And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all. Acts 19:-6-7

In yesterday’s post we distinguished between two polarized opinions about speaking in tongues—cessationist and non-cessationist. We pointed out that there is a third position (the one we hold) that speaking in tongues is misguided, but not heretical. We concluded by saying, “What is heretical? Read tomorrow’s post…”

Here is that post. While speaking in tongues is not heretical, there is another pillar in the Pentecostal/Charismatic platform that is heretical. That most dangerous error is believing in “continuing revelation.” Those believing in “continuing revelation” (though most do not call it that), are open to, and even looking for God to speak to individuals and to His Church in ways other than from scripture. Whether it comes in the form of “prophecies,” “words of knowledge,” messages in tongues, or even supposing that God has literal conversations with us—this belief that God hasn’t given us all we need in the Bible opens people to all sorts of error.

To look for or trust in extra-biblical revelation as a declaration that God’s Word is insufficient.

The 17th century British scholar, John Owen reasoned as follows (not a direct quote): If God speaks what is not already in scripture (either in precept or principle) it is error. If God speaks what is in scripture, we didn’t need the mystical message—we needed to know our Bibles!

Be careful using the words, “God told me…”