The Doctrine of Demons called The “baptism of love” . The “baptism of love” is spoken of in Charismatic culture, and the concept is promoted by the False Bethel Church of Redding, California. The idea behind the teaching of the “baptism of love” is that believers need to seek an experience of intimacy with God that surpasses knowledge of Him. In addition to being baptized with water, and in addition to being baptized by the Spirit, we should also be baptized in love.
The Bible has much to say about love, of course, but the “baptism of love” is not mentioned in the Bible. According to those who teach this doctrine, a “baptism of love” is a transformative experience in which God’s love washes over a believer, filling him or her with supernatural love and a yearning to spend time in Jesus’ presence. During a “baptism of love,” physical healing and other miracles are to be expected. And from that point on, the person who is “baptized in love” will exude love to everyone he or she meets.
One author describes her “baptism of love” experience: “One great wave after another of irresistible longing rolled over me, just to look into the face of my beloved Master. . . . I just let my heart go out in deep desire till I lay with alert yet restful anticipation, listening for the blessed voice that I knew so well to say, ‘Come.’ . . . I have never been the same person since, for there was reflected into my very being such an overwhelming love for souls that I did not know what to do with it” (Helm, Kathryn, The Lure of Divine Love, 1929, chapter XXVIII).
Some who teach the “baptism of love” use the Song of Solomon to envision Jesus as a marriage partner to whom we must open our hearts and whose love we must experience. In this way, “baptism of love” teaching resembles the bridal paradigm. Others associate the “baptism of love” with an end-times movement of God that will usher in an era of Spirit-filled manifestations to rival that of the early church. In this way, the “baptism of love” doctrine corresponds with Doctrine of Demons called the “Latter Rain” teaching.
If we can separate the term baptism of love from its Charismatic connotations, we can say that the idea of being “immersed in God’s love” could be a valid metaphor for living and walking in love (see Ephesians 5:2 and 2 John 1:6). Love is the greatest gift (1 Corinthians 13:13). Without it we are nothing (verses 2–3).
Love for one another is the mark that we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:35). God, whose very nature is love (1 John 4:8), demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
The Bible speaks of being baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ—an act that takes place at the moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Bible speaks of believers being baptized in water as a sign of their commitment to Christ and new life in Him (Acts 10:47). But the Bible nowhere speaks of a separate “baptism of love” in which a Christian reaches new levels of intimacy with Jesus and feels bigger jolts of power. God can do His transforming work with or without emotional experiences or exhilarating tipping points.
Do we need God’s love? Absolutely. Paul prayed that the church would “know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). Do we experience God’s love in “waves” that wash over us or that stir our spirits in mystical ways? Not necessarily. God has told us that His love is a fruit of the Spirit, along with joy, peace, self-control, and the rest (Galatians 5:22–23). As we yield to the Spirit, we will be filled with His love, and then we go about the business of loving others.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to “feel” God’s love. But to seek a “baptism of love” goes beyond what the Bible teaches. The idea that we need another experience in order to obey God’s commands is wrong. We already have “everything we need for a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:21–22). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit will bring a Feast of Love , for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love, No need for another Baptism theology to enter the already Mislead Church.
THE ARTICLE IN AFRIKAANS
Die Leer van Demone genoem Die “doop van liefde” . Die “doop van liefde” word in die Charismatiese kultuur gepraat, en die konsep word bevorder deur die Valse Bethel Kerk van Redding, Kalifornië. Die idee agter die leer van die “doop van liefde” is dat gelowiges ‘n ervaring van intimiteit met God moet soek wat kennis van Hom oortref. Behalwe dat ons met water gedoop is, en benewens om deur die Gees gedoop te word, moet ons ook in liefde gedoop word.
Die Bybel het natuurlik baie te sê oor liefde, maar die “doop van liefde” word nie in die Bybel genoem nie. Volgens diegene wat hierdie leerstelling leer, is ‘n “doop van liefde” ‘n transformerende ervaring waarin God se liefde oor ‘n gelowige spoel, hom of haar vul met bonatuurlike liefde en ‘n hunkering om tyd in Jesus se teenwoordigheid deur te bring. Tydens ‘n “doop van liefde” is fisiese genesing en ander wonderwerke te verwagte. En van daardie stadium af sal die persoon wat “in liefde gedoop” is liefde uitstraal aan almal wat hy of sy ontmoet.
Een skrywer beskryf haar “liefdesdoop”-ervaring: “Die een groot golf na die ander van onweerstaanbare verlange het oor my gerol, net om in die gesig van my geliefde Meester te kyk. . . . Ek het net my hart laat uitgaan in diepe begeerte totdat ek met wakker dog rustige afwagting gelê en luister het vir die geseënde stem wat ek so goed geken het om te sê: ‘Kom.’ . . . Ek was nog nooit dieselfde persoon sedertdien nie, want daar was so ‘n oorweldigende liefde vir siele in my wese weerspieël dat ek nie geweet het wat om daarmee te doen nie” (Helm, Kathryn, The Lure of Divine Love, 1929, hoofstuk XXVIII) .
Sommige wat die “doop van liefde” leer, gebruik die Hooglied van Salomo om Jesus voor te stel as ‘n huweliksmaat vir wie ons ons harte moet oopmaak en wie se liefde ons moet ervaar. Op hierdie manier lyk “doop van liefde”-onderrig soos die bruidsparadigma. Ander assosieer die “doop van liefde” met ‘n eindtydse beweging van God wat ‘n era van Geesvervulde manifestasies sal inlui om mee te ding met dié van die vroeë kerk. Op hierdie manier stem die “doop van liefde”-leerstelling ooreen met die Leer van demone wat die “Latter Rain”-leerstelling genoem word.
As ons die term liefdesdoop van sy Charismatiese konnotasies kan skei, kan ons sê dat die idee om “ondergedompel te word in God se liefde” ‘n geldige metafoor kan wees om in liefde te lewe en te wandel (sien Efesiërs 5:2 en 2 Johannes 1: 6). Liefde is die grootste geskenk (1 Korintiërs 13:13). Daarsonder is ons niks (vers 2–3).
Liefde vir mekaar is die teken dat ons Christus se dissipels is (Johannes 13:35). God, wie se natuur liefde is (1 Joh. 4:8), het Sy liefde vir ons gedemonstreer deur sy Seun te stuur om vir ons sondes te sterf (Joh. 3:16; Romeine 5:8).
Die Bybel praat daarvan om deur die Gees in die Liggaam van Christus gedoop te word – ‘n daad wat plaasvind op die oomblik van redding (1 Korintiërs 12:13). Die Bybel praat van gelowiges wat in water gedoop word as teken van hulle toewyding aan Christus en nuwe lewe in Hom (Hand. 10:47). Maar die Bybel praat nêrens van ‘n afsonderlike “doop van liefde” waarin ‘n Christen nuwe vlakke van intimiteit met Jesus bereik en groter kragstoot voel nie. God kan Sy transformerende werk doen met of sonder emosionele ervarings of opwindende kantelpunte.
Het ons God se liefde nodig? Absoluut. Paulus het gebid dat die kerk “hierdie liefde sal ken wat kennis oortref” (Efesiërs 3:19). Ervaar ons God se liefde in “golwe” wat oor ons spoel of wat ons geeste op mistieke maniere roer? Nie noodwendig nie. God het vir ons gesê dat Sy liefde ‘n vrug van die Gees is, saam met vreugde, vrede, selfbeheersing en die res (Galasiërs 5:22–23). Soos ons aan die Gees oorgee, sal ons met Sy liefde vervul word, en dan gaan ons oor om ander lief te hê.
Daar is niks verkeerd daarmee om God se liefde te wil “voel” nie. Maar om ‘n “doop van liefde” te soek gaan verder as wat die Bybel leer. Die idee dat ons nog ‘n ervaring nodig het om God se opdragte te gehoorsaam, is verkeerd. Ons het reeds “alles wat ons nodig het vir ’n godvrugtige lewe” (2 Petrus 1:3; vgl. 1 Korinthiërs 3:21–22). Die Doop van die Heilige Gees sal ‘n Fees van Liefde bring, want die Heilige Gees is die Gees van Liefde, Geen behoefte vir ‘n ander Doop teologie om die reeds Misleide Kerk te betree nie.