PREFACE

WATCHMAN ON THE WALL
 by
Rev. Ronald House


Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

In this booklet we have written a series of three articles (now Chapters) to point out and help Christians recognize a serious heresy which has infiltrated the Charismatic Movement across our nation. We have hesitated to take a public stand for four years hoping the problem would fade away, and hating to have to be the one to speak out.

Recently the Holy Spirit has been dealing with us showing us that this attitude is quite unscriptural bringing to light some facts we had over- looked.

  1. Most all of the Epistles were written to expose and correct error and heresy in the New Testament Church, as well as to bring truth. Many were written for that one purpose alone, for example the book of Galatians. The Early Church leaders did not hesitate to speak the truth and expose error.

  2. In Revelation 2:1-3:22 Jesus stepped down out of heaven and dictated seven very important letters to the Churches which apply to us today. One of Jesus' major concerns was how those Churches were dealing with error. He scathingly denounced compromise and required that error be dealt with severely. One major heresy was the "Doctrine of the Nicolaitans." The word itself means nikao "to conquer" and laos "the laity." Many Bible Scholars agree that this was the earliest form of the notion that ministers were set in authority over the laity, falsely dividing an equal brotherhood. (Shepherdship ?) To Ephesus Jesus said (Rev.2:6)"But this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate," and to Pergamos Rev. 2:15-16 "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate, Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

  3. The Protestant Reformation surfaced when Martin Luther published his 95 Thesis to expose and refute error and heresy in the Church of his day. The Reformers spent half their time refuting error so they could clear the way for truth. John Wesley had to continually refute Calvinistic predestination just to get people saved. (Thank God for our sakes he did.}

  4. Anyone who preaches truth must also refute error along many lines. For example, we can't even get people saved without disproving the salvation-by-good-works error or some other misunderstanding. We have to disprove error to get people Baptized in the Holy Spirit and who can teach healing without dealing with Paul's thorn or the error that God sends sickness to teach us?

  5. When we see the enemy coming we are to warn the city (Ezek. 33:6). In this case the enemy is not the people involved but the spirit of error behind the "shepherdship, discipleship teachings".

In view of these facts we apologize for waiting so long to deal with this subject. In taking this public stand we now can see that we are in good company with Jesus, the Apostles, and the Reformers. We are on solid scriptural grounds to present this booklet for your prayerful attention.