Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

When ministering over the Internet, I’ve noticed selected topics spark doctrinal debates more than others. Among them are tithing, the rapture, and “once saved, always saved.” In response to a recent Facebook post I wrote regarding the latter, one friend made reference to blaspheming the Holy Spirit (also called “the Unpardonable Sin”). Jesus talked about this in Mark 3…

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 

25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 

26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 

27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 

29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”

30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”


I heard one evangelist warn that preachers who attribute speaking in tongues and other works of God to Satan are in danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. That had me questioning why more religious “watchdogs” aren’t dropping like flies. In my opinion, most folks attack ministers they disagree with because of not enough revelation of Scripture. Saul of Tarsus was a devout Jew who persecuted Christians before his Damascus Road experience. As the Apostle Paul he later wrote in 1 Timothy 1:13, “although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”


Nevertheless, I heard that same evangelist share a story about a man who told one Christian, “Your Holy Spirit can go to hell.” A short time later, this man was supernaturally thrown across the room and died. There is a point of no return for people who repeatedly resist the Spirit of God. That also applies to mature Christians who decide to turn away from Him. Look at this passage from Hebrews chapter 6 in the New Living Translation:


4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 

5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 

6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.


Years ago, a group of atheists called the Rational Response Squad launched “The Blasphemy Challenge.” The campaign enticed young people to post YouTube videos of them publicly denying the existence of the Holy Spirit. That is not the unpardonable sin. One study Bible points out: “To commit this sin one must consciously, persistently, deliberately, and maliciously reject the testimony of the Spirit to the deity and saving power of the Lord Jesus.”


A Christian can grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). But if you’re worried about committing the unpardonable sin, you haven’t done so. There is also hope if you don’t know the Lord but still feel His conviction and want eternal life. Put your trust in Him today.


“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” - John 6:37 (NIV)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Gospel Soul Winning Script

Image
During my early days with evangelism, I developed an approach called the Survey Technique . By asking short direct questions, you can maintain control of the conversation and find out quickly what a person’s spiritual beliefs are. Although the Survey Technique has helped me lead thousands to the Lord, I’m still open to utilizing new methods in reaching people with the gospel. Rodney Howard-Browne 's ministry uses a tool called the Gospel Soul-Winning Script , which originated during their Good News New York campaign in 1999. I became familiar with it a few years later during evangelism outreaches with Rodney’s church in Tampa, Florida. At first, I resisted using the script. I found it restrictive and thought sinners wouldn’t be receptive to me reading the whole thing to them. Then while taking part in a 2009 outreach with Rodney’s ministry in Washington, D.C., my team leader asked me to “stick with the script.” Wanting to maintain unity, I complied with his request. Initially it fe
Read more

Toking the Ghost Revisited

Image
Back in February 2007, a fellow missionary I was traveling with started talking about “smoking the weed from heaven.”   He would pretend to have a joint of marijuana between his fingers and have “smoke breaks with Jesus.”   He also encouraged other believers to take “hits.”   I was a bit uncomfortable with this idea but didn't contest it. Then in October of that year, I heard John Crowder preach on “toking the Ghost” at a church in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.   I was inspired to make a video with John to share with my missionary friend.   During the filming, I experienced much laughter. I decided to make the video public figuring other people might enjoy it also. Two weeks later at a church in Minnesota, I heard Benjamin Dunn share testimonies of people getting healed from “toking the Ghost.”   This was just before he and John Crowder started ministering together.   I believed this was God confirming His word in the mouth of two or three witnesses.  
Read more

Is That Gold Dust Real?

Image
Twenty years ago I made my first visit to Calvary Campground in Ashland, Virginia. One of the speakers for their Winter Campmeeting was a Brazilian named Silvania Machado. After standing on the platform for about twenty minutes during praise and worship, Sister Silvania brushed gold dust out of her short blonde hair plus had oil flow from her hands. I didn’t dismiss these signs but questioned the purpose of them. A few people in the congregation later testified of being healed. I’ve seen gold manifestations at other places. The year before during a church service in Oklahoma, the fillings in my mouth changed from black to a whitish-gold color. Other people supernaturally received gold teeth (I later met a man in Germany who received four of them). I’ve also seen gold dust appear on ministers such as Joshua Mills while they are preaching. Although I don’t seek after signs like this, gold dust has shown up on my face and in my Bible. One time with the latter, I found some w
Read more