26th May, 2004
TONY TOWNSEND

Emerging out of the middle of the second century, Montanism was a controversial movement which has sparked much debate over whether it was God inspired or heretical.

The movement traces its origins to the conversion and baptism of Montus who, in the words of author Dr Peter Davids, “experienced a Spirit-filling during which he spoke in tongues and prophesied”.

Later joined by two female prophets Priscilla and Maximilla, they became known as a prophetic, end times group with an emphasis on the return of Christ and the End of the Age. They also placed a strong emphasis on Biblical teaching about the Holy Spirit.

Maximilla boldly claimed that after her there be no prophecy but the end, and the group went as far as calling itself the “New Prophecy” believing they were called to prepare Christians for the coming of Christ. They claimed direct revelations from God and to be the mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit.

Historian and author, Bruce Shelly, writes that the movement arose as "the days of enthusiasm were passing and the days of ecclesiasticism were arriving".

"The church was no longer a place where the Spirit of prophecy could be heard," he notes. "More and more people were joining the churches but the distinction between the church and world was fading.  The church was becoming secularized…”

In response, the movement positioned itself as a protest against the increased structure and formalisation of the established church. Its followers saw the established church as unspiritual and neglectful of the role of the Holy Spirit. They demanded higher spiritual standards, greater discipline and sharper separation of the church and world, and endorsed strict asceticism, favoured chastity over marital relations, encouraged continual fasting and relished persecution.

One of the most notable adherents was theologian and church father, Tertullian (AD 153-222). He too attacked the spiritual laxity of the church and was drawn to the group by their strict disciplinarian lifestyle. He later wrote many books defending Montanus. 

Not surprisingly, the movement faced great opposition from the established church. They accused the Montanists of being exclusive and un-Christian and were suspicious of their intense religious excitement.

Apolinarius, a Christian apologist, described the Montanists as over-ambitious, with tendency toward ectastic prophesy and emotionalism. He said that while they taught against tithing money to the church, they had a love for money and were involved in extortion and gambling.

Serapion, Bishop of Antioch, went even further. He declared that “the working of the lying organization called the New Prophesy is held in abomination by the whole brotherhood in the world”.   

Author Shelly adds that "Montanus’ doctrine of the New Age of the Spirit suggested that the Old Testament period was past, and that the Christian period centering on Jesus had ended".

"The prophet claimed the right to push Christ and the apostolic message into the background,” he writes.

Others, however, while recognizing the excesses displayed by the movement, believe Montanism was God-inspired.

Dr Davids says that based on samples of Montanist prophecy he has seen, the group's preaching "apparently offered nothing that could be seized on as contrary to the doctrine of the Church and to the Canon of Scripture”.

He believes Montanism challenged church structures in a healthy way and illustrated how God uses different avenues to speak to people.

Church history lecturer, David F. Wright  adds that despite their excesses, "the Montanists stood for the conviction that the Spirit was as active in the contemporary church as at the beginning; greater manifestations, not lesser, were promised for the last days”.

Montanus died in AD 180. The movement's influence spread through Asia Minor (Modern Turkey) and into North Africa Rome and Byzantium and while it had largely died as a popular movement by the fourth century, Montanism continued to attract followers into the Middle Ages.

SOURCES:
The History of Christianity, Lion Publishing 1990
Church History in Plain Language, Bruce L. Shelly Word Publishing 1982
Storm Harvest Journal. Volume One. Published by Storm harvest Ministries
http://www.christianitytoday.com 

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