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Originally posted by Abd_Yesua_alMasih
You could almost understand the 'charismatic' movement there (charismatic mostly only in the way they think of gifts) because they have no other way of revelation when Bibles and Bible knowledge is so rare.
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Though I agree with a lot of what you say, Fraser, I believe that the "charismatic movement" there owes more to the influx of unsound Western missionaries and their teachings since the 1980s than anything else.
Other than the small minority of house churches built on reformed teachings, I would say that the most solid house churches are those with roots going back at least several decades and connected with the old preachers who received the most persecution in previous years. Though the printed Bible was especially scarce in those days, many of these men had it well written on their hearts, and they had a hold of the true gospel.
All of the tongue-speaking and other such teachings came in with the charismatic Westerners in the 1980s, and unfortunately these are the teachings which are spreading most rapidly. A great many of them are also Arminian in the most heretical sense, speaking almost nothing about true repentance and surrender to Christ, but emphasising instead the benefits and fulfillment people can get from believing in God, always trying to persuade people by any means to pray the "decisional prayer" so they will be guaranteed salvation. It can be easy indeed to get people to "accept" this message, since it avoids the cross and has no cost.
False and heretical teachings spread rapidly indeed among those who have never come to saving faith in the true gospel in the first place.
You are right that there is a tremendous need for sound, godly and Biblically knowledgable pastors in this land.
I know that the Lord is indeed doing great works in this land, but we must pray fervently for purification and reformation.