Can others be annointed? et.al.

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"God alone will judge the salvation  of each person (Romans 2:16; Hebrews
12:23).  No human being can condemn a soul to hell or guarantee him a place
in heaven, for salvation is a matter between the individual and God.

The Lord taught us not to judge each other, but to judge ourselves and
leave the judgment of others to God (Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:37).  Jesus did
not come to condemn the world but to offer salvation (John 3:17), and we
should do likewise.  We should proclaim the gospel, encourage obedience to
it, and warn of the biblically prescribed consequences for disobedience,
but the final results rest in God's hands.

We should not be quick to reject those who reverence the name of Christ,
but who apparently do not have the fullness of truth.  The disciples
rebuked a man who cast out devils in Jesus' name because he was not part of
them, but Jesus said, "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a
miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.  For he that is not
against us in on our part" (Mark 9:39-40).  People such as these are not
necessarily saved (Matthew 7:21-23), but they may still help to spread the
Word of God and the name of Jesus (Philippians 1:15-18).  Instead of
opposing them, we should be thankful for what good they do and endeavor to
lead them into more truth.  If we preach the full gospel in a positive way,
the truth will speak for itself and be its own defense"   (Bernard, David
K.  _The New Birth_: 305).


I believe these to be sound words of wisdom.  We can the consequences of
disobedience to God's Word without launching personal attacks on an
individual basis.  When I was very young in the Lord, I once was having a
discussion with my mother (a devoted Roman Catholic) about salvation, etc.
I told her that she would go to hell if she didn't obey Acts 2:38 (not in
these exact words, but something to this effect).  We had already been over
all of the Scripture on salvation.  Even though I said this out of love
with tears in my eyes and nothing but good intentions, it had exactly the
opposite effect that I hoped it would.  She branded me as being judgmental
and arrogant--and, perhaps, rightfully so.  I could see in her eyes that I
had deeply hurt her.  After this episode, I felt the rebuke of the Lord in
an unmistakable way.

Now when I share the gospel with others, I avoid casting this type of
judgment.  If someone asks, "You mean that you thing I am going to hell
because I haven't spoken in tongues?" (or something similar), I simply tell
them that I am not the judge and it doesn't matter what I think.  I
emphasize that I have shown them what the Word of God says and that they
should sincerely seek God and ask Him what He thinks.

As for non-Pentecostal folks being able to express truth, I think that it
is exceptionally egocentric of some of us Pentecostals to not recognize
this.  When a person speaks of Calvary and imparts the message that Christ
loves us and died for us they are speaking truth.  I agree with Pastor
Bassett that a person who doesn't have the Holy Ghost may speak or write
under the anointing in some instances (I think he said something to this
effect).  Has anyone ever read the book, _The Divine Romance_?  The author
of this book is not a Oneness Pentecostal and he doesn't possess the truth
in it's entirety (I assume), but when I read the book I definitely felt the
anointing and wept.  This is just one example that comes to mind.

Should it scare us that God may use others who do not posses the fullness
of truth?  I don't see why it should--we are not spoiled children.  Like I
said previously...I am a hard-core, die-hard, classical Oneness
Pentecostal.  And I don't see any fault in acknowledging that other people
may be used of God according to His purpose.  This is not to say that
everyone whom the Lord uses is "saved."

Your brother in Jesus Christ, our Lord and God,
Kirk Van Ooteghem

--
Kirk Van Ooteghem
00kmvanooteg@bsu.edu
vanoo@ecicnet.org

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