Former Pentecostal tells of how he saw people possessed by demons in the guise of the “Holy Spirit”, and the rampant sin of divorce and fornication in the Charismatic movement.
I come from a family that were Pentecostals for 3 generations. I have witnessed many things in the movement that is both shocking and unscriptural. I had many friends who were Pentecostals. One of them, his father was a Pentecostal pastor. Once I told him that I did not have the gift of tongues, he laughed at me and said that I was not a Christian etc. Even though I read the Bible, I only read it for the sake of pleasing God so that He can reward me with great prosperity in my life. I was blind to biblical revelation then because I was not saved, even though I thought I was then, since the natural man cannot understand nor know the things of the Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:14).
I did not know then it was Satan’s lie to get me to believe that I was really a great man of God, like a “little christ”. I was actually inviting demonic influence into my life without realizing it!
I had many “prophets” telling me that I was greatly anointed. Yet, at the same time I remembered that only Christ carried this title. My then-church even boasted that one of the “miracles” they saw are people flying in the air (levitation – a common practice in Eastern occults)! Though I did not see it myself, the other members claimed to have witnessed such things. I finally began to be able to “speak in tongues” and experience being “slain in the spirit”. I once saw people, including unbelievers, trembling several times. I thought they were being filled by the Holy Spirit. I even had bad dreams and visions of Satan. When I saw such things, I felt supernatural and thought I was doing something right, else the Devil would not target me. I did not know then it was Satan’s lie to get me to believe that I was really a great man of God, like a “little christ”. I was actually inviting demonic influence into my life without realizing it!
Despite my gifts, I was not free from sin. I began to notice in many charismatic churches, divorce and fornication are rampant among the members. I even heard a charismatic “prophet” telling someone to “leave your wife for someone else”! At this point, I was so disturbed that I started to question everything I was taught.
Unlike many ex-Charismatics, I did not find it hard to leave the movement. I was already questioning everything they did, including the teachings of Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyers and so on, that the church I was in was heavily promoting. Whenever I watched Benny Hinn on TV, I could see he has the Devil in him, since he promoted the heresy that the death of Christ on the cross was just a spiritual one. When I questioned my then-church on these issues, instead of addressing them kindly, they became aggressive towards me and refused to listen to me, turning a blind ear to the heresies I questioned.
Once I left, I fell into deep depression for 6 months. During the period of depression, I struggled with many blasphemous thoughts and even quit my job. Yet, I continue to seek the truth in God’s Word. I began studying, researching on what it means to be saved, and constantly examined myself to test if I was really in the faith. I started by getting exposed to good teachings online, and then through prayer and kind Christians who helped me, I finally got saved and overcame my depression. I stopped speaking in tongues in an instant the moment I believed in the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and I stopped having demonic dreams.
Since studying greatly about the charismatic movement and its ecumenical liaison with the unsaved and other heretical denominations like Catholicism, I realised that this movement is infested with many demonic spirits operating behind the scenes, whom many have falsely assumed it to be the work of the Holy Spirit! I have even heard of charismatics ending up at mental hospitals because of the demonic spirits they came in contact with during their time in Charismania.
A friend of mine did challenge some tongues-speaking Pentecostals, and when questioned if they believed in Christ who was God manifested in the flesh, many of them denied Christ or was not even sure! I have tried to convince my friends and loved ones who are still in this movement, but was greeted with Mafia-like aggression, anger and refusal to listen to the truth. I pray that people will get out of this dangerous movement.
As for the pastor I mentioned earlier, his son* came to the knowledge of the Cross half a year ago, and is now a saved man and have ceased speaking in tongues. My parents have also left the movement, Hallehluja! God bless.
Regards,
Brother V.
Ex-Charismatics 