"Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?"
(Galatians 4:16)

It would seem that anyone who wishes to discuss the current
movement proceeding forth from the Toronto Airport Vineyard in the
light of the whole counsel of the Word of God has indeed become, at
best, a "Pharisee", and, at worst, the enemy. There have been
numerous references throughout a variety of Vineyard venues, both
at Toronto, Anaheim and elsewhere, condemning anyone who calls into
question Biblically any of these bizarre manifestations taking
place presently.

The following is an excerpt by Vineyard pastor James Ryle taken
from a radio broadcast in Denver:

     "There is today a group of people who promote themselves as
     biblical purist, the faithful remnant who alone preach the
     Word and who evidently posess the power to judge and criticize
     anyone who is not like *them*. This is nothing new, as any
     student of scripture can attest. It was in fact this very kind
     of people who crucified Jesus Christ. They are scribes and
     Pharisees, religious and angry, attacking and persecuting
     anyone who dares to differ from their exclusive views. Here is
     where the plot thickens. These watchdogs of doctrinal purity -
      who themselves ironically violate scripture by their ungodly
     attitudes their mean spirited commentary and their deceitful
     reporting have now turned their swords against the Vineyard
     and it's leaders, why? Since there is no truth to their
     accusations one must ask then why do they accuse? What
     motivates them to tear down another church. The answer is
     pride, jealousy, fear, hatred or ignorance. Take your pick. 
     You can be sure one of these factors is at the heart of this
     present contention."

Pastor Ryle provides no specifics, gives no documented cases, but
merely makes a broad assertion and in so doing makes a few harsh
judgments about others himself, specifically:

1. He likens us to those who crucified Jesus Christ.
2. Adjudges us to be:
   a. Scribes and Pharisees
   b. Religious and angry
   c. Attacking and persecuting
   d. In violation of Scripture
   e. Possessed of ungodly attitudes
   f. Issuers of mean spirited commentary
   g. Liars ("deceitful reporting")
   h. Accusers of the brethren
   i. Motivated to tear down churches
   j. Proud, jealous, fearful
   k. Ignorant

All of which _begs_ the question: WHO is judging WHOM here and WHO
is accusing WHOM here? I believe it is evident to the objective eye
who is attempting to evaluate these teachings in light of Scripture
in a non-personal manner and who has gone on the offensive with
personal attacks. So be it.

The pattern itself is broad-spread and well established. Here is
but another example of it by Carl Tuttle, Anaheim Vineyard,
transcript clip from audiotape #00363:

     "Okay, what about those who are opposed to this? Well folks,
     there's always been opposition to the work and ministry of
     God, you know. They opposed the prophets, they opposed the
     apostles and they've opposed all those that have followed
     behind them. Now, who has opposed it? Frankly...it's been the
     religious community. The religious community always gets it
     back up when God moves, and always starts clicking the tongue
     and wagging the finger, you know?...Now if you want to read
     more about this, read Hebrews, Chapter Eleven. There's always
     opposition to a move of God. There's always opposition to a
     move of God, and we just don't want to be those who oppose
     it."

Note several things Mr. Tuttle apparently expects the hearer(s) to
take as a "given", a foregone conclusion:

1. This IS a work of God.
2. Any opposition stems from that old nemesis and whipping post,
the "religious community".
3. Therefore, when anyone attempts to call into question teachings
and/or manifestations which are Scripturally incongruent, they're
suffering persecution from the "religious community" on par with
the OT prophets and NT apostles just like Hebrews 11.
4. This IS a move of God, therefore, we don't want to oppose it.

The attempt to instill fear by alluding to be in danger of opposing
a "move of God" in order to side-step viable Scriptural concerns
about Vineyard teachings is becoming an all too common manipulative
ploy. Any viable move of God will withstand careful Scriptural
scrutiny of the most intense order.

However, it is a tact which has proved relatively successful in the
past, but I am not so sure it will now. There may very well be
those who will refuse, God being with them, to move from the
foundation already laid in that "more sure word of prophecy", His
Word, which endures forever.

Note further what Mr. Tuttle never teaches on the audiotape:

1. Be a Berean (Acts 17:10-11):

"And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to
Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the
Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,
for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so."

2. The sufficiency Scripture--in fact, Scripture is never used
except in reference to the faith hall of fame, Hebrews 11, and then
only to equate their perceived "persecution" with that of dear
saints who have long preceded us.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the
man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

"And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do
well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until
the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know
this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of
one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act
of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
(2 Peter 1:19-21)

All we are saying is come, let us reason together from the whole
counsel of Scripture. If our assertions about "it" are wrong, then
show us from the testimony of God's Word. Is it not, as God has
said in Psalm 36:9, "For with Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy
light we see light"?

John 3:21:
"But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds
may be manifested as having been wrought in God."  

Ephes. 5:13:
"But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light,
for everything that becomes visible is light."

What IS the "light" which exposes and discerns these things? How
are we to know what is and what is not a "move of God"?

Psalm 119:105:
Thy word is a lamp to my feet,
And a light to my path.  

Proverbs 6:23:
"For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life,"

Hebrews 4:12:
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-
edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and
spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts
and intentions of the heart."

God has said He is NOT a God of confusion, and what else results
_but_ confusion if we remove the sufficiency of Scripture as the
absolute against which we measure all teachings and subjective
impressions and impulses? It always comes back to whether we are
going to trust in our own hearts and lean on our own understanding
and, thus, validate our experiences because we _feel_ them, or
whether we are going to submit our experiences for validation or
invalidation on the basis of how they compare to God's Word. Shall
we go to Scripture to be conformed by His Word, or shall we go to
Scripture and wrest it unto our own destruction?

John 1:14:
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace
and truth."

That is the ageless magnificence of God's Word - it IS objective
truth! It is as applicable to your life as it is to mine and has
been throughout the years to countless others as well. It IS living
and active and _everlasting_. God has equated it with His own
character (Psalm 138:2b):

"Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name."

I have had isolated proof-texts quoted to me, including the
following:

Luke 7:22:
"And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you
have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the
poor have the gospel preached to them."

John 10:37-38:
"If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if
I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that
you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the
Father."

I will gladly examine these in the light of the totality of God's
Word, taking into account what He Himself also forewarned us about
during His incarnation:

Matthew 24:4-5:
"And Jesus answered and said to them, See to it that no one
misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the
Christ,' and will mislead many."

Matthew 24:11:
"And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many."

Matthew 24:24:
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show
great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the
elect."

So I see from the whole of this that there is more than one source
of signs and wonders and I further understand, therefore, that
physical manifestations and feelings are not an accurate gauge of
these things. Where else have we to turn to avoid this deception
and misleading He spoke of? I can see no other source but His Word.

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to conclude anything other
than the fact that, however much and emphatically it may be denied,
we are faced with a movement which is asking us to deny the
sufficiency of Scripture. There is, after all, the old aphorism of
actions speaking louder than mere words.

As much has been made of wanting "more, more", there are two
questions I should like to submit:

1. What more can God do for us that He has not already done through
the plenary atonement on Calvary's Cross?

2. What more do we want or need which God has not freely given us?

I believe the answer to those questions is, simply, the "POWER",
whatever reasons may be given in justification thereof. It leads
right back to the Garden: "...and you shall be like God."

Because Jonathan Edwards has been hearkened to as the "predominant
theologian of this revival" (William DeArteaga, Toronto Airport
Vineyard, audiotape transcript, 10/13/94, 9:15 AM meeting), then,
I pray, let them take careful heed of his words written so long
ago:

     "Why cannot we be contented with the divine oracles, that
     holy, pure word of God, which we have in such abundance and
     clearness, now since the canon of Scripture is completed? Why
     should we desire to have any thing added to them by impulses
     from above? Why should we not rest in that standing rule that
     God has given to his church, which the apostles teaches us, is
     surer than a voice from heaven? And why should we desire to
     make the Scripture speak more to us than it does?"
               [Jonathan Edwards, Some Thoughts, p.404]

     "They who leave the sure word of prophecy--which God has given
     us as a light shining in a dark place--to follow such
     impressions and impulses, leave the guidance of the polar star
     to follow a Jack with a lantern. No wonder therefore that
     sometimes they are led into woeful extravagances."
               [Jonathan Edwards, On Revival, p.14]

If some wish to say I am a "Pharisee", an "accuser of the brethren
just like Satan" and other such invectives, that is their privilege
and I can only respond to them as did Martin Luther so long ago:

     "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason, my
     conscience is captive to the Word of God....God help me. Here
     I stand, I can do no other."

Beyond that, leave us pray with those dear old saints of old as did
Augustine, "Lord, deliver me from the lust of self-vindication."


In His Service,
Debra Bouey

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