NEW WORDS FOR OLD IDEAS, or "crack the code, and the book is partially true!"

"Dancing Hand of God," the title of the book, comes in part from John Wimber and supposedly from I Corinthians 12, which speaks of the many manifestations of the Spirit of God. He claims that "manifestations," phanerosis in the Greek, speaks of the finger of God pointing to specific people. That finger "dances" as it were, from person to person. page 9

Apostle. Thousands of times. On nearly every page you will find this word, or apostolic or some other derivative of the word. He wants God's people to know that the apostles have arrived, are coming, and are they. That is, many of his readers need to recognize that they too may well be apostles. At the very least, they are "apostolic". But as one reads his constant definitions and descriptions of "apostles" and "apostolic", it becomes clear that the lifestyle and characteristics he is describing are none other than the definitions of true Spirit-filled, Bible-believing Christians! For example he says, the "apostolic spirit provokes people to act," p 184. No, the Holy Spirit and the Holy Word do that. Why redefine and rename?

His book is actually a manual for the Spirit -filled life, and not a heralding of some new or restored order of government to be superimposed on the church of our day.

Maloney truly believes that the apostolic reformation (as opposed, I assume, to the Protestant Reformation, and continuing in its breakthroughs into new territory) is truly upon us. He believes all "apostolic people" (read, true Christians!) must work miracles consistently. True? Do any of the urgings of Paul or Peter or John point this direction, or is the emphasis on walking in the Spirit and growing up in Christ? Page 13 and many others.

Breaker Anointing. Hundreds of times. Used second only to "apostolic" in the book. The so-called "breaker" anointing of God breaks through structures that prohibit the move of God. In most cases, though, usage of this term means no more than the basic anointing (empowering, filling) of the Holy Spirit that every true believer in Jesus can and should have, the indwelling presence and power of God to live and perform miraculous deeds and live a holy life. Maloney says that the breaker anointing separates sheep from sheep. True indeed. If you have a "breaker" anointing, and "all I have " is the Holy Spirit (pardon me, Lord) then you have divided yourself from me. This teaching sounds like the kind of thing that Paul was talking abut when he said to mark those who cause division... Just sayin'. Page 14 and many others.

On page 69, he says that the 19th century female evangelist Maria Etter had this "breaker" anointing. So this is not really a new phenomenon after all, only one that has been given a new name by Maloney. You will note as we go on that he has a penchant for re-naming old ideas, thus creating his niche in the church edifice.

For examples, the "Householder Anointing" p. 40, 179, referring to the fact we are in and under the Father's care, His House; the Apostolic Anointing, as above; the Ambassadorial Anointing, 179, meaning only that true " apostles" are sent; the military anointing, 181. Great Christian leaders are generals in the faith. The very rule of God comes through them. We are in a battle, not just hugging on one another; then there is the Embezzled anointing. 183. where you are guilty of copying someone else's gifts; Page 315 tells us that apostles can also work via a "friendship anointing." Meaning obvious; to page 408. Maloney claims that in our day, the Spirit is in the process of restoring everything that pertains to godliness, ie, signs and wonders following Christian testimonies. That's why, he says on his own authority, we need apostles. They will bring the "unveiling anointing" , another made-up term.

Now I ask you, why could Mr. Maloney have not simply said, "God's people are in God's care, sent to the world with the Gospel, to fight the good fight of faith. They should never try to pretend they are someone else. They must befriend all for Christ's sake. God will, as time goes by, reveal Himself and His purposes to all His people" ?

A simple paragraph like that wraps up everything that needs to be said, and causes no division in the brotherhood, gives him no special place as a mystic who hears messages from God... Why?

I hope I do not know the answer to that question, but thoughts do come.

He uses this tactic at least once more in the book, on page 341, where he introduces "the Parrhesia principle". That word is Greek for boldness. Why not just call it what the apostles called it? Boldness. Why invent a new phrase for which attention will be drawn only to the author. Again I answer a question by asking it, perhaps. What do you think?