Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 21
April 2, 1970
NUMBER 47, PAGE 2b-3

Pat Boone And Miracles!

Frank L. Smith

Punch, the Birmingham TV-Movie-Radio section of February 20 had a feature article about Pat Boone written by Roger Ebert out of Chicago. Pat seems to be the star in an up-coming movie, "The Cross and The Switchblade" in which he portrays a preacher who goes to Harlem and Brooklyn to reach the youth gangs and get them off of dope. A few of the quotations from Pat reveal his current attitude toward truth as revealed in God's word.

"The young addicts told him, "Man there's only three ways out of addiction; overdose, suicide, or God." Wilkerson (the preacher) realized they were right. He told me that story one night when I stood on the same rooftop with him. He said that at that moment he spoke to God. He said. "God, you're gonna have to give me miracles. You gave Peter and James and John miracles, and now you're gonna have to give them to me." God gave him miracles, Boone said. "The first miracle I personally ever witnessed in my life took place at Wilkerson youth rally last year in Orange county, California... A lot of them were on pills, grass, speed. But he reached them right through the dope, and they heard him. And it was then I witnessed the miracle."

"One of the young men was freaking out — literally! He was moaning clawing at his face, screaming. I asked his friends what was wrong with him and they said he was on a bad trip. How do you give counsel to someone who has freaked out? Just then two counselors approached the young man. They put their hands on his shoulders and they began to pray. And as they prayed, I saw this young man suddenly slump in his chair. He appeared to go to sleep. His face was tranquil. Prayer had cut right through the drugs and given him instant peace. It was a miracle," Pat Boone said. "If things like that didn't happen all the time, there'd be no Teen Challenge."

If this news account be true Pat has accepted all the claims of such men as Wilkerson, Oral Roberts, Allen and other such "faith healers." He is further quoted as saying, "Both the book and the movie have been life-changing experiences for me. The book is a 20th century addition to the Book of Acts. Wilkerson is like one of those fellows Jesus chose to be an apostle."

The mod language "one of those fellows Jesus chose to be an apostle" is characteristic of those who come to lose reverence for the word of God. No one is like the apostles Jesus set in the church to reveal His divine will; they are upon thrones with the guidance of the Holy Spirit today judging God's spiritual people, Israel, the saints in Christ. (Matt. 19-28).

But miracles have ceased and are no longer done by God through men today. We have challenged Oral Roberts publicly before and now we challenge Pat Boone to show either the scriptures that teach men are able to do such now or to show a real test of their power that can be confirmed.

In John 20:29 Jesus rebuked Thomas because he would not believe without a sign of a miracle but said, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Yet Wilkerson and Boone say, "You gave Peter, James and John miracles, and you're gonna have to give them to me." They have failed to believe what Luke wrote in Acts 8:18, "through the laying on of the apostles' hands, the Holy Spirit was given."

There is no way now for a man to receive such Holy Spirit gifts for no apostles are here to lay on their hands. (Read also Romans 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:6) If apostolic signs were in Wilkerson and Roberts as they claim, then they could heal any kind of disease or raise the dead, handle snakes without harm, and stop the storm. These things they cannot do. The fact that Pat claimed only 74% effectiveness is an admission that this is not of God, for God knows no such limitations. If He works a miracle, it works. But they also do not understand the purpose for miracles and see that, the purpose having been satisfied, the working no longer is in fact done by God. Jesus promised the miracles would confirm the gospel they preached. (Mk. 16:15-20). And they did confirm it. (cf. Hebrews 2:2-4) Then Paul taught about the miracles that when the perfect will of God had been made known completely, the miracles would stop. (I Cor. 13:8-10). The Holy Spirit today works through the gospel to convert and save men and it has proved this word by the first century miracles.

This is where the liberalism of the last two decades has taken this man who once believed the truth. And yet many still hold him as an idol and example for youth. We understand Abilene Christian College has announced to use him again soon. May they awake and repent.