The Burning Bush Vol 9 No 2.pmd - Far Eastern Bible College

A BIBLICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE “ALPHA COURSE”
take up his cross daily, and follow me.” There is a need to make the
gospel understandable to ordinary people, but this must not be done at the
expense of truth. God forbid that in making the gospel simple for the
common folk, a new gospel is concocted in the process.
The Alpha Course is Charismatic
The Alpha course has a strong predominant charismatic orientation.
In his book—The Alpha Initiative—Gumbel dwelt at length on the
supernatural display of the power of the Spirit, and taught that as the
disciples of old, believers today should also heal the sick, raise the dead
and cast out demons. He openly proclaims that he believes that these
supernatural sign gifts have not ceased. He wrote, “such signs, wonders
and miracles are part of the kingdom which was inaugurated by Jesus
Christ and continues to this day. Hence we should expect today to see the
supernatural display of the power of the Holy Spirit as part of his
kingdom activity and as an authentication of the good news. ... we see the
dynamic effect of the coming of the kindgom of God accompanied by
conversions, miraculous signs, healings, visions, tongues, prophecy,
raising the dead and casting out evil spirits. The same God is at work
today among us. Evangelism can still be dynamic and effective.”
Gumbel in his book teaches how a person can pray to receive the gift
of tongues. This is one of the most important sessions of the whole Alpha
course. He wrote, “When praying for people to receive the gift of tongues
I have found the greatest barrier is a psychological one—making the first
sound. Once a person has made the first sound the rest usually follows
quite naturally. In order to help people to get over this barrier, I explain
this difficulty … Then I start to speak in tongues slowly so that they can
follow. Once they have made the first sound they are usually away
praying in their own language. I encourage them to try and concentrate on
their relationship with God and try, as far as possible, not to be selfconscious.
Rather they should concentrate on praising God with the new
language he has given to them.” Gumbel went on to report that those who
started speaking in “tongues” were so filled with joy that they burst out
laughing. Others were so overwhelmed by the Spirit that they found it
hard to remain standing, and started falling.
It goes without saying that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as taught
in and practised by Alpha is seriously flawed.
85