February
21
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Persecuted Church Seeing Angels?
It was another Sunday. My family arrived to our meeting place of worship on time, maybe a little early. We took our usual seats.
This Sunday would be a little different. It would include a presentation of the purposes of a particular missionary society and a special speaker from a foreign land. He would not be preaching, but rather giving his testimony and recounting for us his experiences as a Christian in the underground church in his homeland.
I was intrigued and, I admit, I wanted to know more about his country and ministry. I also admit that I would miss the preaching the most.
Surrounded by hipsters, some in pajamas, sandals and mussed hair was typical for this come-as-you-are, we-won’t-judge-you, missonary-minded congregation. There were fans of certain attendees and speakers at this fellowship, some of whom had moved from clear across the country just to be there on a regular basis.
The man speaking had experienced ‘persecution’ in various ways, and during the course of his presentation, he mentioned that, as he was being followed by his persecutors on the streets one day, he saw angels on rooftops.
That’s right, he saw angels. So he says.
I didn’t buy into it at all, call me a Baptist. In fact, the moment he said it, emotionally spoken as it was, I tilted my head, rolled my eyes and looked at my wife with that “Why are we here?” look. She got the message.
The guy behind me let out a huge sigh at my reaction, and mumbled something, but I ignored it.
After the ‘service’ was dismissed, the guy behind me let me know his thoughts about the presentation and my reaction to the angel thing.
He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “The persecuted church sees things we do not.”
Really? I don’t think so. Where is that in the Word of God? There are no more apostles, the canon is closed and nowhere do I see precept, principle or instruction of any kind that tells me that the persecuted church will see things other believers do not. It’s not in there. It’s just not in the Bible folks.
But, that’s the attitude and beliefs of reformed charismatics. I imagine the thinking is even more dangerous when it comes from a well known, highly influential, celebrity missionary.
The congregation was Radford Fellowship (now Christ Church Radford). The guy behind me who said this to me was Paul Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society.
I don’t think the Church today realizes just what a danger it is, mixing Calvinism with Charismatic belief.
There is great danger. It leads to great error in theology and life, and that can never be a good thing for the Church.
5 Pt. Salt 
Closed cannon? Still looking for that text. =)
Its funny [or sad] , that empirical evidence[or heresay] is often given precedence over biblical teaching. If its any consolation ,upon hearing that angels statement, my eyeballs would have rolled that far back , I may well have been eyeballing Paul Washer through my…….. well, you know what I mean.
“The persecuted church sees things we do not.” ***
The English Protestant MARTYRS. There were no angels seen but their eyes were certainly opened to see things which even some modern reformed see not.
There are always those to whom the Word of God, it’s instruction, the fellowship and communion and prayers of the saints are good – but not quite enough, not flashy enough. They want something that distinguishes them from the pack, some movement of God that transcends that which in their heart of hearts seems merely mundane and predictable.
In a way, I can understand that. We all read of the miracles, and kindred unique, historical, wonderful supernatural dealings of God with His people and we feel a pall of discontent with a spiritual life that seems by comparison altogether too…ordinary.
If that be a reasonable reaction or no, one thing is absolutely certain: to manufacture a self-generated counterfeit to those experiences, to create dreams and visions and tongues and “Words from the Lord” and to feign seeing angels or being transported to some heavenly place or a thousand other such claims does not honor God if they are the mere empty product of a jealous compulsion to experience what God in His sovereignty has not given us.
By the way, why the picture of Faith Hill at the top?? I’m ready for some football!
Quote
He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “The persecuted church sees things we do not.”
end quote
This bothers me somewhat, is P Washer saying that he not a part of the persecuted church?What exactly constitutes persecution in his opinion?
This whole seeing angels thing reminds me of the appalling T Bentley saga, why would we so easily discount T Bentley’s account of seeing an angel and believe this missionary’s account.
He was not the one making the claim. The speaker was, a visitor from overseas.
But Paul was affirming it, right?