The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-12-05
FISHER ASSA|LS
NEW LOCAL IDEA
Huston Pastor Finds
Work Hampered by
"Crawfordism".

The editor OF this column has re-
ceived the following communication
from Rev. J. Franklin Fisher. OF Hus
ton. well known in Canyon County
and a graduate OF the College Of
Idaho. In his letter he writes, Il am
doing community work in Central
Cove. My work appears to be thriv-
ing but OF late some of my people
are being carried away by 'Craw-
fordism II the paper does not mil
itate against you or your convictions
shall be pleased TO have it appear
in ,he church news OF The Tribune.
"In view OF the so-called recrud-
essence OF tongues and the hap
tism OF the Holy Ghost" which some
hereabouts claim to be re- wing Mr..
Fishers carefully prepared paper de-
serves reading.
Spiritual Gifts According to
Inspiration
|. Spiritual gifts come from God
q Cor. 1928.
q Spiritual gifts are 20 be used
for God from. l2:6).
3. Every Christian receives his
share of them (lCor l2:7).
4. God distributes them according
to His own discretion q Cor. IBID.
s. They are to be earnestly de-
sired q Cor. l2:3D.
8. As gifts, they are not to be
sought
7. They, in contradistinction to
love. are temporal. They belong es
sentially to the sphere OF Christian
service q Cor. 1879.
8. They are OF less value than
love. They are the less excellent
way q Cor l2:3D.
g. They are OF no value without
love q Cor l3:l-0.
TO- Diversity OF tongues is a spir-
itual gift q Cor. l2:l0).
IL. Not every believer receives the
gift OF tongues q Cor. 1880.
IL. Diversity of tongues is less
CIR gift. Its relative value in COMPARE
son to prophecy is 5 to 10000 Hence
prophecy is two Thousand times more
important than speaking in tongues
q Cor l4:lo).
Is. Speaking in tongues is restrict
ed TO one at time and not TO more
than two or three at a service q
Cor. l4:27). This, in spite of the
fact that the ordinary manifestation
OF the Spirit is not to be quenched
resisted or restrained q Thess. $40;
Acts Esd.
IL. The presence OF tongues is no
indication OF spirituality. Excepting
the backslidden church in Galat;a. the
Corinthians were the least spiritual
of any with whom Paul had to do.
They were divided Il Cor lad; they
were carnal q Cor. 3:3); they were
pulled up q Cor 49,; they de-
frauded one another and went to law
brother with brother q Cor. Go, 81
they suffered fornication among them
i Cor. 5:D; they abused the Lords
Supper q Cor. ll:22). Nevertheless
every one at church spoke with
tongues q Cor. l4:26).
Is. Speaking in tongues IS not an
evidence of the baptism OF the Spirit.
Christians all may as well expect to
speak with tongues as to be apostles
q Cor. 1920. Tongues are not
sign to believers q Cor 1922.
Hence, believer can not Scriptur-
ally rely upon tongues as his evil
dence. The tongues of Pentecost had
two purposes; one. uiilitarian-to
preach the new tidngs to the as
semblcd Jewish multitades in the
quickest and most effective way; and
the other, commemorative cele-
bratc the coming OF the Holy Spirit
to the world. just as great dem
onstrations OF thunder and lightning
and awful glory attended the revel-
alton of God the Father at Sinai. and
a multitude of angels announced the
birth OF Jesus at Bethlehem. so pee
uliar manifestations of wind and fire
and miraculous tongues accompany
the descent of God the Holy Ghost
at Jerusalem. The tongues on the |
occasion OF the visit OF Peter 10 Cor
nelius and OF Paul to the Ephesians
were the counterparts OF Pene,ccost:
not an assurance to individuals tina.
they had received the baptism Of the
Spirit but an evidence to the world
that the Gentle nations. the aliens"
the dogs" had also received the
Holy Spirit
10. Certain spiritual gifts rariicu-
larry prophecy. IN the sense II fore
telling, and the working OF miracles
such as the raising from the dead
Of Dorcas. are gifts extraordinary and