] (1) At this point, Rodney calls the ushers forward to help him to his seat. The crowd is absolutely delighted. Another confirmation of the ministry of Rodney Howard Browne! Could this be an even stronger experience than Peter had? Peter had only walked with Jesus three years, been with Him at the mount of transfiguration, and witnessed the resurrected Christ. But, he could testify intelligently about it later! The experiences that Basil had, were supposedly so strong, so sacred and so dynamic, he couldn’t even testify about them, in intelligent speech! He almost appeared to go into a catatonic state, a trance when asked to testify. He also exhibited semi-paralysis and appeared to be extremely hot, turning red, sweating as he spoke of the fire. Welcome to the ministry of Rodney Howard Browne. The whole testimony service recorded by video July 21, 1994, is unbelievable! The video was actually given to me to commend the ministry of Rodney Howard Browne, incredibly. The fruit of this ministry was prominently displayed, people standing there, going into trances, unable to speak intelligibly, so far out of it you’d think they were on Valium. What are they testifying of? Was it the cross? Was it Jesus? Their testimony was of their recent mystical experience, and how it has changed their lives. I am quite certain that the mystical experience that Rodney Howard Browne and others are initiating people into, actually does change lives, too. It is my opinion that this revival is the forerunner of a massive change for many lives. But, this is not a change akin to the transforming power of the gospel. The change that is being introduced here is not wrought by truth, gradually adapted and conformed to, this change is solely experiential. This is the paradigm shift that has been called for, Christians have finally turned off their heads" so that they can actually experience "God" for once, instead of just having "head knowledge."
Rodney’s Family Touched Not only his brother, but his mother and wife testified. Rodney assures us on the tape, if your family gets it, it’s real. When Andronica, his wife, testified, she gave one of those, "I’ve always considered myself to be dignified, but God wanted to break me out of it," testimonies. According to her, when the "holy laughter" phenomena first broke out, disrupting services and interrupting preaching, she was somewhat put off. She would almost cringe whenever her husband would say to the people, "I command you to laugh." But, she eventually got to the point where she was able to "let go." As she told Bob and Molly DeAndrea on the "Good Life" Christian television show, "Because I let go, I felt a bubbling come up from my belly. I started to analyze it, but I heard the Lord say, "Don’t think, just let me do it."" Andronica has been changed! She says she no longer cares what people think, it doesn’t even bother her when people don’t go along with the laughter, "The people sitting there with serious faces are the funniest ones."
Next up to testify after Andronica, was Rodney’s mom. "Mom tell the people what happened to you." [Mother] "Well...um...and he...then I...um, you see..." This is literally how it went for about five minutes. She had come into some experience so powerful, she was unable to testify of it in intelligent sentences! Even the apostles never had such a marvelous encounter with God. After trying to talk about it, she just began laughing, shouting, dancing and praising God before falling under the power. After leading her to her seat, Rodney Howard Browne tells a delighted audience, "She hasn’t been able to tell me what happened yet..."
Janny Grien and Others The testimony service just kept getting worse, (or better, depending on your perspective). Janny Grien, internationally known gospel songwriter and singer, was called up. She too was asked to testify, (not to Jesus, but to her "mystical experience"). She literally puffed and sputtered, pulled at her collar, got red and hot, breathed heavy and couldn’t speak intelligibly trying to relate this "miraculous experience." She did come to enough to say something to the effect of"I was fine till I came up here [to the stage]," eventually. She ultimately "went down" under the power. Another pastor was called up, with a blank look on his face, obviously in a trance, he shuffled to the mike. When asked for his testimony, he stared blankly at the audience, unable to say anything, except an extremely slurred "Praise God." He had to be helped back to his seat. Rodney Lloyd, Bible school teacher, could do a little better. He, at least, could talk somewhat sensibly. He told us of his experience, going down under the power at a Rodney Howard Browne meeting and how God verified the validity of this meeting by levitating his arm! Who Is Rodney Howard Browne?
He was born into a Pentecostal home, an atmosphere that was bathed in prayer. By his own testimony, he was saved at the age of five and baptized in the Holy Spirit at age eight. Both at home and in the Pentecostal church he attended, he testifies of continually [seeing] supernatural manifestations." (2) His own "baptism of fire" occurred in 1979, while he was still a teenager. Here is how he tells it.
I knew that there was more, much more...In July of 1979,1 cried out to God in sheer desperation. I wanted Him to manifest Himself to me and in me. I was hungry...As I prayed that day, I told the Lord, "Either you come down here and touch me, or I am going to come up there and touch you." I was desperate. I must have called out to God for about 20 minutes that day. Suddenly, the fire of God fell on me. It started on my head and went right down to my feet. His power burned in my body and stayed like that for three whole days...I was really praying, Lord, I am too young to die. "In the fourth day, I am not praying, "O Lord send your glory," I am praying, Please lift it off me so that I can bear it." I was plugged into heaven’s electric light supply...my desire has been to go and plug other people in. My whole body was on fire...Out of my belly began to flow a river of living water. I began to laugh uncontrollably and then I began to weep and then speak with tongues. I was so intoxicated on the wine of the Holy Ghost that I was beside myself...Because of that encounter with the Lord, my life was radically changed from that day on. (3)
Rodney Howard Browne proceeds in the book to relate changes in his ministry after that anointing with fire, while preaching in a Methodist church. I’ll let him tell it in his own humorous way.
We were preaching in a Methodist church. I was back in the vestibule, which is a holy name for a plain old office, preparing for service. One of the young ladies came into the office and asked me to pray for her because she was in terrible pain... I got my hand halfway to her head, almost like a gunslinger would draw a gun out of a holster, and point it at his opponent. Suddenly, unexpectedly, it felt like my finger tips came off. I felt a full volume of anointing flow out of my hand. The only way I can explain it is to liken it to a fireman holding a fire hose with a full volume of water flowing out of it. The anointing went right into her. It looked like someone had hit her in the head with an invisible baseball bat and she fell to the floor... (4) On and on it goes. Side Note
Notice the sensuality of the testimony, though. The fire of God courses through his body, it shoots out of his fingers, like a gun, she gets hit by an invisible bat! The concept behind the word sensual is not always referring to "sexual." Sensual refers to the things pertaining to the five physical senses. I’ll be blunt, Rodney Howard Browne has a sensual ministry. The promise is held out that you are going to be touched by God, you’re going to feel God, you’ll even get drunk on the new wine! You’ll laugh, stagger, get stuck to the floor, and generally have an all out good time! It’s "fun" going to these meetings!
Back to Who is Rodney Howard Browne? In 1987, Rodney Howard Browne left his native South Africa to come to the United States, on a word from God. By that time, he had already pioneered a church, pastored for a time and been on the pastoral staff of Ray McCauley’s Rhema Bible Church in Johannesburg. Upon arriving in America, he commenced an itinerant ministry.
It was at a series of meetings in Albany, New York in 1989 that the unusual manifestations had begun to take place. It began to occur at a time when both he and his wife were hungry for God to move. As he was preaching at a morning meeting, he said a cloud filled the room, visible to others, but not to him. He could feel it, though. People began falling out of their seats as he preached.
While I was preaching, the power of God began to fall.
Many people began to fall out of their seats. It looked like someone was shooting them and in some places whole rows at a time would go down. They were laughing and crying and falling all over the place and looked like drunken people.
(5)
Rodney Howard Browne became an internationally prominent revivalist after a Spring, 1993 meeting at an Assembly of God church in Lakeland, Florida, the Carpenter’s Home Church. He was scheduled for one week, but the meeting lasted four! People who heard about it flew in from as far away as Africa, Great Britain and Argentina. What made the difference in this revival meeting? According to Charisma Magazine, The difference was the laughter. No matter what Howard Browne did or said, hundreds who attended the daily sessions always ended up on the sanctuary floor in helpless laughter. When the services were broadcast on radio, more curious seekers showed up to join the fun. (6) An Incredible Interview
One of those who heard Rodney Howard Browne services on the radio was Molly DeAndrea. Along with her husband, Bob, the DeAndrea’s host a local Christian television show, "The Good Life." On one of their shows, they interviewed both Rodney and Andronica Howard Browne. In the interview, Molly DeAndrea testified of listening to one of the services on the radio at home. At one point, she tried to get up to go to the bathroom and was "stuck," immobilized and had to stand there in one position for one hour and ten minutes, laughing helplessly. As she stood there, she testified of her feet being on fire, so hot that she became afraid that they were going to be blistered! "You know it’s the presence of God" she assures us. The interview was interspersed with various clips of Rodney’s meetings. For example:
[You hear] [Rodney Howard Browne] "Welcome to Joel’s Place, have another drink. You can have a double of what he’s having." [Rodney Howard Browne] "Does your mother know you’re here? Where are you from, sir?"
[answer unheard] [Rodney Howard Browne] "I command you to laugh."
[Obviously intoxicated young man] "I came here tonight and I was going to get high on both spirits, I’m about half drunk right now, but, everybody’s laughing and falling on the floor and I want some of that."
[Rodney Howard Browne] "You do? You have to be willing to come to God."
[Young Man] "If you give me some of that, I want to come back." [Crowd applauds wildly as young man "accepts Jesus" and is slain "in the Spirit."] Interview Highlights This particular interview did a great job of presenting to the public who Rodney Howard Browne actually is and what he stands for. The different manifestations were discussed, such as "the heat." By the heat, I mean an actual sensation of the fire, people are feeling heat, their faces are turning red, and they feel that it is God’s glory.
[Rodney Howard Browne] "It’s like putting a finger into a light socket, it’s tangible and real." As I said earlier, as soon as Rodney Howard Browne mentioned "the fire" to his brother Basil, he visibly got hot and sweaty.
Another manifestation that was discussed on the show was the strange physical positions people end up in, whenever this particular spirit moves. Andronica tells of people weeping and laughing and rolling on the floor laughing hilariously, unable to stop and then adds, "When those waves of anointing hit you, you can’t do anything else." We are also told that, "You know it’s not hype because tough guys, determined not to fall down do anyway." A clip is shown of someone who was struck dumb, known only as Stacy’s wife.
[Stacy’s Wife] "We were in Spring Hill and..." [laughter of people] [Rodney Howard Browne] "And then what happened?" [Stacy’s Wife] "...[long pause, troubled breathing, clearing throat]..." [Rodney Howard Browne] "So holy, God is so holy, He’s such a holy God."
It’s not unusual to have bodies immobilized, people struck dumb, there have been people acting like they are swimming in the River of Life, as they are "laid out."
People "flying" like eagles around the room and others seen running in place. People get stuck to the floor all the time, much to the delight of the thoroughly entertained crowds. "Religious people will not understand this..."
Buddhist for 25 Years [Rodney Howard Browne] "There are unusual things that happen, it doesn’t happen in every church."
[Host] "One man in Spring Hill, I remember, he came in as an unbeliever and very skeptical and then he testified...two days later, how the Lord just kind of put this heavy load on him and stuck him to the floor, and then his head was stuck to the floor."
[Rodney Howard Browne] "Now he was a Buddhist for 25 years and God had saved him and he come into the meeting and said, "These people are just wacko"...The power of God hit him cause he said, ’Lord, you haven’t proven anything to me,’ and God hit him in the seat and he crumbled and he doubled over and his head got down to where his feet were and he ended up with his rear right up in the air, and he was stuck like that and he couldn’t move...when he got up off the floor, he knew that God’s power had touched him. Now some would say, "I don’t believe it." That’s fine, those people that don’t want to believe it they probably wouldn’t believe nothing. They probably wouldn’t believe the Bible."
Another topic discussed was "religious people" or the church in general. Rodney Howard Browne never seems to miss a chance to berate and mock those who are hesitant about this "move of the Spirit." That should be a warning to many, but all too often instead, it actually intimidates the ones who should be sounding the alarm.
[Rodney Howard Browne] "Those who don’t believe this probably wouldn’t believe anything, they probably wouldn’t believe the Bible." Andronica parrots a host of other voices when she proclaims, "Some people have more faith that the devil will show up than the Holy Spirit!" Rodney doesn’t even bat an eye when he accuses the church of taking the supernatural out of the Bible and making it into Readers Digest or an encyclopedia. Does the church need this? [Rodney Howard Browne] "The church needs laughter, Lord have mercy! [They’re] the driest bunch on the planet." Also, "The religious dead heads have left and some dead preachers, but the unsaved and backsliders are here." Is It Scriptural?
Rodney does attempt to answer this question with proof texts. Is it scriptural for laughter to interrupt the preaching of the Word? Acts chapter 10, While he yet spake, the Holy Ghost fell...for they heard them speak with tongues. What about trances? Peter went into a trance inActs 10:1-48. Spiritual drunkenness is supposedly taught inActs 2:1-47andEphesians 5:18,Psalms 126:1-6is used to support uncontrollable laughter, Zechariah was struck dumb inLuke 1:12-22. InActs 8:1,the Samaritans received the Word with joy.1 Corinthians 2:4-5tells us of demonstrations of the Spirit, are you beginning to see what I mean? Of course, there will be chapter and verse used to back up everything being said and done. But, the ultimate question is, did Jesus or the apostles ever even remotely utilize these practices? (Also usesColossians 2:14,Acts 9:1-43,etc.)
What’s it like to be in the influence of this "spirit?" [Rodney Howard Browne] "The ladies enter in easier than men, for they have had to learn to submit." (Eve entered so much quicker than Adam.) [Molly DeAndrea] "Sometimes you can think and can’t talk, other times you’re blank, you can’t think, you clear your throat like you’re getting ready to do something, but can’t do anything." [Rodney Howard Browne] "What happens is, the power of God overwhelms people to such a place that it’s very hard to function. In the natural, people don’t understand. We have a spirit man and we live in a physical body. Well, when the glory of God comes on you and overwhelms you, you can think exactly what you’re going to say... but, you are so over in the spirit, you are so lost in the spirit, it’s very hard to function... You can’t make that up and you wouldn’t want to..." The Teachings of Rodney Howard Browne
Rodney doesn’t want anyone to get upset by the possibility of anyone getting "in the flesh" at one of these meetings. In one of his books, he explains it this way,
You can’t have revival without stirring up the flesh. If you want to stop the flesh, you’d better shoot everyone as they come in the door. How can you stop the flesh from manifesting in the house of God, when it is manifesting continually in the world?... When revival comes you will see manifestations of these three things in meetings: (1) the Holy Spirit; (2) the flesh, and (3) the devil. But, I’d rather be in a church where the devil and the flesh are manifesting than in a church where nothing is happening because people are too afraid to manifest anything... Don’t worry about it. And if a devil manifests, don’t worry about that, either. Rejoice, because at least something is happening! (7)
I think these comments reflect the growing kind of discontentment, that paves the way for the mystical revival. The discontentment is basically summed up by the above statement, in effect, "I don’t care if it’s flesh, Holy Spirit or the devil, just let something happen!"
Howard-Browne’s view of recent church history is revealing as well. In his book, The Coming Revival, Browne praises William Branham as a great man of God, and the Latter Rain Movement as a valid move of the Spirit. In this book, he councils us to "ride the wave," making sure you "read the wave" to make sure it’s a right wave" as opposed to a "wrong wave." As soon as the "wave is over, look for the next wave, and when that wave is over look for the next." (8) He doesn’t explain how to "read" waves, though. This kind of thinking is the very antithesis of the admonition Paul gave us in Ephesians chapter 4, where he told us that we should mature in Christ so that, We will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of doctrine and by the cunning craftiness of men whereby they lie in wait to deceive. James equates waves as those things which toss the double minded, unstable person to and fro.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ash of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in his ways.James 1:5-8 The Vineyard Movement also considers themselves to be a wave, The Third Wave," (The first being the Pentecostal Revival, the second the Charismatic Movement). Many I interviewed in Toronto expressed gratitude that they had jumped on this particular "wave." In a recent editorial in Charisma Magazine, the concept of the wave is redefined, into a potentially positive phenomena, after quoting Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. The author expressed a peculiar "insight" into this verse.
It’s important to note that Paul did not specify whether these winds of doctrine were true or false teachings. [Ref.unknown] Indeed, dogma does not have to be false to be misleading. Even a true doctrine with an overly exaggerated emphasis can sidetrack us from Christlikeness.
You’ve got to watch out for true doctrine now, it can throw you off. The author goes on to say in his article that, In the passage in Ephesians, Paul also says that our pursuit of Christlikeness keeps us from being "tossed here and there by waves" (v 14). A wave is a spiritual phenomena that sweeps over a church or city, a spiritual high tide in which we can be washed and healed. A true spiritual wave can release wonderful joy and bring healing to areas within us otherwise untouched by God. (9)
There you have it, a wave is a desirable thing, or as the author of the article goes on to say, "an act of grace." It is true that the author’s purpose seems to be to caution people not to get hung up on the comings and going of the waves, but rather to reach for conformity to Christ. But, the point I make in this, is that waves are now considered to be good things, and people are being taught to look for and "jump on" the next wave! It is this kind of thinking that has conditioned people to "enter into" the Mystical Revival. In Rodney’s teaching on revival, the believer is likened to a surfer, A surfer doesn’t ride his board all the way to the white foam on the beach; he turns and paddles back, and looks for the next wave. But, he doesn’t take just any wave; he catches the right wave. (10) Rodney Howard Browne’s Views of What Is Coming
Predictably, Rodney Howard Browne sees the greatest revival ever seen about to break forth on the scene. In his book, The Coming Revival, Rodney sees a day coming when,
Eyeballs will form, legs and arms will grow out, people will leap out of wheelchairs... [Ed. Hey, no problem, God can do it, I believe in miracles]...One of these days a true prophet, anointed of God, will be a guest on one of these television talk shows. When they start to mock him, he will simply look at them and say, "That you may know that there is a God who lives, that you may know that He shall not be mocked, you will be blind for three days as a sign to you and this audience." The talk show host will scream, "O my God, I can’t see! I’m blind"... signs and wonders will be made manifest." (11) Browne also asks us,
How are you going to take it when God begins to translate people? If God translated some of you from one city to another, you’d scream all the way to your destination. And when you arrived, they’d all get saved, just by taking one look at you. (12)
Holy Ghost Glue In his book, Manifesting the Holy Ghost, he includes the following testimonial in his own unique, amusing way.
Holy Ghost Glue. When this happened I noticed a woman on the floor who was laughing uncontrollably. Then she started weeping and speaking in other tongues. She was lying on her back under the power of God with her hands, lying back above her head. She was stuck to the floor... The Mack Truck of God’s power is coming! She was lying there from noon until 1:30 drunk in the spirit. At 1:30 she tried to get up. She wanted to get up. She couldn’t. All she could do was flop her hands. So, she was there flopping away, flop, flop, flop, flop. She said, "I can’t get up. I’m stuck to the floor." (13) Try to picture the apostles doing this and laughing about it later! The absence of any apostolic testimony doesn’t seem to trouble too many, unfortunately. The book goes on to tell us that, The ushers told us later [after Rodney Howard Browne and the pastor went to lunch] that at 6 o’clock, the woman finally peeled herself off the carpet. Then it took her an hour to crawl from the center of the church auditorium to the sidewall. She had been stuck to the floor for six hours! (14) This is Primarily About Spiritual Drunkenness
It is a mistake to think that the primary emphasis of this renewal is laughter. This is more about spiritual drunkenness, abandonment, and intoxication with the "new wine." Browne makes frequent references toEphesians 5:18andActs 2:1-47, when the mockers say, "These men are drunk on new wine." Browne in fact, refers to himself as God’s bartender, and invites the people to have a drink at Joel’s Place.
It is important to note, however, that Ephesians 5:18 refutes both drunkenness and the excesses that accompany it. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Ephesians 5:18-20 Being filled with the Spirit results not in ridiculous abandonment, but if anything, sober living, submission, alertness, clarity, thankfulness, the ability to teach and admonish one another. Ephesians 5:18 is a contrast with drunkenness rather than a higher parallel of it. As for Acts 2:1-47, we have to remember that it was the mockers who brought up the issue of drunkenness! If Peter would have had what these people have, he wouldn’t have been able to preach his brilliant sermon explaining the recent events, from Psalms and Joel in which 3000 were converted.
Rodney tries to justify the confusion of his meetings by saying that wherever Jesus went, "pandemonium" broke out. As an example, he cites Mark 2:1-28, the story of the roof being torn off for the paralytic. And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.Mark 2:1-28
But, you would be hard pressed to see in that story the drunkenness, ridiculous hilarity and confusion, that you see in a "Mystical Revival" meeting of today! Where is the howling, the people stuck to the ground, the others struck dumb? Jesus did rebuke some "laughers" at Jairus’home who broke out after he said, "the child is not dead but sleeps."
Quoting Tricia Tillin’s excellent article in her Banner Ministry’s Mainstream,
Surely Christian worship and ministry ought to be conducted in an orderly and reverent manner? Having said that, people will criticize us for being so tight laced and staid that we never let God do anything with us. Not so! Speaking for myself, I have attended many loud, boisterous, and joyful meetings, when people "let their hair down," but none of them was disorderly. There was no loss of control. The Holy Spirit, when he is allowed to take charge of our worship, will sometimes lead us to be exuberant {Psalms 47:1-9} but he will never possess our bodies, causing unreasonable and uncontrollable physical reactions to occur. (15) This is an excellent point. Did the Holy Spirit glue a woman to the floor for six hours, then force her to crawl for one hour across a single room? If so, why? We have to remember that the Holy Spirit didn’t come to draw attention to himself, nor to man. Although it may have brought much amusement to the audiences and entertained the talk show hosts, how does "sticking a former Buddhist’s rear end up in the air," draw glory and honor to Jesus?
I don’t get it, or I should say, I don’t buy it. Ministry Time For an example of what "spirit" is being ministered at Rodney Howard Browne’s meetings, look at the prayer I have transcribed from a service in Lakeland, Florida, as seen on "The Coming Revival" videotape. Along side of the prayer I submit to you scriptures for consideration and discernment.
[RHB] "As you lift your hands say, "Lord fill me tonight, afresh with your fire, with your anointing, with fresh oil from heaven, that the same fire that fell upon Brother Rodney in ’79, let it fall upon me, that the same fire that fell in the book of Acts fall upon me. I’m hungry Lord, I’m thirsty."
[Ed.]2 Corinthians 4:5For -we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
[RHB] "Now just close your eyes. Don’t pray. Just close, Don’t pray...Receive. I’m going to pray one simple prayer.
[Ed.]1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing.
[Ed.]Luke 18:1-43And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
[RHB] When I do, the power of God is going to hit this place. It’s tangible. Some of you will sense like electricity going through you, a fire, hot oil... like hot water going through you. Like a wind blowing right through me. That’s God’s power. People sense the anointing in different ways. Get ready.
[Ed.]Jude 1:19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
[Ed.]2 Peter 2:2And many shall follow their pernicious [pernicious is sensual, literally] ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
[RHB] Lord, you told me, "Son, give me an opportunity to move and I’ll move." And I give you an opportunity to move.
[Ed.]Romans 11:34-35For who hath known, the mind of the Lord? or who hath his counseller? Or who hath first given, to him, and it shall be recompensed him again?
[RHB] "Come ! Now ! There it is right now. There it is right now. The Power of God is beginning to fall. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth be filled. Be filled... There it is all over this building. Right now the power of God is beginning to fall. I loose the very touch of heaven now, in Jesus’ name... The fire of God is beginning to fall all over this place, all over this place...Just receive it...Like a river [8 times] Let it flow like a river."
[Ed.]Isaiah 14:12-14How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! bow art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high,
[RHB] "Get your mind out of the way! Let it bubble out of your belly, like rivers of living water." These are not drunk as you suppose, but this is thtat which is spoken of by the prophet Joel. "Let it bubble out of your belly like rivers of life giving water. Like a river. Yes. The new wine, [repeats the new wine 10 times]. It’s joy unspeakable and full of glory! Thank you Jesus. That’s right, let that bubble out of your belly [2 times]... Like rivers [5 times] Don’t worry about anybody else. Like a river. [3 times]... Get em, Lord. Get em Jesus! Fill them up.
What’s happening to you? Need a dose, Lord..."
[Ed.]Luke 10:27And he answering said, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
[Ed.]John 8:31-32Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him. If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
[Ed.]Uo 5:20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
[RHB] "This is a pastor of a church. This is a pastor of a church? Lord, don’t tickle him, just bless him. Drunk on the new wine. Drunk. Drunk. Drunk. Drunk. Drunk. Drunk. Drunk. Drunk. Drunk on the new wine. Filled with the new wine. [2 times] Filled. Filled. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you Lord Jesus.
[Ed.]2 Peter 2:17-18These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lust of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
[RHB] That’s one pastor between the pews. Hallelujah, have another drink, here sister. Have another drink. What about you? Are you on vacation or something? Have a double dose.
[Ed.]Ephesians 5:4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
[RHB] What do you think this is? You too. Filled. Have another round sister cocktailer, in the good sense of the word. Ha ha.
[Ed.]Matthew 15:18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
[RHB] Have another drink over here. Go ahead. Filled. Filled. Filled. More. More. More. More. Drunk, I said drunk. I said drunk. I said drunk...
[Ed.]lJo 4:5-6They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareath us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
[RHB] See people, you’ve got to yield. I said you’ve got to yield, you have to yield. You’ve got to not worry what others think about you. You’ve enough worry about your reputation. People who get drunk and drink don’t worry about what others think.
[Ed.]Ephesians 5:3-7But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
[RHB] More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More...They’ve got rid of their head also.
[Ed.]Ephesians 5:1-33And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
[RHB] All right. How many of you want prayer tonight, and hand’s laid on you? I’m going to be here until four in the morning. I can just see it. But, I guess it’s my fault because I opened Joel’s Place. And people aren’t going to leave until they’ve got a drink."
[Ed.]2 Corinthians 6:17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. To bring the precious Baptism of the Holy Spirit on the same level as a foolish, self-centered drinking binge is coming dangerously close to making a mockery of the Holy Spirit. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace.Hebrews 10:29 Challenging God!
Browne has an amazing little booklet out called Walking in the Perfect Will of God. The book starts out with a call to return to the fear of God, which I agree with. On page 1-2 Rodney states,
It amazes me that there is no fear of God in the church world today! People go out and do their own thing; it doesn’t matter to them what God’s Word may say about it. They say, "I’m going to do my own thing. I’m going to do what I want to. God doesn’t know." They shake their finger at Almighty God...
I agree, that it is appalling that puny man would ever dare to shake his finger at Almighty God! But, the little booklet goes on to share Rodney’s own personal commitment with God. His testimony starts out with him expressing frustration to the Lord. I’ll let Rodney explain it, (starting at page 13). To continue my story, we were driving along the highway and I was crying out to God desperately. Why? Because at that time in the ministry, the only preachers who were considered "successful" were the ones who had money and what money could buy. No one ever emphasized how many souls were getting won. No one emphasized the characteristics of the anointing or the healing. They were just concerned about success. They thought you were the greatest preacher on planet earth if you had a nice suit and nice jewelry. I saw so many of those so called "successful" preachers running around looking like the image of success, but inside they were spiritually bankrupt. Nothing!
I said to the Lord, "It’s not fair. You love those people more than you love me." (I am being honest about the way I felt.) Then I said, "God, there must be something they’re not telling me." I said that because when I got into the inner circle, it was rotten to the core. Everything on the outside looked good, but the inside was rotten to the core. And I said to God then and there, "God, if that is your will for the ministry, I, Rodney Howard Browne, don’t want it. You can have it, because it’s against what I feel in my heart is right.
What posturing! Isn’t that nice? In effect saying, God, I am above all that, even if you aren’t." "You can have it." But, that’s not even the climax, read on and you will truly see the heart of this man exposed!
I was crying by then. My wife was crying. It was a powerful moment. I said, "God, I’m telling you right now, I’m giving you full permission to invade my life anytime of the day or night to straighten me out. But, when I get to heaven and stand before you, if you look at me and say, "Rodney, you did not do my will," I’m going to point my finger at You and say, "God, it’s your fault, because I gave You permission to come into my life and change me." (From Walking in the Perfect Will of God).
Now, remember, this isn’t an example of an "off night the evangelist was having, where he might have misspoken. This is a message he felt strongly enough to reproduce and put it in a book. Ironic that he progresses from lamenting the lack of fear of the Lord, to shaking his finger at God on Judgement Day! In Conclusion
I suppose I could go on and on, "building a case," about my reservations of the ministry of Rodney Howard Browne, but why? After all of the above, if you don’t have serious problems, you are a victim also of the continuous conditioning that has taken place. Keep in mind that it was a transference of his "anointing" into Randy Clark who brought "it" to Toronto, that "birthed" the Toronto Blessing. I hope that I have brought some clarity to the issue. This is not about personality, it’s about truth. Can you see Jesus or the apostles even remotely promoting anything like this? I think not. Is Rodney Howard Browne correct when he dismisses his critics by saying things like,
Now some would say, "I don’t believe it," that’s fine, those people that don’t want to believe it, they probably wouldn’t believe anything. They probably wouldn’t believe the Bible... (16) On the contrary, I don’t buy this, and I believe in the Bible! I also believe in the present activity of the Holy Spirit. I consider myself to be spirit filled and have seen many "signs, wonders, and gifts of the Holy Ghost" over the years in my ministry as well as in many other fellow ministers. We have witnessed the casting out of devils, healing of the sick, and powerful life transformations, all to confirm the preaching of the gospel! So don’t dismiss me as an unbelieving, religious dead head!
I want to close by encouraging you to hold fast to that which is good. Just becausecertain men have crept in unawaresdoesn’t mean that we have to throw out the validity of supernatural workings of God. The Pentecostal experience is needed now more than ever, God’s people do need a fresh baptism in the Holy Ghost, to witness afresh to this sin-sick generation.
End Notes 1. July 21, 1994, Testimony Service Videotape. RHBEA Camp Meeting. Louisville, Kentucky.
2. Rodney Howard Browne. The Touch of God. Page 71.
3. Ibid. Pages 73-74.
4. Ibid. Page 76.
5. Ibid. Page 100.
6. Julia Duin. "Praise the Lord and Pass the New Wine." Charisma Magazine. August, 1994.
7. Rodney Howard Browne. The Coming Revival. Page 14.
8. Ibid. Pages 13-14.
9. Francis Frangipane. "Rising to Christ’s Stature." Charisma Magazine. December, 1994.
10. Rodney Howard Browne. The Coming Revival. Page 14.
11. Ibid. Page 27.
12. Rodney Howard Browne. The Reality of the Person of the Holy Spirit. RHBEA Publications.
13. Rodney Howard Browne. Manifesting the Holy Ghost. Pages 25-27. RHBEA Publications.
14. Ibid.
15. Tricia Tillin. "Is It Revival." Mainstream. Summer, 1994. Banner Ministries Publication, Box 23, Belper, Derbyshire Deuteronomy56 1 QR, United Kingdom.
16. Bob and Molly DeAndrea. "The Good Life." Television Show. Florida. Date Unknown.