- Mar 31, 2025
- 1,298
- 1,370
- 113
- 67
- Faith
- Christian
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
That was a sobering account. Your workmate was right to reject what was being falsely presented as the work of the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us to “try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). Not everything called a spiritual gift is from God.Greetings bdavidc,
I found the large list of various strange trends interesting and a warning of how easy it is to divert from the clear teaching and example of the Scriptures. He seemed to be in possibly a large Baptist meeting with an attentive audience and what he said seems to indicate that he is a relatively conservative, mainstream Baptist.
Some of what he said reminded me of one of my Baptist workmates. I had a fair bit of respect for him, and he was always friendly and pleasant. He and his wife were singers and they often sang together at their church and a few other Baptist churches. On one occasion he invited me to a Bible Study series which their Pastor was giving on the Book of Revelation. I was partially interested but declined as I had other commitments. Also I was very uncertain what perspective would be presented. It did not seem very long after this that his particular Church became divided and evidently the main faction remained and were persuaded with the introduction of Holy Spirit Gifts. My workmate left and joined a smaller Baptist Church and said to me concerning the other Church: "THAT is NOT the Holy Spirit". He retired soon after this and I only met him once at the local shopping centre. He gave the same warm greeting and smile, but then told me had a severe case of brain tumour and had only a short time left. His last words to me were: "We have a glorious hope". I regret not having spent more time with him in discussing the Bible teachings as I assume he was speaking about heaven going while I believe in the resurrectiion and the future kingdom.
Kind regards
Trevor
I would only be careful about assuming what he meant when he said, “We have a glorious hope.” The Bible does not place being with Christ after death against the future resurrection and kingdom. It teaches both.
Paul said he desired “to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23), and that to be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Yet our complete hope includes the resurrection of the body when Christ returns:
“The dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Our final hope is not merely leaving the body and going to heaven. It is resurrection, glorification, and everlasting life with Christ. As Paul wrote, we are “waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23).
Your workmate may have understood more of that than you realized. Either way, his confidence was properly placed if his hope was in Jesus Christ.

