SCENES AT A MISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 14

SCENES AT A MISSION.

Sir, —While- not' offering myself as an apologist for the so-called " Pentecostalist" movement, let me say that " AntiHumbug's" criticism is entirely beside the point. His challenge is to mv mind utterly ridiculous. Because God will preserve and protect His servants against dangers that are inevitable and that occur in the course of their performance of heroic Christian service, it by -no means follows that He is going to preserve them against dangers for which they themselves are directly responsible. To drink poison is to put one's life into deliberate and unnecessary danger and the quotation, " Thou slialt not tempt the Lord thy God" seems to me lo be perfectly apt. Christ Himself always refused when challenged to exhibit a similar " sign from heaven." The claim of the " Pentecjstalists " with respect to " works of healing" can be supported (within certain limits), not only by apostolic instances narrated in the Acts, but also by some present-day instances, such as those comparatively few but genuine cases connected with the Hickson missions and certain Maori gatherings. The " Pentecostaiists," however, overstep the mark in disparaging doctors and strictly medical cures, for, after all. it is comparatively few people who have fait.h sufficient to be cured by spiritual methods alone. W th reward to " speaking with tongues," this was undoubtedly one of the New Testament phenomena connected with the outpouring of the Divine Spirit, ibut we cannot evade the fact that the Apostle Paul, in I. Cor., xii., puts that gift into a very subordinate place, and in tl e next chapter declares, " Whether there be tongues, they shall cease." The " Pentecostalists" claim that the gift has been restored to the Church in " these latter days," but, had it been so, other Christian bodies wtuld be speaking with tongues by this time, just as other Christians have enjoyed the experience of spiritual healing. The claim of the " Penteccstalists" to be a spiritual aristocracy specially privileged is scarcely consistent with that humility which they themselves will admit is one of the genuine " fruits o~ the Spirit." " Pentecostalists" have no monopoly for consecration, " full surrender." and perfect devotion to Christ. Pxir Parson*.