(Photo Not mine: To be cited later)
I will be deliberate about this. I have chosen to speak on this because I have realized that it is one of the many concepts that I shall say, hardly has biblical backing.
When I said that Holy Ghost Fire is not biblical, some Christians went as far as even questioning my Christianity. I remember one telling me categorically that, that is how Atheism begins. But I am not shaken, because I always choose a tight path, most especially when I believe in my innermost that it is the right path.
I choose not to follow the crowd but sense from the scriptures and ask: What has God said about this matter?
For Holy Ghost Fire, permit me to use three words to describe them, '' *a coinage, an addendum and a blister* '' and I shall give my reasons to that effect.
Well, many Christians believe that the Holy Spirit has a fire, and even though there is no where HOLY GHOST FIRE is expressly mentioned in the bible, they believe that it is backed up by the scriptures.
The scriptural verses that have been severally used for their claims are as follows:
1. Deuteronomy 4: 24; Hebrew 12: 29
2. Acts 2:3
Well, they say OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE. They also say that A CLOVEN TONGUE AS OF FIRE rested on the disciples.
Now to the second claim, it is clear that they have made this assemblage based on the singular fact that the disciples were baptized by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and so for that cloven tongue, sure, it is HOLY GHOST FIRE, they say!
Seriously?
Well, this is my conclusion: IT IS A COINAGE.
Speaking further, they say that since our God is a consuming fire, it simply means that, that is Holy Ghost Fire, because if God has a fire and Holy Spirit and God are one, then, a fire of God is as well a fire of the Holy Ghost. Sounds interesting, but here is my conclusion on this first claim: IT IS A COINAGE.
The same conclusion I guess. No, I don't guess; it is the same. Again, I must say that I also have my reserves about the words, ''HOLY GHOST'', but that will be for another day. One step at a time, and yet again, IT IS A COINAGE. That's my pending conclusion for the two claims.
If that be my conclusion, then what is my debate about the matter?
Permit me to say that my position will a be academic a little bit. My reason is because, sometimes, postulations by some self acclaimed scholars will force you to use simple literature to explain facts. Sometimes the blindness perceived will force you to use the rudiments, perhaps to clarify, hence, the need for a little academic exercise.
You will agree with me that the word of God is most time figurative. As in, bible verses are sometimes figurative in presentation and if taken purely literal, the point may be missed.
Within the letters are spiritual words that need spiritual understanding to unveil. So it is wise dwelling on spiritual understanding, with little, just little aid from the dictionary if the need be. Like I said, *IF THE NEED BE.* This is just necessary because our bible as English speaking men is written in the English Language. But then I say again, *such aids must be little looked at.*
GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE is simply the use of a figure of speech known as METAPHOR. This means that though God is merciful, this same God can also destroy. Well, is he not a divine jury? So it's not out of place to say that he is a fire that consumes. That does not mean that within this verse, God has _a particular fire,_ he stores somewhere.
Also, assuming there is, then I guess such fire should be properly described. After all, we do not say IN JEHOVAH NAME WE PRAY simply because JESUS and JEHOVAH are one.
Now the second of a cloven tongue: A cloven tongue AS of fire is a simple use of SIMILE. Literature teaches us that simile simply means comparing two things with the use of AS or LIKE. So when simile is used, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are one and same thing. So if I say, the boy eats like a dog, come on, you should know that the boy is not a dog _per se_ , but because of the way he eats, he has been described as such. I guess I am academic? Well, like I said earlier it is just expedient at this point.
Okay, having said this, it is quite glaring without any vagueness or ambiguity that the cloven tongues that sat on the disciples was not a Fire. It was something that looks like fire, hence, it never burnt them or anything.
The cloven tongue represented the burning zeal with which the gospel of Christ was to be preached. Can't you see the fire burning in Peter in that he stood everywhere addressing the Jews without fear? (Acts 2: 14: 41). Can't you see the zeal burning in that the disciples went about preaching and were even ready to die for what they believed? And not only so, some even died in the faith? That was the cloven tongue which rests on every true child of God who receives the Holy spirit up to this day. Remember the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove or we can say in the form of a dove as stated in Matthew 3:16. I guess that does not mean that the Holy Spirit is a dove or that he has a dove. i.e. HOLY GHOST DOVE. That was simply the glory of God.
So for the early disciples, the Cloven tongue was only symbolic. This takes us to another figure of speech which is SYMBOLISM. But I won't dwell on it, we are not here strictly
for academic exercise.
The cloven tongue is not the Holy Ghost Fire you all have spoken about which you send to destroy your so-called human enemies and their works as you claim. You see again, it is a coinage, and not only that, IT IS AN ADDENDUM.
But then, is there no fire that God's children can use for battle purposes?
Perfect it shall be if such a question arises. There is one of such. But it is called ''Heavenly Fire or Fire from Heaven''. This was the fire Elijah called upon to burn the captain and his fifty (2 Kings 1:10). The disciples of Jesus Christ also asked Him to command that fire to destroy the people who refused them, but Christ refused their request (Luke 5: 53-56).
Now you can see that Jesus refused sending fire to burn the people. Why? Because Jesus came to give life and not to destroy it; that is, so far the redemption work of Christ is concerned He has come to give life, while the Devil is to steal, kill and to destroy. So I guess Christians are to key into this plan. They too are not to use the weapons at their disposal to destroy humans but to help save life by preaching the gospel. Yet we fight a war and that war is against evil spiritual forces and not flesh and blood. So this heavenly fire is to now operate spiritually today and not physically as it were under the old. Remember, our weapons are no longer carnal but spiritual.
So you see that HOLY GHOST FIRE is not biblical. It is a coinage which is wrong, and an Addendum against God's word because we were warned by God Himself not to ADD To His word. This God warned seriously against (See Proverbs 30:6, Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22: 18-19 on God's warning)
But for your coinage and this addendum, YOU HAVE CREATED A BLISTER and I am Damn pretty sure God ain't pleased with it.
By Ebi Robert