_3 The Secular Press Drew My Attention To It
WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING by Pastor Bill Randies The Secular Press Drew My Attention To It My interest in the subject of the "Toronto Blessing" first began after reading a Time Magazine article entitled, "Laughing for the Lord." The article was primarily about "revivalist fervor" invading the Church of England. The Anglican Church, as it is also known, being what it is, has never been known for fervor of any kind, at least not in a long time, so the recent happenings there are newsworthy. Here is a description of a typical service at Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London.
"Though pathetically tiny flocks of Londoners attend many Anglican services, Holy Trinity Brompton has a standing room only turnout of 1,500. Oblivious to the hot, airless sanctuary, the youthful throng buzzes with an anticipation more common at a rock concert or a rugby match. After the usual Scripture readings, prayers, and singing, the chairs are cleared away. Curate Nickey Gumbel prays that the Holy Spirit will come upon the congregation. Soon, a woman begins laughing. Others gradually join her with hearty belly laughs. A young worshipper falls to the floor, hands twitching. Another falls, then another and another. Within half an hour, there are bodies everywhere as supplicants sob, shake, roar like lions, and strangest of all, laugh uncontrollably." (1)
Now, you may ask, what does this London service have to do with Toronto? The article in Time went on to call this phenomenon, "The Toronto Blessing." This is what drew my attention to Toronto, I have since read other articles in both secular and Christian publications describing similar church situations in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and other places, but they all acknowledge Toronto as the catalyst. The Time Magazine article also linked the "Laughing Revival" to the ministry of Rodney Howard-Browne, who as you will see, plays a pivotal role in what has happened in Toronto. I will devote a later chapter to Rodney Howard- Browne, and the impact of his ministry, which I believe is extremely worthy of our attention.
Another secular publication which mentions this manifestation is the British paper, The Daily Mail. In the "femail" section of Friday, September 2, 1994, was an article entitled, "This man has been given the Toronto Blessing. What in God’s name is going on?" Allow me to give you a few excerpts from the article,
"It is, it must be said, a disquieting sight: The congregation fall where they stand. Others weep uncontrollably. Many shake violently as though having a fit. Visions of angels, huge figures, some with wings, bathed in orange light swim before their eyes. This is the Toronto Blessing...In Britain, no one has espoused the Toronto effect more enthusiastically then the Rt. Rev. David Pytches. [Pytches may be remembered for writing Some Said It Thundered, a defense of the Kansas City Prophets] Pytches, an evangelical, Charismatic enthusiast was one of the first to visit Toronto. He and his wife Mary came back and reported to the Church of England’s Holy Trinity Brompton... In recent weeks, hundreds of their large congregation of nearly a thousand have been falling and laughing, groaning, and weeping, barking and making other animal noises. Some roar like lions which may have something to do with the biblical passage that Mary Pytches frequently mentions in connection with the Toronto Blessing,Hosea 1:1-12: They will follow the Lord; He will roar like a lion, When He roars, His children will come trembling. It was on her visit to Toronto that Mary Pytches heard the roaring and found herself wailing..." (2) The article goes on to describe the national and even international impact of the experience, and makes the connection to it with the teachings of John Wimber. Then toward the end, the writer makes this insightful observation,
"The difference between the present movement and revivals of the 18th century is that the latter were characterized by powerful preaching, a strong sense of self loathing and of repentance, none of which is a feature of the Toronto Blessing or the Charismatic movement from which it came." (3) Christian Media Coverage of Toronto The June, 1994 issue of Charisma, in an article entitled, "Renewal Excites Canadian Churches," described in a strikingly similar way as Time and The Daily Mail, a typical service in the Toronto Airport Vineyard.
"The meetings are wildly pentecostal in style, not the type of worship services that normally attract dignified theologians or staid denominational leaders. On a typical evening, dozens of people can be found lying or rolling on the floor, many of them laughing uncontrollably. Many of the participants testify of being healed of sickness or delivered of emotional problems." (4)
Charisma reports however, that the leaders of the Toronto renewal do not consider themselves to be in a revival in the classic sense of the term. According to Charisma, John Arnott, Pastor of Airport Vineyard told them that exuberant joy is a characteristic of the first phase of revival, but true revival ultimately impacts thousands of unsaved. At this point, the Toronto Renewal has primarily touched Christians. Another Christian publication, a magazine in the United Kingdom, called Alpha wrote a piece in their July, 1994 edition that discussed this called, "Rumours of Revival." In his article, Dave Roberts describes the Toronto meetings as, "characterised by literally dozens of people falling "under the power" and laughing uncontrollably. Consistent reports from around the world talk of a state similar to drunkenness, with those affected losing control of their limbs and having to be carried out to cars for their journey home." (5) This same article quotes another magazine, Redemption, as saying,
"A hallmark of this revival is the emphasis on worship and praise. Missionaries report that the Shekina glory of the Lord seems to descend on the meetings...The emphasis is on holiness, the desire of the people to praise and worship and the increase in concern for reaching others is genuine." (6)
I hope you’ll be patient with me in my quoting of all of these periodicals, it’s not my desire to just give you a series of reviews. It’s just that I want you to get a sense of what is happening, it’s impact, and from both sides of the issue, some agree and applaud it, others are appalled, bear with me please and I’ll give you my opinion, for what it’s worth. There is a glowing article called "Spreading Like Wildfire" written by Eleanor Mumford for Renewal Magazine. July, 1994. Mrs. Mumford is the wife of John Mumford, Senior Pastor of a Vineyard Church in London.
"I have just been on a trip to a church in Toronto. A Baptist pastor who is increasingly involved in what is going on there has written, "There has come a notable renewal and revival of hope, faith and expectation. The spirit of God has been pouring out freedom, joy, and power"...With all this has come a renewing of commitment and a rekindled passion for Jesus and the work of the kingdom..."
Mrs. Mumford followed this quote with a glowing personal report of the Toronto Blessing and its impact on her,
"I went to Toronto because I have never been slow to go to a party. I also went because I knew I was spiritually bankrupt and I went with tremendous expectancy... There was a beauty on those who were ministering there...These were men and women who had spent 130 days in the company of Jesus. Like Stephen, their faces shone. I saw the power of God poured out in an incredible measure...People are getting freed, and getting healed... Jesus is restoring His joy and His laughter is like medicine to my soul... Jesus is breaking down the barriers of His church... For myself there is a greater love for Jesus than I’ve ever known, a greater excitement about the kingdom than I ever thought possible." (7,8,9)
Now, I think that I have sufficiently demonstrated to you that something significant is happening and it has the potential to have a huge worldwide impact. And in opening up this chapter this way I have tried to show you that this phenomena won’t leave people neutral, either they will love and appreciate it or distrust and criticize it. I have always believed that the time would come upon us, particularly us Charismatic/Pentecostal Christians, when we would be forced to decide what we actually believe and unfortunately that kind of decision divides. It is hard for me to find any fault with any experience that causes people to "love Jesus," get set free, or release the joy of the Lord. Those are the very things I have dedicated my life to. But, here is a very important point for us to observe, that we can’t just look at a movement pragmatically, by that I mean judging it’s validity on the basis of "results." "Well, it works, it made me love Jesus, it must be of God!" Just because something "works" a certain effect, it doesn’t mean that it is of God. In other words, the end doesn’t necessarily justify the means. We must look at the principles, the premises underlying any movement at all, in order to even begin to make an objective evaluation. Remember, our Lord told us to Judge all things and hold fast to that which is good. Dare I be the "bad guy" and challenge you to take another, critical look at the "Laughing Revival?" Well, someone has to sooner or later. After all, what do you mean, you have a greater passion for Jesus?
How It All Started In Toronto The Vineyard itself has been helpful in researching the brief history of this renewal. I applaud them for their zeal to make papers available to attempt to give people a framework in which to interpret what they believe God is doing in their midst. Especially helpful was a publication entitled "What in the World is Happening to Us?" by Bill Jackson of the Champaign Illinois Vineyard Church. I am also indebted to Charisma and Renewal Magazine for a summation of how it all started.
You can start to understand this renewal by looking at two men, Randy Clark and John Arnott. Randy pastors a Vineyard church in St. Louis and Arnott, the Airport Vineyard in Toronto. Both of them arrived separately at that state that every Christian and for sure every minister can relate to, dissatisfaction with where they were at and hunger for more of God. This is a good, though painful place to be, because I believe God uses it to press us in to seek Him all the more. Pastor Clark told Charisma Magazine, "I felt empty, powerless, and so little anointed, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I knew I was burning out." (10)
But, in the summer of 1993, Clark talked with another minister, an associate who had sat under the ministry of Rodney Howard-Browne. Clark’s friend told of how he had been revived during the meeting! Again, according to Charisma, Clark said, "What my friend was describing-people shaking, falling, laughing-was what I’d seen many years earlier in the Vineyard revivals. I knew this was what I needed." (11) Take notice that it wasn’t truth, but manifestations that turned him to Rodney Howard-Browne.
Clark decided to attend a meeting of Rodney Howard-Browne’s but balked when he found out Rodney Howard-Browne would be in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at Kenneth Hagin Jr’s Rhema Bible Church. Clark had theological problems with the Word Faith Movement. But, Clark says the Lord reproved him for a smug attitude, saying, "You have a denominational Spirit, how badly do you want to be touched afresh?" (12) After setting aside his prejudices, Clark went to the meeting and was prayed for to receive a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. When he went back to his church, powerful manifestations began to occur. In October, 1993, Randy Clark attended a regional meeting of Vineyard Churches in Wisconsin. There the overseer, Happy Leman, asked him to testify. As he did, "powerful demonstrations of God’s power broke out at the meeting." Also, according to "What in the World is Happening to Us," another "Limited outbreak [occurred] at the Champaign Vineyard the following Saturday." (13)
John Arnott
Pastor John Arnott also had experienced a dissatisfaction and was sensing the need for a fresh anointing of the Spirit. His hunger for God’s touch took him to Argentina, where he witnessed great spiritual revival, as well as attending the meetings of Benny Hinn. According to "What in the World is Happening to Us" Happy Leman told Arnott the results of Randy Clark’s ministry at the conference. Upon hearing this, Arnott arranged a meeting for Clark at his church in Toronto in January, 1994. The meeting was supposed to last less then a week, but instead, has continued to this day, meeting six days a week. Tens of thousands from all over the world have come to Toronto to "soak" in the presence of God, to "get it" as they say and "get it" they do, taking "it" back to home churches all over the world!
Many come to do "carpet time" if they have to, "soaking" in the "presence of the Lord." Vineyard literature encourages "soaking" which is repeated reception of prayer and exposure to the "Spirit." "What in the World is Happening to Us" advises people in its preface to "Ask for more and more of His Spirit. Keep coming for more keep drinking," and "Don’t become discouraged if you do not receive as much as another does keep asking for more." (14) In another document simply entitled "Toronto June 94 Thoughts" we are advised,
"Soaking in the Holy Spirit. It’s okay to receive many times of prayer at the same meeting. It is also okay to receive prayer every time we gather. In fact, people seem to receive better and more fully, each successive time. [They relax to the idea]. The more the soaking, the deeper the impact. If you fall over, don’t try to get up quickly, lie there and soak." (15)
Impartation
Impartation seems to be another significant word and I must say, it is impartation that I see as being one of the most alarming aspects of this. By impartation, I mean the ability to pass it on, usually by laying on of hands. This is what I think is the strongest and most alarming characteristic of Rodney Howard-Browne and the Toronto Blessing. I have never seen any mystical experience imparted to so many ministers who then are able to turn around and revel in this newly found mystical power in their home churches. The Spirit that is working in this move, won’t be limited to the laying on of hands either, many are "getting it" just standing in services, overcome by shaking, laughing, weeping, or whatever other irrational experience and coming out of the meeting dynamically transformed. The impartation is for change and people are changing! Does God change people like that? With no truth conformed to, not necessarily any mental dealings, just "BAM!" The Spirit hits you and you change? This could be possibly our judgement for discontentment. Like the world we want change we are dissatisfied with the status quo. We want something to happen, anything. At times it seems, that the Word of God doesn’t satisfy, we are hungry for quail. And God is giving it. Soon, it will be coming out of our noses. A Lot of This is About Manifestations A Baptist pastor in Canada, Guy Chevreau, who is a participant in this renewal, was quoted as saying,"What we are talking about here is God’s manifest presence, such that He is seen, felt and experienced and folks’ lives are getting changed." (16) He went on to say about it, "It’s redefining the church, reminding us that church shouldn’t be boring," and describes the renewal as, "a party with the Lord." (17) There is an appeal, as I said earlier, to discontent, church is boring, it needs to be redefined, we aren’t lively enough. One of the chief weapons of the false teacher is the use of discontent. People have been conditioned to think that the "Book of Acts" church consisted of one miracle explosion after another, everyday, and that there was perfect unity and love and the modern church falls short of that and needs to be redefined! Actually, the church of the Book of Acts was assaulted with heresies and divisions, and the miracles took place over a period of roughly 30 years. Let’s face it, this "renewal" isn’t based on some particular truth being emphasized, rather, it’s being described, qualified, and authenticated by sensuous manifestations, signs and wonders, and quite frankly, in many respects, it is a reaction to boredom!
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in and have experienced many miracles and divine interventions, I also happen to long for revival and to see God move. I pray with Isaiah,’0 that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would melt at your presence and that you would do terrible things we weren ’t expecting’(Rough paraphrase ofIsaiah 64:1-12:l).
But, on the other hand, when discontent is appealed to time and again, such as "The church isn’t united enough, doesn’t love enough, is too hung up on doctrine, has head knowledge, but no intimacy and on and on ad nauseam.." That kind of preaching wears the church down and makes her more vulnerable to working herself up offering false fire to the Lord instead of patiently waiting on God for His fire. Who says the church isn’t united, anyway? Every true believer already is in the unity of the Spirit. Anytime we get hyped into trying to manufacture what God already gave us (unity), we get further away from God’s purpose.
Laughing An obvious major manifestation associated with this revival is laughter. The laughter is being called "Holy laughter" and Scripture about laughter are being used such asPsalms 126:1-6, to verify it. Also, Scripture about joy, in fact more Scripture about joy than laughter because there aren’t that many positive Scripture about laughter. Most laughing Scripture are of the "Woe to you who laugh now," variety, or "they laughed him to scorn." The laughter that is exhibited in these revivals needs to be examined however. In many cases, it is interrupting laughter. Reports are coming from all over the world of how the preaching of the Word, Reasons for the Shaking: (19) 1. To get our attention.
2. A form of anointing.
3. A visible representation on and in our flesh of what is happening in the spirit world.
4. It is God’s sovereign way of choice.
Well, going through the list, number one, to get our attention? OK, no problem, God does want to get people’s attention and I believe He can do it that way, if it pleases Him. I guess I can go along with number four, also! Number two, a form of anointing? Where did he get that? I thought we had an anointing already. Beware of anyone who wants to tell you that what you already have in Jesus isn’t enough. Number three is the most incredible and disturbing to me. Why? Because it is probably the best definition of the word Mysticism that I’ve seen in a long time! The attempt to interpret and interact with the spirit world through the flesh. An extremely dangerous practice, I might add, which opens you up to the spirit world all right.
Openness seems to be a highly valued character trait in this move. The paper, "Toronto June 94 Thoughts" advises you to:
"IV. Experience it before trying to analyze it. It’s your spirit God is dealing with primarily. In fact, when you are under the anointing, your mind is very clear and aware of what’s going on, and that can be a distraction to what He’s doing in the Spirit. It does not invalidate the experience.
"VII. This is not so much a time of "getting stuff out," more of "getting stuff in." It is probably wise, initially, not to pray in tongues, or English a lot. (That’s you ministering out). I found it helpful when I felt the Lord there to just breath in deeply and imagine I am inhaling the Spirit." (20)
Mike Bickle and Michael Sullivant have produced a paper entitled, "God’s Manifest Presence, Understanding the Phenomena that Accompany the Spirit’s Ministry." As I said, the Vineyard people seem to have a strong motivation to give people as much help as possible in interpreting what they consider to be the move of the Spirit. In a segment entitled "Catalogue of Manifestations" he tells us:
"The Hebrew and Biblical model of the unity of personality implies that the Spirit affects the body. At times, the human spirit is so affected by the glory of God, the human body is not capable of containing the intensity of these spiritual encounters and strange physical behaviour results. Sometimes, though certainly not always, the bodily responses are human responses to the spirit’s activity and not directly caused by the Holy Spirit. However, this does not imply that they are therefore carnal and should be forbidden. Following are phenomena that have been observed in contemporary experience: shaking, jerking, loss of bodily strength, heavy breathing, eyes fluttering, lips trembling, oil on the body, changes in skin color, weeping, laughing, "drunkenness," staggering, travailing, dancing, falling, visions, hearing audibly into the spirit realm, inspired utterances ie prophecy, tongues, interpretation, angelic visitations, and manifestations, jumping, violent rolling, screaming, wind, heat, electricity, coldness, nausea as discernment of evil, smelling or tasting good and evil presence, tingling, pain in body as discernment of illness, feeling heavy weight or lightness, trances, altered physical state while seeing into the spiritual world, inability to speak normally, disruption of natural realm, ie electrical circuits blown." (21)
What a list! What are we supposed to do with that? Are they saying that these might be the body’s response to God at times, or that they could be the direct activity of God at other times? What about some of them being symptoms of demonization? For instance, electrical circuits being blown (poltergeist, as it is known in some circles). I realize that at one time, that particular phenomena was considered a confirming sign to the ministry of a certain Kansas City Prophet, but I can’t believe that it is an example of "the human response to God," nor do I believe that God is blowing fuses just to let us know He is here! A closer look at much of the above mentioned list is more like a description of classic demonization than it is a catalogue of manifestation of the Spirit of God.
Mike Bickle is not, to my knowledge, directly related to the "Toronto Blessing." He is, no doubt, a part of the supporting influence, as a fellow Vineyard pastor. He wrote this paper in the spring of 1994 to explain "widespread occurrences of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit across the United States and Canada." (22) No doubt, to give the Body of Christ a theological framework from which to interpret this renewal. Bickle is however, in my opinion, responsible for contributing to the preconditioning necessary to open people up to this phenomena. How? By promoting the infamous Kansas City Prophets. I’ll elaborate on that ahead.
Spiritual Drunkenness A major phenomena associated with and even promoted by this revival, is spiritual drunkenness. "We are partying with God now," (23) according to "What in the World is Happening to Us." The joy of salvation is being subtly reinterpreted along this line:
"In the early days of the apostles, as they were searching for a word that would communicate to the Gentiles the ecstasy in having their sins forgiven and being in right relationship with God through the atoning blood of Christ Jesus, they chose the word evanggelion, which we now translate, "gospel" or "good news." It was a completely secular word that was used in reference to the emperor’s birthday. It was a holiday, a day of good news. The apostles traveled through the ancient world preaching that the day of God’s party had come... We are learning to party in God again..." (24) The fallacies of this kind of thing should be obvious to all. The apostles weren’t ever in the position of trying to find the right word for the message of God, to communicate to the Gentiles. We get the word gospel from Jesus himself. Furthermore, read the apostle’s sermons, they proclaimed Jesus as Lord and called for repentance, not, "God’s party has come!" But, it sounds so good to a generation who have been conditioned already to see the things of God through such "funloving" glasses. After all, if it’s not "fun" it will never sell! To reduce the concept of the reconciliation of sinful man, to an infinitely holy and righteous God at the cost of an infinitely valuable and precious price, the blood of Jesus, to reduce that to a "party with the Holy One" is incredible to me. No doubt this sensuous theology will have a great appeal to certain segments of the population. Were the disciples spiritually drunk on Pentecost? At least one Vineyard document thinks so:
"They [the disciples] would not be accused of being drunk because they were speaking in different languages. They would be accused of such because they were acting like drunks, ie laughing, falling, slurred speech by some, boldness through lack of restraint, etc." (25)
What can we expect though, when you consider the source of this movement? Remember, it was passed on to Randy Clark and eventually John Arnott through the ministry of Rodney Howard- Browne! This is the man who delights in calling himself, "God’s Bartender," invites people to come and drink at "Joel’s Place" and out right promotes spiritual drunkenness.
We have all heard the cute testimony in Charismatic circles, "I used to have to get drunk to drown my sorrows, but now that I’m saved, I have the new wine, and I have no sorrows, I feel better now then ever. It’s free and it doesn’t leave me hung over!" To which people usually chuckled. But, is spiritual drunkenness a good thing? How are we to interpret this phenomena? DoesActs 2:1-47(Acts 2:1-47;Acts 2:12-22;Acts 2:23-33:Acts 2:33-44:Acts 2:45-47)orEphesians 5:18really teach that the disciples got drunk in the spirit? Remember it was the mockers who suggested that they were drunk, to which Peter immediately replied, These men are not drunk as you suppose...Ephesians 5:18is a straightforward command to be not drunk with wine, because of excess, instead be filled with the Spirit! The Biblical admonition is to be sober, alert, watchful, not abandoned, or ecstatic.
Spiritual Drunkenness in the Bible This is not to say that spiritual drunkenness is an unscriptural phenomena, for the Word of God does acknowledge the reality of such an experience. However, according to the prophets, spiritual drunkenness is to be viewed more as a judgement of God then as a blessing. It is a judgement on an apostate people, a people who are full of worship, This people draws near to me with their lips, but are far from me with their heart.
Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned, Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.Isaiah 29:9-14 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and a hissing, without an inhabitant. They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions’ whelps. In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the Lord. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.Jeremiah 51:37-40
Read the above and be aware! For in one sense I strongly agree with some of the spokesmen for this movement, who say that we have entered into a new epoch of the spirit, a kind o£ fullness of time, a kairos. But, the time that has come full, is the time of judgement, the time spoken of in2 Thessalonians 2:1-17(2 Thessalonians 2:1-17;2 Thessalonians 2:12-17)!Now is not the time for drunkenness nor reckless abandon now is the time for sobriety, even for seriously critical thinking. The time for all, but especially those of us who have been saved and baptized in the precious Holy Spirit, to decide the absolute basis of our faith. Is it to be the faith once and for all delivered to the saints through the holy Scripture? Or, the ongoing revelation, the faith of subjective experiences, a kind of evolution of the church where she gets stronger and more Christlike until she "evolves" into the "new man," the man child who will rule the nations? Here I go preaching again, but can you hear my heart? I believe in the cross, the Bible, the power of the Spirit, subjective experiences with God, casting out devils, healing, all of it! But, every subjective experience in God has to be interpreted through the objective revelation God gave us of Himself, the holy Scripture, once and for all delivered to us! The idea that many, many people are going to be shocked and amazed on judgement day, is the furthest thing from a lot of Charismatic minds. But, the Gospel tells us that one day people who cast out devils and prophesied, and did other "wonderful works" are going to be rejected! Why? Depart from me you workers of iniquity [lawlessness]. I never knew you [approved you]. In other words, "Your did your own thing! You pursued with zeal, what you thought was good, your idea of the "power of God." You know, "Let’s use the name of Jesus to cast the devil out of whole cities!" Would that be good? You bet! But, is that a Biblical concept? Did Jesus or the apostles do it? Or, how about, "This guy’s a prophet of the Lord, he speaks with authority, 70% of the time he’s accurate." Do these modern day "prophets" mean good or evil? I think they mean good! That one who prophesied that on Thursday, June 9th "all evil will be ripped off the earth," wouldn’t that be good? Of course! But, is it Biblical? No way! How about when Rodney Howard- Browne touches some rebellious man or woman or teen and they fall to the ground laughing and come up in a swoon, "loving Jesus," "passionate for Jesus." Isn’t that good? You see, there you have it. "Lord, didn’t we cast out devils and make war in the heavenlies? Didn’t we prophesy? Didn’t we do many wonderful works," "Sure you did, but not on my terms!" Therefore, beware, Christians won’t be seduced by overt evil, the Deception will be in the area of the good. God’s good as opposed to Christianized, humanistic, man centered, mystical good, like what’s happening in Toronto. These are no doubt good people, all of them. But, where are they coming from? Why do they think this is revival? To answer these questions, let’s go back about Matthew-50 years and put everything in the proper context. End Notes 1. Richard Ostling. "Laughing for the Lord." Time Magazine. Aug 15 1994.
2. Geoffrey Leery. "This man has been given the Toronto Blessing. What in God’s name is going on?" Daily Mail. Sept 21 1994.
3. Ibid.
4. Doucet, Daina. "Renewal Excites Canadian Churches." Charisma. June, 1994.
5. Dave Roberts. "Rumours of Revival." Alpha Magazine. July, 1994.
6. Ibid.
7. Eleanor Mumford. "Spreading Like Wildfire." Renewal. July, 1994.
8. The same article (7) goes on to quote Mark Elsdon Dew from Holy Trinity Brompton, "The Holy Spirit has come with such power upon prayer meetings, church services, and even staff business meetings that the world "Revival" is upon everyone’s lips...The Sunday services during the last two weeks have resulted in scores of bodies lying all over the floor. Those affected described how they have a renewed sense of God’s love for them, a new joy and fresh rigour to serve him. This is happening at churches all over London. Ibid."
9. Other secular headlines "Congregation Rolling in the Aisle," "Evangelical Congregation Shows Signs of the Spirit," and "Faithful Fall for the Power of the Spirit," by Fred Langan and Paul Goodman, which says, "People from all over the world are flocking to this unlikely church the Toronto Airport branch of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship, six nights a week. And every night there are astounding scenes of people shaking with laughter, slipping into a trance, falling to the floor and crying. "Last week, Bishop David Pytches from England was down here roaring on the floor like a lion, "says John Arnott, the church’s pastor."
10. Daina Doucet.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Bill Jackson. "What in the World is Happening to Us." Champaign Vineyard Church, Champaign, Illinois.
14. Ibid.
15. "Toronto June 94 Thoughts."
16. Daina Doucet.
17. Ibid. 18. Terry Virgo. "Fresh Outpourings of the Holy Spirit." Renewal. August, 1994.
19. Wes Campbell. "Prophet Sharing." New Life Vineyard Fellowship. 1992.
20. "Toronto June 94 Thoughts"
21. Mike Bickle and Michael Sullivant. "God’s Manifest Presence, Understanding the Phenomena that Accompany the Spirit’s Ministry."
22. Ibid.
23. Bill Jackson. Page 17.
24. Ibid. Page 17.
25. Ibid. Page 6.