With nearly 300 million believers, Neo-Charistmatics are one of the largest groups of Christians in the world. While other groups of Charismatic Christians emphasize “baptism of the Spirit” as a secondary experience following conversion, Neo-Charismatics correctly understand that true conversion brings with it an infilling of the Holy Spirit.
While these Christians are doubtless sincere, many of their beliefs are incompatible with Scripture.
- Neo-Charismatics are largely Gnostic. They quote Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I will do a new thing,” as support for their extra-biblical beliefs and experiences. While truth is ever advancing, new truth will never contradict old truths previously established by the Bible. Scripture repeatedly asserts the unchanging nature of Yahuwah and His law: “I am Yahuwah, I change not.” (Malachi 3:6)
Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing . . . the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Yahushua the Annointed. All scripture is given by inspiration of Yahuwah, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of Yah may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
- Most Neo-Charismatics believe the Second Coming of Yahushua will occur after the millennium. While other post-millennialists believe 1,000 years of peace will occur after the last person is converted, Neo-Charismatics generally adhere to the Kingdom-Dominion view that the millennium of peace will happen when all government leaders, worldwide, become Christian. This is based on the mistaken belief that man must take dominion of this world and, by his own efforts, make it better before Yahushua can return. Scripture teaches that the millennial kingdom will be established on earth upon Yahushua's return. (Only then will righteousness and peace prevail.)
- Neo-Charismatics use “signs and wonders” (i.e., glossolalia, healings, and other physical manifestations of ecstatic worship) as an integral part of “power evangelism.” They believe that such manifestations must accompany the preaching of the gospel in order for people to have faith. When the unbelieving Jews demanded of Yahushua a sign, His response was: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” (Matthew 16:4) The message of Jonah was a call to repent or be destroyed. Scripture records no signs and wonders accompanied Jonah’s preaching.
Yahuwah taught Elijah that His presence was not in loud or dramatic demonstrations. Scripture records no instances of “holy laughter,” or being “drunk in the spirit” or “slain in the spirit.” Elijah learned Yahuwah manifested Himself in a still, small voice.
- Neo-Charismatics focus on unity as being more important than doctrine. However, Scripture presents a great division at the end of time: a spiritual battle between the followers of Yah and all who join with Satan in his rebellion. Scripture presents the saints as being spiritual “virgins,” meaning they have a pure doctrine. Scripture never advocates laying aside truth for the sake of unity. “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:15) Rather, the call is to leave behind those organizations that teach any degree of error.
Yahuwah invites all Neo-Charismatic Christians to lay aside entangling errors and return to Scripture alone for the basis of their beliefs.
