Bible Questions & Answers
If you have a specific question you would like to ask, send it to Dan Allen jd03325@gmail.com You must give your name and e-mail address.
When I answer your question I will not show your name or e-mail address when I post your question to this blog.
I will make every effort to answer your questions within 3 days.
Each answered question will include a Scripture reference for the question. I urge you to read all scriptures from your Bible accepting only what the Bible teaches.
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QUESTION: Is it true that we take away the empowering of the Holy Spirit
today when we discredit Mark 16:16-20?
ANSWER: It is not true that people are empowered to miraculously heal today
as previously discussed. Certainly, we should not discredit Mark 16:16-20 or any
part of the Bible. However, to read something into a passage that is not there is
to discredit in a most grievous way! This particular passage simply says that
confirming signs were to accompany believers. It does not teach here, or
elsewhere in the Bible, that every Christian for all time would be able to perform
one or all of these signs. The Bible is clear throughout that such was not the
case, e.g., Acts 8:13; Romans 1:6-11. Neither is there here a discussion as to
who specifically would receive the gifts or of the duration of the gifts. To base a
doctrine or belief on one passage to the exclusion of all related material is to
violate the intent of the subject. All passages relative to a subject must be studied
with understanding and knowledge coming from and based upon the sum of
those passages. It should be noted that the particular prophecies of this passage
have been fulfilled; that signs did, indeed, follow the believers, but only in the way
(I Corinthians 12:11) and during the time appointed of God (I Corinthians 13:10).
Demons were cast out (Acts 8:7; Acts 5:16). They spoke in new tongues (Acts
2:4-11). They took up serpents (Acts 28:5). Jesus does not say they “shall” drink
some deadly thing, but “if” they should. Knowing that attempts would be made on
the lives of the apostles, he gave them assurance, that if by poison, it would not
hurt them. Allow me to suggest that if the Pentecostal believes that these
confirming signs are requisite today, then it is he or she who refuses to confirm
their word with signs that discredit the passage. Where is the Pentecostal today
who will take up a deadly viper to confirm what is being taught? Where is the
Pentecostal who will drink deadly poison to confirm his or her doctrine? Why is it
that they “do” exorcisms, healings, and speaking in tongues, but exclude the
other two? May I also suggest that it is not ethical to say that they heard that
someone in a far away country did it? There is no proof in such allegations!
