Weird teachings about angels have become the norm in some charismatic circles today. It’s time to demand sanity on the subject.
At a growing Brazilian church in Boston, a pastor told his congregation he was having regular conversations with an angel. Weeks later he set a chair on the stage for the heavenly visitor, whom he said was attending Sunday services even though no one could see him. The pastor eventually wrote a book containing messages he had supposedly received from the angel. The man’s teachings became so bizarre that he was eventually removed from his denomination for promoting heresy.
That scenario may seem extreme, but it is one example of widespread emphasis on angels and angelic encounters in the charismatic movement today. In the case of the Brazilian church, the pastor went off the theological deep end and his church became a cult. It remains to be seen what will happen in other sectors of our movement as leaders promote teachings about angels that range from the mildly weird to downright wacky:
* Evangelist Todd Bentley, leader of the Lakeland Revival, stirred up interest in angels when he wrote about Emma, a female angel he said wears a long white dress, floats above the floor and resembles Kathryn Kuhlman.
* A young evangelist who was preaching in Canada last spring held up a jar with a feather in it and told the congregation it belonged to an angel who visits him. He said the angel was coming to the service to release riches and healing to those who wanted prayer.
* Leaders of the prophetic movement often speak of angels that bring healing, wealth or special anointings. Some have described angels as tall as skyscrapers while others say they have seen tiny angels the size of insects. One prophet spoke of angels who are sleeping inside the walls of churches. Another segment of believers claim that the glowing circles of light that often show up on photographs are angels in the form of “orbs.”
With such exotic teachings on the rise, we desperately need some biblical guidelines. If you believe everything you hear these days, angels can be huge, tiny, spherical, male, female, feathered or non-feathered. What’s next? Yipping dog angels? Mermaid angels with fins? Court jester angels with bells on their hats?
Since my earliest days in the charismatic movement I was always taught that the Bible is our guidebook for doctrine and practice, and that the early church's experience in the Book of Acts should be a pattern for us. This would direct us to assume that if a spiritual experience is not in the Bible, then it should not be considered normative for us today.
When I look at what the New Testament teaches us about angels, and specifically what the book of Acts shows us about them, here’s what I find:
• Angels who looked like men told the early disciples that Jesus would return one day (see Acts 1:11)
• Angels are actively working behind the scenes to minister to the saints, especially to offer protection (see Acts 12:7-11)
• In one case an angel directed Philip where to preach (see Acts 8:26)
• Angels sometimes appeared in visions to give instructions, as one did for Cornelius (see Acts 10:3,7,22)
• An angel came to Paul to strengthen him and to assure him that he would preach to Caesar (see Acts 27:23-24).
If we look at Paul’s epistles, we find only a few references to angels—and most are actually warnings to the early church about a wrong emphasis on angels: Continue >>
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Well you need to consider that the Bible it is full of angels and the supernatural....and sometimes even weird (!) things. And the Bible says there is more that was never recorded. My concern is that following the Lakeland situation, there will be a reaction towards greater restriction and a kind of 'religious' thinking that will cause persecution against much that IS valid and scriptural, right from within our own ranks! That would be a sad day but I already see it happening. We need to get our eyes back on Jesus and study the Word of God and stop the division and heresy hunting. Read or look up what Dutch Sheets wrote recently. Now that is full of mature wisdom, and it is balanced and full of humility.
Thanks for this sensible and biblical message. It is unfortunate that people follow the voices of their heart, which they convert into religious experience and religious truth. And the article has pointed out well, that both Jesus and the Apostles warned us to avoid them: from then until now. You are square on, when saying that the Bible needs to set our boundries for doctrine and practice. May there be more voices like yours on this subject.
Lee Grady, with all due respect, you need to get off your axe against angelic manifestations. It was prophesied in the Bible that there would be an increase in supernatural activity in the last days, angelic manifestations, dreams and visions. If it contracts the main doctrines of the faith and who Jesus is, then you have a right to expose it. But I hope you will get off judging and criticizing this wonderful sign of God's love and provision for us. When the times get more difficult I hope you have angels to help you.