To stay with the theme of inerrancy, Dan Phillips has some good words to share.

This all brings us to the Charismatic issue. The great achievement of modern Charismaticism is to dupe so many otherwise-fine people into letting Charismatics carve a niche for themselves where they can both promote themselves and avoid accountability. Or, put another way, both to canonize and sanctify their personal experiences and claims and to avoid testing of any sort.

One of these ways is that they will ostensibly quote God, some “word from the Lord” — but then, when challenged, hurry to say “That’s just for me!”

But is that option open? They have dared to claim to quote God. They have had the breath-taking, astonishing hubris to position themselves as mediators of revelation — claiming that God said words to them, words they now convey to you and to me.

Can that be a private affair? If so, too late now: they’ve spoken. They’ve claimed to speak God’s words!

So now I am indeed obligated. Their word obligates me. I cannot escape. (Nor can they, though they try.)

You see, if what they speak is a word of God, I am morally obligated to believe it. It doesn’t matter what the content is: a word from God has God’s authority, and “an authoritative word is one that imposes obligations on those who hear.” Well, I hear. What is my obligation?

If it is God’s word, I am obligated to believe it. And if it is not, I am obligated to rebuke and expose them as false prophets. more