Do "OPs" Really Have More Power than other Christians?

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Joseph

Power is not the litmus test of ones "rightness" with God. I have experienced a preacher coming in and working in gifts and felt the fire of Heaven rain in the place, only to find out in later days that he left there with his offering to go to the mission field, and met up with his mistress.

Right doctrine, and right living will win over every time. You may have power to make the moon turn green, but if your foundation is faulty, or incorrectly laid, your building will eventually falter, and crumble.

What! How can this be?

Actually, I have heard it said God will use a willing vessel, for a time.

Sad to have thrown that kind of power away on fleshly desires.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Joseph

Power is not the litmus test of ones "rightness" with God. I have experienced a preacher coming in and working in gifts and felt the fire of Heaven rain in the place, only to find out in later days that he left there with his offering to go to the mission field, and met up with his mistress.

Right doctrine, and right living will win over every time. You may have power to make the moon turn green, but if your foundation is faulty, or incorrectly laid, your building will eventually falter, and crumble.

I think many times the "supposed power" did not come from the person as you describe above, but rather it stirred up faith in God in the hearers and that faith produced the results.

[Timmy]

Faith does work, even when it is (apparently) misplaced. I've heard Mormons give stories of miracles in answer to prayer. I'm sure many religions have such stories, even those that don't claim to be Christian. There is a placebo effect for many remedies, including prayer, like it or not. Now, that is not to say that God never has a direct hand in answering prayers (maybe even from Mormons!), but I believe that the vast majority of so-called miracles are not really cases of divine intervention.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Faith does work, even when it is (apparently) misplaced. I've heard Mormons give stories of miracles in answer to prayer. I'm sure many religions have such stories, even those that don't claim to be Christian. There is a placebo effect for many remedies, including prayer, like it or not. Now, that is not to say that God never has a direct hand in answering prayers (maybe even from Mormons!), but I believe that the vast majority of so-called miracles are not really cases of divine intervention.

Timmy are you a Christian? You don't believe in divine intervention?

You are missing a lot. Sorry.

[triumphant1]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Having been around OP's for over fifty years and now having been fellowshipping with many other Christians. I have observed an interesting phenomenon, that those who embrace the Word and declare Jesus Lord, I don't see any significance difference in the results in their lives.

Healing> no difference.
Changed lives, other than outward appearances> no difference.
Love of God> no difference
Love for the Word of God> maybe stronger among non OP's.
Love of each other> no difference.

So is the proclaimed "greater power" in the lives of OP's just believing their own press, or is there real difference? After fifty+ years I say the Word in folks lives makes the difference not the OP's doctrine.

Great comparison of practical observation. (bolded)

My answer to the title question is: No.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Esther

Timmy are you a Christian? You don't believe in divine intervention?

You are missing a lot. Sorry.

Yes, I am a Christian. But I believe the vast majority (same term I used above, BTW) of the time, God lets things proceed as nature (as he designed it) dictates. Natural laws (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) usually prevail.

Now, the human body is capable of healing itself in amazing ways. A simple cut will be healed in a few days. Nobody I know of calls that divine intervention. I call it the result of God's wonderful design. Even cancer goes into remission sometimes, with or without treatment. Again, God's design is at work.

OPs and many others capitalize on such things and bring wonderful testimonies of miracles. Not just healings, but "amazing" testimonies of God providing a parking place at the mall! I think you'll agree that there is some percentage (I think it's very close to 100%, you may give it a much lower number) of such stories are 1) exaggerated, 2) misinterpreted, or 3) made up out of whole cloth. There is pressure to produce such stories, and the temptation is overwhelming to cook the numbers, so to speak. Especially among ministers, who are expected to be great spiritual warriors, and walk in power.

I've been disappointed so many times with healings (either my own or a loved one's) that didn't "take", and observed it so many times in others' lives, that I got to a "why bother?" stage in my faith. Or, stated a bit less cynically, a "do what you can and see what happens" stage. Ironically, I have found this stage to be much more healthy and satisfying, spiritually. I trust God to work things out, even if he doesn't grant my wishes like a genie. I use the gifts he has given me to the best of my ability. Gifts like intelligence and wisdom, doctors, advice of friends and family, and common sense. Of course, even that doesn't always "work". Things go terribly wrong, sometimes. But I don't let it get me down, like I used to. I don't have to wonder why God didn't come through for me. I don't have to make excuses for him, like "he has something better for me" or "I didn't have enough faith". Things happen! That's life!

I see this emphasis on miracles as an example of believing what you want to believe, often despite evidence to the contrary. Some may throw that back to me, and say that I don't want to believe in miracles, so I don't. Oh, contraire! I would love to believe in them, and I would, if they were real! And again, maybe some are. But if there are real miracles, they are rare. Rare enough, seems to me, that there is no reason to focus on them, expect them in day-to-day life, and depend on them.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I believe that believers who are Holy Ghost have greater access to God's power that believers who are not Spirit filled.
If a believer is walking in the power of The Holy Ghost yes they have greater power than believers who haven't received the Holy Ghost yes.
I do believe believers who have not been Spirit-Filled can have an experience with God ,but the experience of Repentance,Baptism in Jesus Name,Holy Ghost baptism is normative Christian experience.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

I believe that believers who are Holy Ghost have greater access to God's power that believers who are not Spirit filled.If a believer is walking in the power of The Holy Ghost yes they have greater power than believers who haven't received the Holy Ghost yes.
I do believe believers who have not been Spirit-Filled can have an experience with God ,but the experience of Repentance,Baptism in Jesus Name,Holy Ghost baptism is normative Christian experience.

But, does this access translate into fewer broken homes and fewer trips to the psych ward?

[Scott Hutchinson]

SH now just because people have access to the power of God doesn't mean they are availing themselves of it.
Yes since the church is comprised of people ,and people have issues ,then the church has issues.
All groups that comprise Christendom so- called have probelms.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

CJ and Plethora - This is something I have thought much about and have never found satisfactory answers.

Turn off the spell checker there, bother. You're merging my persona with The Explorer.

I'm a "stay-at-home dad!"