SIGNS, WONDERS AND THE WORD   - Francis Frangipane

While the Scriptures confirm that signs and wonders should accompany the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we would be foolish to disregard the many warnings from the Lord Jesus and His apostles concerning the last days. They said great deception, false signs, and lying wonders would be rampant. To downplay their warnings would be an act of religious pride and extreme presumption.

What is frightening about deception is that, when a person is deceived, he does not know he is deceived because he is deceived. Religious deception is one of the worst forms of bondage. The individual, thinking his commitment is to God, in fact zealously devotes himself to a falsehood; the soul employs the powerful dynamics of faith to believe a lie.

With both true and false signs increasing at the end of the age, how can we discern the difference between what is God’s first choice for us, what He is merely accommodating, and what may actually be demonic?

Three Categories of Phenomena

Generally speaking, a spiritual phenomenon can be categorized as that which is either biblical, extra-biblical, or unbiblical. The manifestations accompanying "New Age" concepts, astrology, obsession with UFOs, "channeling," witchcraft, and the like are obviously unbiblical. The Bible condemns these things, since the spiritual activity joined to them is demonic.

Biblical manifestations include anointed preaching (resulting in conviction, repentance, or inspiration in the listener); physical or emotional healing; deliverance from demonic possession, and the inspired "word" gifts: prophecy, tongues, words of knowledge and wisdom (see I Corinthians 12 and 14). Dreams and visions will often accompany a true outpouring of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2). Although dreams, visions, prophecy, and words of knowledge are biblical in nature, their content should be tested against Scripture.

While the Lord is most clearly recognized in biblical manifestations, and most obviously not associated with what is unbiblical, difficulty comes when we encounter religious manifestations which have no pattern in the Bible. These would be classified as extra-biblical.

Over the years, a variety of denominations and religious sects have emerged. In some of these, a unique manifestation became their distinguishing mark. The Quakers quaked and trembled; Pentecostals rolled on the floor and became known as "holy rollers." Then there are those ministers who feel a true deliverance does not occur until the possessed soul vomits out a demon; vomit bags are handed out like hymnals in these churches.

Since there is no record of such manifestations accompanying Christ or His apostles, the most common criterion used to determine the value of such phenomena was to inspect the fruit. People quoted Jonathan Edward’s argument that, if a person’s life changed for good, God must be involved.

While the Lord will accommodate and touch us through extra-biblical manifestations, He decidedly does not want us to ritualize that phenomenon, esteeming it higher than His word. Should that happen, the Lord will seek to guide the church back to a more biblical focus.

If the people persistently resist Him, eventually they will become vulnerable to religious spirits, which gain access to any congregation that does not esteem the Word above all. The outcome is that another sect is born whose activity centers around a sign rather than the fulness of Christ. We should be extra careful with extra-biblical manifestations.

Recent Extra-biblical Phenomena

What happened in Medjugore in the former Yugoslavia is a more recent example of an extra-biblical manifestation. Allegedly, the mother of Jesus began appearing to six children in 1981. At the height of these manifestations, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims traveled to Medjugore. For most, the experience produced a greater awe of God and a renewal of their devotional life. A number found physical and inner healing. A very interesting message also came with these visions: Local Catholics were urged to forgive their Muslim neighbors for the atrocities committed against Catholics in the past. In addition, they were urged to return to obeying the words of Christ.

Most of us would be very skeptical of any such manifestations of Mary (I personally do not believe that this was Mary), but perhaps God was reaching to these people through this manifestation. Sadly, many of these same Catholic Serbs have been in a terrible war against Muslims. If, instead of just being touched and awed, they had obeyed the message, great suffering would have been averted.

Other signs, such as mysterious, luminous crosses, have appeared in windows and on computer screens in many cities and countries. Just as strange are the numerous weeping and bleeding statues in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches around the world. Independent laboratories have in some cases confirmed that the tears and blood are human.

Again, we cannot make a doctrine out of anything extra-biblical. However, it does seem that the Lord is accommodating these things, or at least accommodating some of them some of the time, but they are bewildering, to say the least. In fact, I’ve witnessed services where respected charismatic leaders stood silent and immobile like statues for hours. I thought, "Isn’t this amazing: People who are usually so animated are acting like statues, while in Catholic churches statues are acting like people!"

Then there is the Ohio water tower that bore on its side the likeness of a portrait of Christ. Throughout the nation, news stations reported that sign-seekers by the hundreds of thousands caused massive traffic jams. And, let us not forget the burrito in Texas that, as it was fried, took on the supposed appearance of the face of Christ. It is now enshrined and producing what many would judge to be "good fruit" in some.

These manifestations are without any precedent in the Bible, yet through them many seem touched by God. We may be tempted to roll our eyes and wonder how people could be so gullible, yet God loves us all. Perhaps most of these people do not know the Word; perhaps the Lord is using whatever He can to reach them.

At the same time, if you told someone who had been touched by Catholic manifestations that you just spent eight hours laughing hysterically, or doing "carpet time" in your Sunday service, he may wonder about you. In fact, if you told him that others in your church were roaring like lions, flapping their arms like eagles, running like oxen, twitching, barking, or walking like a chicken, given the choice our Catholic friend might roll his eyes and say, "I’ll stick with the holy taco."

The ultimate value of an extra-biblical sign is that it should point people to Christ and His teaching. If it doesn’t, we have fallen short of God’s highest purpose. So, I conclude that God may use whatever He chooses in signs and manifestations to reach people, and we can expect it to offend the natural minds of many. Even so, the goal should not be a short-term blessing; it should be long-term commitment to the Living and written Word.

Let us also recognize how strange, and even offensive, extra-biblical manifestations may appear to outsiders or the unsaved. Just as statues crying may not move us, so our laughter and animal sounds may not move others. They may actually hinder people from finding Christ.

The Plumb Line of Christ’s Word

Among charismatic churches, current extra-biblical phenomena has produced three basic reactions. One camp is convinced that hearts have been changed by signs and wonders, while the other simply "sighs and wonders" what it’s all about. The last is against it all. If we find these manifestations too strange, we should not judge those who have been greatly blessed by them. Yet, neither should we feel intimidated by those who say everyone has to fall, laugh, run, bark, roar, soar, or howl to be blessed and touched by God.

We should be mindful that, because these manifestations are extra-biblical in nature, they can be used either by God to touch us or by Satan to divide us. Regardless of what sign or manifestation seems to be the current move of God in our churches, unity with other Christians is not based on manifestations, but on Christ.

It is equally important to remember that how we respond to extra-biblical signs is not the basis upon which God receives and judges our lives. Jesus said plainly, "the word I spoke is what will judge . . . at the last day" (John 12:48). Christ’s teaching is the standard, and how we respond to the Word, not signs, is the basis of God’s judgment. We must be liberated from the feeling that extra-biblical manifestations hold the same emphasis as obedience to Christ’s commands.

A few of my dearest friends have elevated the current charismatic manifestations to the level of the outpouring of the Spirit in the book of Acts. I believe in the good things that have come during this renewal; but with all due respect, this is not what happened at Pentecost. What the disciples experienced at Pentecost was evangelistic in nature; it led to daily citywide prayer among all church leaders; the disciples held all things in common, and if you lied to the Holy Spirit during this time, you died.

If extra-biblical signs are accompanying your ministry, keep them in perspective. Even if the Holy Spirit is using them to heal and renew people, allow the Lord to keep upgrading your approach until the flow of power overlays scriptural patterns seen in the life of Christ. Our goal is to reveal Jesus as purely and as simply as we can.

As leaders pray over their churches, they must have the freedom to restrain, or even prohibit, certain manifestations if those manifestations hinder the greater purposes of God. This is not an act of "quenching the Spirit," but of knowing the will of God and the immediate need of the flock. Liberty must be yoked with wisdom. No one should feel they will miss God if they miss an extra-biblical manifestation. I am concerned that, increasingly, we are beginning to substitute extra-biblical experiences for the standard of Christ’s word. In this we risk offending God.

The Spirit-empowered Word

The principle reason the Holy Spirit grants signs and miraculous wonders is to establish obedience to Christ’s word. The working of the Spirit and the Word are always in agreement. It is not enough to be familiar with the power gifts; we will err if we do not know the Scriptures. Jesus said, "It is these that bear witness of Me" (John 5:39).

Yet, knowing the Word must go deeper than memorization; Jesus calls us to be one with His word. If we are so distant from His voice that only a sign can activate our obedience, we should beware. We are revealing that we are not married to the Word, but are an "adulterous generation" (Matthew 16:4).

One may ask, "Isn’t God communicating through signs?" Yes. He will confirm His word through signs. But too many of us are running after signs instead of seeking after the Word that they are meant to point to. "Sign language" is primarily for those who cannot hear. If we need a special touch from God to accept that He loves us, it is because, we did not first believe His word. God’s goal is to make us disciples and servants of the Word (see Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 1:2). A true disciple not only trembles when God moves, he trembles when God speaks (see Isaiah 66:2).

Our first priority should be to know what God is saying; then we will know how signs and wonders serve to confirm His greater purposes in our community. Without losing our personal sense of blessing, let us also be responsible, aware that the more peculiar a sign, the less likely the lost will be won by it, and the more likely it is to widen divisions in the church.

When any church activity orbits around a particular manifestation, it isn’t long before that thing becomes the unwritten law of acceptance. The people leaving churches where phenomena seem out-of-control are not necessarily Pharisees, unbelievers, rebels, or even lost sheep. They may just be looking for manifestations from God that seem more biblical.

The Coming Glory

This message is not so much a correction as it is a direction for our future. The most awesome unfolding of glory yet awaits the church, but it will not come until we esteem the words of Christ above all. In the last great move of God, Christians from all denominational backgrounds will become one, first through the name of Jesus (see John 17:11); then, by esteeming the words of Jesus (see John 17:20). The Name and the Word prepare the church to reveal the glory of Jesus (see John 17:22). In truth, to be fit for Christ’s glory, we must be shaped by His word.

Jesus said, "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father" (Mark 8:38). Obedience to Christ’s precepts establishes Christ’s character; it is His character which shall manifest God’s glory.

Jesus said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me" (John 14:21). We may say that we love Jesus, but the proof of our love is that we keep His commandments. To him who loves Christ’s word, He pledges the greatest gift of all: "My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him" (John 14:23).

The greatest manifestation of all: the unveiling of Christ, the Word, through His people. Without hype, in quietness, hiddenness, and power, every attending miracle which Jesus performed we shall also do; but the way into the glory of the Lord is through the word of the Lord.

So, let seasons of refreshing come, but keep in mind the value of a sign is that it points us to God, yet the Word is God. Let our goal with all spiritual phenomena be this: passionate obedience to the commands of Christ.