I know that this is an emotional topic for many people but the scriptures are plain....
From my studies of the Bible in its entirelty, it is clear that in its infancy, the Christian congregation needed the miracles to sway the Jewish people into believing that Jesus and his apostles had the backing of God’s spirit....something that was completely lacking among their leaders.
Jesus healed the sick, fed the multitudes and even raised the dead on a few occasions. The apostles, before gaining the gifts of the spirit after Jesus’ death and resurrection, were able to perform miracles by the use of Jesus’ name. But the speaking in tongues was not gibberish for show. It was a recognised language designed to be understood. Paul said that if there was no interpreter, then the one speaking was to remain silent.
He also said....
“Therefore, tongues are not a sign for the believers but for the unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for the unbelievers but for the believers.” (1 Corinthians 14:22)
If speaking in tongues takes place among believers, then it’s purpose is lost. It’s not for show, but for the instruction of unbelievers who speak that language or for the interpreter who conveys the message. Believers have already received the message.
And there is no doubt that it took place back then and for a reason. But Paul himself said that the gifts would cease because the infants, initially fed on the “milk” of the word, had to grow up and once they had ‘spiritual teeth’, to graduate to solid food.
He told the Hebrew believers......
“12 For although by now*you should be teachers, you again need someone to teach you from the beginning the elementary things of the sacred pronouncements of God, and you have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. 13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is a young child. 14 But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong. (Hebrews 5:12-14; )
1 Corinthians 13:8..
“But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with.”
Because of the foretold apostasy, it was only common sense that the gifts would be withdrawn. That way, when the charlatans were operating under the power of the devil, they could be identified immediately. Satan is a mimic, and he has the power to imitate some of those gifts because he is a deceiver.....but the big one of course is the raising of the dead....he cannot mimic that one.
Billy Graham is no one I recognize as a representative of Christ. But it is clear that he understood that there are charlatans that masquerade as disciples of Christ with these powerful manifestations.....so God in his wisdom had them removed. There is now no need to try and separate the fakes from the genuine.....because all these “gifts” manifested in our day are not genuine. Satan has deceived people into believing that they are, but when you compare today’s gifts with those of the first century, if it’s the same “Holy Spirit”, then it’s not doing the same job.
Paul identified the source of those “wonders” calling them an “unrighteousness deception”....
“9 But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders 10 and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved. 11 That is why God lets a deluding influence mislead them so that they may come to believe the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Let’s just make this clear.....they must be viewed “critically” because of all the warnings from the apostle Paul. Deception is exactly that....the ones deceived are not aware until they are brought face to face with the consequences of it....loss.
The three identifying qualities of genuine Christianity (faith, hope and love) do not depend on external manifestations......these come from within and cannot be mimicked by the devil. Genuine demonstrations of these qualities are shown in obedience to Christ’s teachings.....all of them, not just the convenient ones. When he taught us to be “no part of the world” do we support our nation’s political conflicts and their military operations imagining that God is somehow partial to our nation? (Acts 10:34-35)
When war was declared in the two world conflicts of last century, where were the churches? Were they taking the lead in warning their charges that Christians must “love their enemies” and pray for them? (Matthew 5:43-44)
Paul wrote...
"Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” 20 But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” 21 Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good." (Romans 12:17-21) Is this what you see Christendom doing?
Who is always present when wars are memorialized?....not God or his Christ.
When Jesus told us to
“Go...and make disciples of people of all nations”, (Matthew 28:19-20) have we diligently done that, making sure that our neighbors hear the message about God's Kingdom, (Matthew 24:14) not just people in far flung countries who are contacted by missionaries?
How obedient are the church goers of the world when they pick up their "Christianity" at the door on their way into church, and leaven it there on their way out? We are to manifest our "Christianity" in everyday life 24/7, not just when we go to church out of some feeling of obligation.
I'm sorry but I cannot agree with your viewpoint. I grew up in Christendom and its a hypocritical phony to me....a mangling of everything Jesus taught.