Why I Left The Tongues Movement - By Alfred H. Pohl

social_media_nav_bar

SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH YOUR FRIENDS and FOLLOW

REASON # 1

SINCERE CONVICTIONS REGARDING THEIR DOCTRINES, EMPHASES, AND PRACTICES

As I said before, I was content and happy in my work and position in the Movement. I felt at home in a fellowship that I grew up in, was accepted and appreciated, with no thought at all of ever leaving it. But as, day after day, I taught my classes in Bible School, and was confronted with serious and difficult questions from keen students, I was driven to a deeper study of the Scriptures. Gradually I became aware of serious shortcomings and discrepancies in our doctrines, emphases, and practices.

I discussed some of these disturbing questions with some of our brethren who also questioned some things. Some also finally left the Movement, but others no doubt felt the price of leaving too great. And it was a big price, as I discovered later on. I did not have any ulterior motives for leaving, I can assure you! The Fundamentalists and non-Tongues people were not about to receive us with open arms! I had no offer of churches to pastor or of lucrative church positions. On the contrary, we were in a sort of "no-man's land" for about seven years. We had left the Tongues people, being looked upon by some of them as "traitors," and the non-Tongues people weren't sure that they wanted us or could trust us. It was quite a lonely time, for in those days (1950) the gulf between the Fundamentalists and the Pentecostal was very wide. Today, in many churches and denominations there is practically no gulf at all, with resulting doctrinal confusion and no clear teaching on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

THE DILEMMA

Eventually I was confronted with a problem: Could I teach something that my denomination stood for, but which I had come to see was not according to the Scriptures? Could I teach something as truth and mislead these trusting students when I myself did not believe it? Ultimately I had to make a decision. What direction was I to take? I couldn't teach something that I didn't believe. I could not mislead others. To teach what I now saw in the Scriptures contrary to the denomination's doctrines would be very unethical. And beyond that, the thought of the final accounting at the Judgment Seat of Christ had to be dealt with. I could not go on.

At the close of the school year my wife and I left the school, my position of Missionary-Secretary, and the denomination as quietly as we could. Our objective was not to disrupt, not to damage or harm, but to leave and find a fellowship where we could serve, teach, and preach what we were beginning to see in the Scriptures, and to disassociate ourselves from methods and practices that we now felt were unscriptural. God gave us the grace to do it this way, and we thank Him for it! Much that is highly unethical was done and is being done in the name of Christ today. This ought not to be!

Many non-Christians exhibit more ethics than some Christians do! Shame on us! If a Christian does not agree with the doctrines of his church, he should not take it upon himself to undermine that church by teaching otherwise in an underhanded manner. If he cannot do this, then, I believe, he (or she) should be ethical enough to quietly leave and find a fellowship that he can fit into. But let's not break up churches!

Right here I would like to say something about "divisiveness" that is characteristic of some of the Charismatics. Why should attempts be made to take over or split churches, all in the Lord's name but not to the Lord's glory? How much heartache, strife, and hatred is generated in these attempts which purportedly should bring about a more spiritual result, when actually the real result often is Corinthian carnality and tragedy. The admonition of Ephesians 4:3 still stands today: "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Almost anyone can disrupt, break up, or split a church; that usually isn't very hard to do, but it is the true work of the Holy Spirit that keeps it together. And you, Christian, have the biblical responsibility to work toward unity and harmony in your church! Are you working at it?

I have recently been in a church which was almost split right down the middle by the introduction of Charismatic teaching, with the resulting factions and strife. It was heart-rending to see the division and devastation caused, not by the Holy Spirit, for He does not work toward division and strife, but the disruption was the result of the work of our enemy, Satan!

On the other hand, a non-tongues Christian fellowshipping in a tongues- speaking church needs to be ethical, too! If he cannot agree, let him go elsewhere instead of stirring up strife within that church. I say, then, brethren, let us be careful and ethical! God will hold each one of us responsible if we break up, divide, or cause disunity in a church. It is a dangerous matter to "mutilate the Bride of Christ"! Beware! Who dares to lay his hand upon Christ's Body—the Church? (of course, I am here referring to a true Bible-believing church). I believe there will be some serious accounting called for at the Judgment Seat of Christ in this regard. Again, let's be careful and ethical!

When we left the Tongues Movement, I had prayed this prayer, "Lord, don't let me become bitter against my brethren!" I knew that the natural tendency would be to fight back when I was accused of ulterior motives or of denying the Holy Spirit or of other unpleasant accusations. But I thank the Lord that He has most wonderfully answered that prayer! In the light of the Judgment Seat of Christ I am thankful that the Holy Spirit put that prayer in my heart.

Reason #2--An unsound biblical basis for their doctrine of the Holy Spirit