 |
The "Toronto Blessing"
A Theological Examination of the Roots, Teaching and Manifestations, and Connection Between the Faith Movement and the Vineyard Church
By Stephen Sizer
Note: This is an older page within Apologetics Index. The formatting will be updated soon. Instead of the menu on the left, you may want to use the expanded menu found on newer pages.
CHAPTER 10: CONCLUSIONS
What are we to make of the "Toronto Blessing"? Some people say
they have a greater love for God as a consequence of this
"blessing". My conclusions do not nullify experiences people may
have had, but they are sufficient to warn us not to accept,
uncritically, every wind of doctrine blowing across the
Atlantic, any more than we would from the Doctrine Commission of
the Church of England! It must also be said that many of so
called "testimonies" I have listened to in person or on tape or
video focus on the phenomena, the "experience" and are highly
subjective, speaking of a resultant "greater love" or "greater
zeal" for God, something which it is impossible to assess
objectively.
We need to ask in conclusion not whether the Toronto Blessing
might be something God is doing nor whether it is changing
peoples' lives, but whether it is consistent with the biblical
theology of the blessing of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.
The essence of the work of the Holy Spirit will be the Holy
life, and for this we do not have to pass through the Toronto
Blessing. Rather we need to immerse ourselves more and more in
the whole counsel of the gospel which is sufficient for our
relationship with God. This is the teaching of the rest of
Galatians, and I would suggest it is the consistent teaching of
the whole of Scripture. And if the preaching of the whole of
Scripture on the basis that Christ gave himself for our sins to
deliver us from the present evil age is not adequate to bring
the Toronto Blessing to those who hear with faith, then whatever
does bring the Toronto Blessing is another gospel and whatever
it brings is not the blessing promised Abraham, nor a result of
receiving the Holy Spirit. (John Richardson. From a talk given
at a conference "Toronto Blessing? It's OK to ask Questions" at
St Andrew's Street Baptist Church, Cambridge, 16th September
1995)
It seems very easy to spot a "Gospel minus" heresy and we love
to condemn Bishops who deny fundamental Christian doctrines. It is
not so easy, and I fear Evangelicals and Charismatics are not so
willing, to contest teaching which in effect is a "Gospel plus"
heresy, especially when uttered by those who claim "Jesus is
Lord". That is what we are offered in the "Toronto Blessing", more
than God has promised. The Gospel has been likened to a canoe
perfectly capable of carrying us through life to heaven. But if we
try and add baggage we will sink the canoe just as quickly as by
punching holes in it. The effect of adding to the Gospel is the
same as taking away from it.
But could it not be claimed that the Toronto Blessing is a
blessing beyond the simple blessings of the gospel? Could it
not be, as Michael Green has also suggested, God's way of
by-passing our rationalism and reaching the parts other
approaches - such as gospel preaching - haven't reached?
This is perhaps the hardest claim to answer in support of the
Toronto Blessing. To deny it seems to deny either the power or
the sovereignty of God. And yet, as we said at the outset, one
vital function of systematic theology is to insist that, whilst
God can do anything he doesn't do everything.
The blessing of which Paul speaks in Galatians 3, the blessing
which may be summed up as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit even
on the Gentiles, is the blessing God promised to Abraham and it
is received through hearing the gospel with faith. So we must
say that any blessing which goes beyond the blessing promised to
Abraham, and any blessing which comes by some other means than
hearing the gospel with faith, is a blessing too far because, as
Paul points out in Galatians 1, it must come from "a different
gospel". (John Richardson. From a talk given at a conference
"Toronto Blessing? It's OK to ask Questions" at St Andrew's
Street Baptist Church, Cambridge, 16th September 1995)
I rejoice when I see the gentle work of the Holy Spirit
occurring all around, yes, sometimes in dramatic ways but more
usually in the unspectacular, and not least among godly people
as yet untouched by this current phenomena, or even opposed to
it.
It does seem most unfortunate, even embarrassing, that media
reports of "a Time of Refreshment" have coincided with a period
of almost apocalyptic suffering in places like Rwanda, Burundi,
Sudan and Bosnia. This is no time for the Church to get
distracted from its evangelistic mandate and compassionate
service, by egocentric and introverted ecstatic experiences of
laughter, animal noises, shaking and falling to the floor.
J.I Packer, in Laid-Back Religion, criticises what he terms "Hot
Tub Religion".
"Hot tub religion....attempts to harness the power of God to
the priorities of self-centredness. Feelings of pleasure and
comfort, springing from pleasant circumstances and soothing
experiences, are prime goals these days, and much popular
Christianity on both sides of the Atlantic tries to oblige us by
manufacturing them for us.... Now we can see hot tub religion
for what it is - Christianity corrupted by the passion for
pleasure....Symptoms of hot tub religion today include...an
overheated supernaturalism that seeks signs, wonders, visions,
prophecies, and miracles; constant soothing syrup from
electronic preachers and the liberal pulpit; anti-intellectual
sentimentalism and emotional "highs" deliberately cultivated,
the Christian equivalent of cannabis and coca." ( 1989: p.53,58)
The Toronto Blessing is representative of a sub-Christian
movement in which the basis of faith has shifted from the
historic Jesus of the cross to the present "spirit" of personal
experience. This is existential Gnostic heresy. Subjective
experience must never take precedence over objective fact. Faith
means "I trust", not "I feel".
It is no coincidence that the "Toronto Blessing" has emanated
from and been promoted by the Vineyard Churches, who, through
John Wimber have, because of their distinctive emphasis on
"Signs and Wonders", been gullible about the penetration of
heretical teaching from the Word of Faith teachers and spurious
prophecies of the Latter Rains Movement.
In this and in every generation what is at stake is the truth of
the Gospel and the unity of the Body of Christ. This unity can
only be maintained, not created. It is maintained as we remain
faithful to the faith once received, according to the
Scriptures.
Dr Francis Schaeffer wrote an emotive book shortly before his
death, entitled The Great Evangelical Disaster. In it he speaks
of a "watershed" dividing evangelicals. On the one side are
those who hold "to a strong uncompromising view of Scripture"
(1985: p.46), and those who hold what he terms a "Neo-orthodox
existential theology.....The heart of neo-orthodox existential
theology is that the Bible gives us a quarry out of which to
have religious experience.." (p.49). The watershed, for
Schaeffer, is between a theology based on "an inner feeling" and
one based on "objective truth".
"It is surprising to see how clearly the liberal, neo-orthodox
way of thinking is reflected in the new weakened evangelical
view...By placing a radical emphasis on subjective human
experience, existentialism undercuts the objective side of
experience. For the existentialist it is an illusion to think
that we can know anything truly....all we have is subjective
experience, with no final basis for right or wrong or truth or
beauty." (p.51,53)
In an article published in United Evangelical Action (Fall,
1976), Schaeffer went on to challenge Evangelicals to take a
stand on this watershed issue.
"You cannot wait for others to draw the line. You must draw
the line. Will it be with tears? I hope it will be with tears. I
remember as a young man in the 1930's when harshness and un-love
reigned, but harshness and un-love do not need to reign when the
line is drawn. It can be with tears and it can be with love. But
unless those who have responsibility of leadership are willing
to draw the line, they cut the ground from under the Church of
our Lord Jesus Christ." (1976, p.4)
In drawing the line there are three specific things we must do.
10.1 Understand Christian Doctrine
The chief single reason for the success of the cults in general,
and the Toronto Blessing in particular, is the spiritual naivet
and ignorance of the Word of God among Christians. Too many are
content with a superficial knowledge of the Scriptures, the
means by which God has revealed Himself. This is made worse by
the prevalence of an arrogant and over confident reliance on
spiritual discernment which allegedly keeps one impervious to
deception. More common still is the unspoken and naive belief
that only other people are deceived by cults.
We must instead give ourselves to a life-long and detailed study
of Scriptures and the doctrines they contain. Theology is simply
right thinking about God, something we should approach
reverently and systematically. In this regard I warmly commend
Bruce Milne's book Know the Truth (IVP, 1992), and the older
classic work by T.C. Hammond, In Understanding be Men (IVP).
We live at a time when doctrine is seen as a dirty word and down
played in favour of ecstatic religious experiences of dubious
origin. This is utter foolishness and plays into the hands of cultic
wolves who prowl the edges of the flock. Are you daily spending
unhurried time in the Word of God? You can't be
physically healthy on one meal a week, nor can you be
spiritually healthy on one sermon a week. Grow up into maturity
by becoming familiar with the Maker's Instructions, as one who
feeds on and applies the very Word of God (Matthew 4:4).
10.2 Separate from Spiritual Error
The Apostle Paul was most emphatic when he warned the Ephesians,
and Timothy, to have nothing to do with "godless myths".
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but
rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:11) Have nothing to do with
godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be
godly. (1 Timothy 4:7)
Advocates of the Toronto Blessing have said to me, "But you make
it sound so black and white.......but many Christians seem to
have been helped by this movement." I agree that it is not all
"black and white". My argument is that a little cancer is too
much, a little adultery is still adultery, a little AIDS
infection is enough to infect the whole body. The apostle Paul
knew the devastating influence of just a little error.
Sincerity is never enough. That is surely why Jesus warned so
strongly against the subtle but pervading influence of false
teaching.
Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the
yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees...12. Then they understood
that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in
bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
(Matthew 16:6-12)
Ultimately we may disagree as to the extent of error in the
roots, teaching and manifestations associated with the Toronto
Blessing, but error there clearly is, and that is sufficient
reason for disassociating from it, no matter how tantalising the
apparent fruit.
Nor is true that we cannot speak critically of false doctrine
unless we have read everything offered by particular heretics or
cults. We need only become familiar with the truth of God's Word
and error becomes plain. The argument that, "You cannot know it
until you have tried it" is a satanic doctrine, and the very one
used to subvert Eve and bring the terrible cancer of sin into
the world. We must watch out for heretical teaching not just
outside the Church from well defined cult organisations, but
also within the Church. God has forbidden contact with those who
teach error.
Spiritual exhibitionists abound, touting new revelations and the
Christian media seem only too willing to play along with their
charades and make a fat profit in the process. We are commanded
not to give ourselves to these things but rather "to the public
reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching" (1 Timothy
4:13). Furthermore we are called upon to, Be diligent in these
matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see
your progress. (1 Timothy 4:15).
We cannot float through life on a permanent spiritual high, or
on a wave of existential euphoria. Rather we are commanded again
and again to be careful, take heed, watch out, remember. We are
to be wise and sober, and at all times to,
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (I Peter
5:8)
10.3 Contend For The Truth
The Lord calls upon us to earnestly contend for the faith, in
the face of satanic adversaries (Jude 3). Sometimes, as happened
between Paul and Peter, this may even mean coming to a point of
contention with friends and associates where the truth of the
gospel is at stake (Galatians 2:11).
Indeed Jesus Christ Himself had on one occasion to turn to His
beloved friend and say "Get behind me, Satan" (Matthew 16:23).
The true servant of Jesus Christ must be careful that his
allegiance is absolute. By comparison, all human relationships
are relative.
I believe the Lord is testing the Western Church at this time,
for its infatuation with "health and wealth", and titillation by
"signs and wonders". The extent to which this book is taken
seriously, and the truth which it reveals is heeded, will be a
good indication of how the wider Church will fare in these
trying times. We would do well to heed the Scriptural warning.
"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among
you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the
sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says,
"Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us
worship them," You must not listen to the words of that prophet
or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether
you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
(Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
The first principle of the universe is truth and this must be
defended even at the cost of our lives. The Apostle Paul was very
serious when he described us as soldiers of the cross, describing
in detail the armour we must wear in order to contend for the
truth (Ephesians 6:10-20). We live in a relativist culture which
values tolerance and mutual respect more highly than truth. Our
spiritual sentiments, and this is probably the most sentimental
age in the history of the Church, would therefore lead us many
times to feel that to contend for the faith of the gospel is
somehow eccentric, unspiritual or undignified. Nothing could be
further from the truth.
We are soldiers of Christ. The world is a battleground. The
struggle is between truth and error. Our only weapon is the
sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. May God enable you to
handle it more accurately as a workman who need never be ashamed
(2 Timothy 2:15). Become a person who knows well and lives by
the Word of God. Know the truth and the truth will set you free
(John 8:31-32).
Martin Luther once said,
"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition
every portion of the truth except precisely that little point
which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am
not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ.
Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is
proved and to be steady on all the battle fronts besides, is mere
flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point." (Schaeffer,
1985:51)
 Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Bibliography
Return to Top Return to Sugar and Vinegar Menu
Go to Apologetics Index What's New?
|
 |
A Quick Guide To Apologetics Index 