SOUND THE ALARM   Larry W Peebles   September 24, 2021  21.35

An article in The Christian Post this week (09/20/21) caught my attention.  The article quoted research from the Cultural Research Center, Dr. George Barna’s noted Christian research outlet at Arizona Christian University in Glensdale, Arizona.  Barna, a professor, teacher, and former pastor, quoted from his research “Some 62% of self-identified born-again Christians contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power, presence or purity.”  Sound the full alarm.  This strikes at the very core of the Christian faith, as it casts doubt on the belief in the trinity, the concept that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit—three persons, one God.  It is a strong indicator of how far American Christianity and the church have fallen away from a relationship with Holy Spirit.

In my previous article (Prescription for the Church, 08/27/21, 21.33), I wrote of a similar concern, but quoted different research.  Barna’s research was released subsequent to that article, and cannot be ignored.  As a base line for this discussion, consider the Apostle Paul’s position expressed in 1 Corinthians 2:4- “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”  From the days of Pentecost and the early church, Paul knew and wisely recorded for posterity that the best preaching and teaching comes from an actual demonstration of the power of Holy Spirit.  He believed that showing the Gospel to the lost through the power of Holy Spirit was better than just telling the lost about the Gospel.  Preaching from divine revelation was best re-enforced by a manifestation of power.  This was what convinced the unbeliever to convert to Christ.

Paul learned his approach to ministry from Jesus.  Luke wrote in Acts 1:1 –“The former account [Book of Luke] I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.”  This short introductory sentence is easy to overlook, but is so significant.  Jesus both taught and did/demonstrated.  He told his disciples to go and do what they had been taught, including healing, deliverance and raising the dead.  The Greek word for “began” that Luke chose was archomai (Strong’s #756), which indicates the start of a rule/reign/condition that would never end.  Jesus received His power from the Holy Spirit, used it while on the earth, gave it to his disciples, and made it available to all believers when He left the earth.  He intended the power would forever remain available for us.  Like a light bulb, the power is always there for light, but it must be turned on.  Rather than understanding and utilizing the power and gift of Holy Spirit, the church today is more interested in preachers that speak well and positively, think rationally, have a certain charisma, and are skilled in fashioning and putting the right words together in convincing form–wordsmiths. 

But Paul and Jesus gave a much higher priority to a “let me show you” approach as opposed to a “let me tell you” approach.  So much of the church today preaches about God as though He was not in the room, when in fact the church should be recognizing the presence of Holy Spirit and calling on Him to see what He has to say about what we are preaching.  If the church is preaching a true word from the Lord, Holy Spirit will gladly back up what has been said with miracles, signs and wonders.  The result is a faith based on God and His power, and not the theology, wisdom and speaking abilities of man.  Unfortunately, when the church is not able or interested in demonstrating the Spirit, the survey indicates how far it has drifted away from Holy Spirit and the base line established by Jesus and Paul.

Barna’s research defines a spectrum of “self-identified, born-again” Christians.  He uses five categories that range from “self-identified Christians” to “Integrated disciples with a biblical worldview”.  On one end of the spectrum, and in varying degrees, self-identified Christians (69%) believe all people are good; that feelings, experience, and input of friends and family are trusted sources of moral guidance; that all religious faiths are of equal value; they believe in karma; and that the Holy Spirit is not real, but merely a symbol.   On the other end of the spectrum, integrated disciples (6%) possess a biblical worldview such that the bible is the first and only source of moral guidance, that it is the true, inerrant and eternal word of God, and is the cornerstone for discovering God and living a life pleasing to Him.

According to the research, about half of the “self-identified Christian” group goes on to say they are “born-again”.  The “born-again Christian” group holds such beliefs (in varying degrees) as there is no absolute moral truth; and if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can go to heaven.  None of these beliefs are biblical.   Whether actually in church or not, we have a very loose and confused group of people labeling themselves as “born-again Christian”.

Contributing significantly to that confusion is the church’s teaching, or lack thereof, on Holy Spirit.  Here again, the church’s teaching covers a wide spectrum.  On one extreme, certain large denominational churches teach the Holy Spirit is withdrawn from the earth (cessasionalism), and is no longer operative.  Those who claim to know Holy Spirit are labeled heretics, and speaking in tongues is of the devil.  In the middle are many denominations and churches that simply do not know or understand Holy Spirit, so they avoid the subject entirely.  Holy Spirit is ignored.  On the other end of the spectrum is a smaller but growing number of churches who teach Holy Spirit, expect Him to show up in their meetings, and see signs and wonders as a result.  With such a wide range of teaching, no wonder there is confusion, even unbelief regarding Holy Spirit.

Barna’s research is both alarming and fascinating.  I have presented only some of the highlights here.  I encourage you to look at his Release #6, 08/31/21, which can be found on the Cultural Research Center website.  The rest of this article will focus on the original question regarding Holy Spirit.  Again, 62% of the “self-identified, born-again Christian” group contend the Holy Spirit is not real, but merely a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity.  To that contention, I offer the following four responses:

1. Jesus’ own description of Holy Spirit– in John 14:16-17, Jesus said He would ask the Father to send another Counselor (Holy Spirit) to be with us forever, and refers to Holy Spirit as “He” or “Him” 5 times, which indicates a real person, not a mere symbol.  In John 16:7-14, Jesus again refers to Holy Spirit as Counselor, but also as the Spirit of Truth, sent to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin (all are sinners), righteousness, and judgment.  Jesus said Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth by speaking only what He hears from the Father (triune God).  Jesus refers to Holy Spirit as “He” or “Him” 11 times.
2. Scriptures attribute personal characteristics to Holy Spirit– Holy Spirit teaches (John 14:26); He guides (Rom. 8:14); He commissions (Acts 13:4); He commands/speaks (Acts 8:29); He intercedes (Romans 8:26); He is obeyed (Acts 10:19-20); He can be lied to (Acts 5:3); He is resisted (Acts 7:51); He is revered (Psalm 51:11); and He can be blasphemed (the only unforgivable sin-Mathew 12:31).  He is more than a symbol.  He is real and very much alive today.
3. Scripture teaches that Holy Spirit is God.  He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14); He is equal with the Father and Son (Matthew 28:19; He is the author of Scripture (Acts 28:25); He is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7); He is omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10-11); and He is omnipotent (Romans 15:13).
4. Holy Spirit is even more.  Holy Spirit was the communication between Jesus and John the baptizer when they were both still in the womb of their mothers (Luke 1:41); He was the power in the launch of Jesus’ ministry when Jesus was baptized by John (Luke 3:16, 21-22); He gave birth to the church (Acts 2:1-4); His work of regeneration causes all believers to be born again (John 3:5-8); He indwells every believer (1 Corinthians 6:19); and He distributes spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).  There is still more, but I will stop with these.

My wife and I have seen the power of Holy Spirit operate in our own ministry in the form of healings, deliverance and other miracles.  For years we have recorded these experiences in the articles on our website.  We always welcome Holy Spirit into our meetings, and will not leave until we pause and make sure He is pleased and done.  We currently attend Christ Fellowship Church in Dawsonville, Georgia, home of the North Georgia Revival, now in its 189^th week.  We can attest to what the church documents and reports weekly: healings, deliverance and all types of other miracles. 

You may say how can this be-I have never heard of such things.  I say people who live in Miami may not believe in snow because they have never seen it.  It does exist whether one has seen it or not.  To see snow, one has to go where there is snow.  The same is true of Holy Spirit.  My bible says the crowds followed Jesus.  He is worthy of the effort of pursuit.  If one wants to know more about Holy Spirit, they must go where He is welcome, honored, taught and sought.  Regarding a church my wife and I used to attend, Holy Spirit said to me “they (the church) hold a lot of meetings where I am not welcome to speak”.  Holy Spirit was crowded out by the plans and teachings of man.  This was chilling. He could do nothing because He was not invited.  Over time the church became used to having church without Him, which is sad, and is not really church at all.  Unfortunately, it is a read-out of what may be occurring in many churches.

Holy Spirit would be very disappointed to learn He is not real.  The fire that fell at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) still falls in gatherings of believers where the people open and use the gift Jesus gave the church—Holy Spirit.  The power of Holy Spirit still saves, delivers, heals and sets the captive free.  There is even the report of the dead being raised- literally, spiritually and in other ways.  The Holy Spirit still brings life to dead marriages, finances, and physical bodies.  The results of the Barna survey will not improve until the church recognizes, honors and welcomes the Holy Spirit to come and do what the Father says.  I am confident this will happen, because even now the Lord is sifting and refining His church.  One day soon she will be without spot or wrinkle.  The church will hear and heed the alarm because she must reap the harvest of souls before He returns.