A Balanced Approach to Pentecostalism
Pentecostals have hoed a row that’s been littered with alienation, misunderstanding, excess, heresy, scandal, self-inflicted wounds and bad press. Yet somehow, that old ship that set sail from the mountains of Carolina/Tennessee, picking up passengers at Azusa Street still sails on. Today, Pentecostals may be found on all of the populated continents of the earth and given time, will likely take root in Antarctica. How do those rugged people do it? Pure Pentecostalism, I believe, exists within the community of orthodoxy ( Non-Trinitarians not withstanding) but using a phrase like “pure Pentecostalism” can be likened to holding onto a fist-full of wind. Pentecostal congregations are a diverse lot, even within their own Denomination. Churches within the Assemblies of God are a prime example of this (Due to their congregational autonomy). Where some are solidly biblical in both theology and approach, others turn on a dime to chase every, and any doctrinal tumbleweed that blows through town.
To synthesize this balanced approach, we will have to define first, our terms in the strictest sense, and hold their outworking to the plumb line of Scripture. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful benefits of scripture; not only does it provide a clear demarcation between truth and error, it provides a level surface on which to build. If the house is built on the solid, immobile foundation of the word, it will stand up to time and tide. In other words, we won’t have to continually revisit and retool to suit the whims of successive generations. My intent is to supply more than just a list of “grievances”. Solutions and suggestions are provided along with a roadmap on reaching those solutions.
“What is a Pentecostal?” Simply stated, a Pentecostal is one who believes that the Holy Spirit of God continues to move as He did in the Apostolic Church. The Pentecostal looks to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live a life that’s God-pleasing and purpose fulfilling. Within the Pentecostal zeitgeist, the gifts received on that 50th day following Christ’s resurrection remain with the Body of Christ until He returns for His bride. This again, is a “nutshell” definition. The degree of separation between pentecostals and nonpentecostals is much narrower than both persuasions would realize, boiling down to a debate over just which gifts of the Spirit have ceased to operate, and how the Spirit fills and empowers the Follower of Jesus. Within the Pentecostal view however, there are some very serious watershed division that literally determine the difference between orthodoxy and heterodoxy. “Oneness Pentecostalism” is a dire departure from historic Christian orthodoxy in its refutation of the tri-unity of the Godhead. This school shouldn’t be included under the pale of orthodoxy, regardless of whatever PR spin they apply to their public image. Their sheer numbers, combined with their simpaticos on the Trinity Broadcasting Network would give the impression that their doctrinal errors have been mitigated and that they’ve been given full acceptance. Unfortunately for historic Pentecostalism, this paints an inaccurate image, one that portrays pentecostals as a group that plays fast and loose with theology and doctrine.
“ Problematic Pentecostalism.” The previous statement ( fast and loose) hits home far too often, and far too close for comfort. Generally speaking, pentecostals have often been hoisted on their own petards over issues that would have been avoided if the saint had simply exercised Christian discernment. I wish to stress that I’m speaking in generalities, addressing Pentecostalism as a whole.
The substitution of experience for sound doctrine is perhaps the greatest problem that faces today’s Pentecostal churches. Sound biblical doctrine is treated at best as a “necessary evil”, or its simply ignored out of hand. This problem is exacerbated by two factors, inadequate theological/doctrinal depth within members of the Pentecostal clergy/laity, and a prevailing disdain for serious study. These factors create a self-perpetuating spiral of spiritual ignorance that opens the door for grave spiritual error and apostasy. The results of this doctrinal shallowness ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous but since we (believers in Christ Jesus) are all de facto spokesmen for the historic faith and the Kingdom of God, there’s nothing funny about the situation.
This doctrinal shallowness allows folk to accept the toxic teaching propagated by the likes of Hinn, Hickey and Copeland without an iota of critical examination. A legion of pentecostals sit like bobble-head dolls, nodding with approval any time these contemporary Gnostics open their mouths, and their teaching then propagates like a computer virus as well-meaning Sunday school teachers and pastors ape the message to waiting ears. Shallowness also allows what I’ve defined as 1“Mountain folk religion” to wend its way into the Pentecostal zeitgeist, destroying any and all credibility as apologists.
Consider the results of doctrinal shallowness carried to its ultimate end. Oneness Pentecostalism essentially sprung from a prophecy delivered at a camp meeting early in the last century. Had there been enough “Bereans” in attendance that prophecy would have been weighed in the balance of scripture and it would have been judged as a false prophecy and the error wouldn’t have seen the light of day. Then there’s the case of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. His pronouncements from the pulpit were accepted out of hand and we saw with horrible clarity, the results on our TV’s.
“Over the Top Arminianism.” I’m not picking a Calvinist fight with my Arminian brothers! My personal theology is a synthesis formed between the poles of these two theological worldviews and frankly, I’ve found problematic issues in both as they’re taken to their extremes. There seems to be a phobia among pentecostals that has many believing that they’re no more than a heartbeat away from loosing their salvation and being dispatched onto the HOV lane to perdition. I’ve witnessed both cases of folk “getting saved” every Sunday, and individuals receiving multiple baptisms over a two-year period. Personally, I see this as a process that cheapens both the gift of salvation and the sacrament of Baptism. In every case where I took the time to pray with the penitent, that individual simply needed to confess a sin before God and accept the grace of His forgiveness.
This mindset prevents believers from venturing a few steps away from the altar of repentance and duct tapes them into a spiritual bassinet. Have you ever wondered just how we can have folk in our churches who’ve been saved for decades yet remain “Babes in Christ”? It’s because they’re trapped in this mindset and until they embrace the liberty of the believer, they’ll not mature beyond the sinner’s prayer.
“ Towards Biblically-Balanced Pentecostalism.” There’s no “hidden revelation” or inside trick to curing these aliments that seek to undermine the Pentecostal worldview. My thesis is based on no other revelation than the revealed canon of Scripture. The prescription is a matter of public record and may be found within the pages of God’s word. This isn’t esoteric inside information that’s only available to the super saint; any believer can read, absorb and model this behavior.
Luke spoke of the Bereans in Acts Chapter 17:
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These The Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”( Acts 17:10-11 KJV).Dwight L. Moody coined the phrase, “ The straight stick of scripture”, which conveyed the idea that pronouncements should be held to the standard of the Bible for accuracy and clarity. Our understanding of the world may change from generation to generation. Conventional wisdom ( or pop-ignorance) too has its own unique generational perspective. Holy Scripture is eternal and unchanging. Rooted in eternity past and projecting into eternity future, it is unchanging and unyielding to generational fickleness. What light does Scripture shed on the Pentecostal experience, or Spiritual Gifts? How are these gifts seen in operation, or dispensation? These, and other questions are answered clearly by St. Paul in his epistles, and by St. Peter in his dissertations in Acts.
“The Divine Purpose seen in Perpetuity.” The purpose of Pentecost often seems lost on many who would call themselves Pentecostal. For some, it’s a mere rush; much like a thrill ride. Altar-centered activity becomes their measure for the move of God in a service and the decibels equate to anointing. You can witness this though the comments of these folk.
Consider a worship service where a sense of reverence has permeated the venue. The speaker’s message has resonated deep within the hearts of hearers and a sense of conviction is now welling towards the surface. As the service is closing, many throughout pray earnestly, seeking for the grace and strength to move closer to the heart of God. Many who are outside of the family of the forgiven repent and seek our Lord’s gift of salvation. In the end, hearts are steeled, souls are strengthened and silent tears may even be shed. The gifts of the Spirit were operating with power in this scenario as evidenced by the clear, powerful proclamation of God’s word. Yet because no “message” was delivered and interpreted, no one “ran the aisles” or “fell under the power”, the majority of Thrill Riders would have dismissed that service as being dead! Ironically, the description above could be applied not only to Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, but to the entire program of apostolic preaching.
For others still, the purpose of Pentecost has been reduced to a mere “fix”. These are the individuals who will cross a continent to see the latest curious manifestation to roll onto the Pentecostal or Charismatic stage. Chances are, you may know folk who’ll trek hours to see a revivalist from Paul Crouch’s TBN lineup in some regional venue. Or, you may know of individuals who’ve made the pilgrimage to Toronto or Brownsville to “see” the purported revivals that took place in those locales.
Both of these take the Pentecostal experience and the move of the Spirit, and reduce them to the level of a day at the amusement park, or a peek at a train wreck! The Holy Spirit of our God hasn’t been given as an entertainment outlet or to be a means of wringing adrenaline from our pancreas. So what then, is the purpose of the Gifts of the Spirit and the objective of the Pentecostal experience?
“Purposes Revealed.” The arrival of the Spirit and the spiritual gifts, along with the objectives of the Pentecostal experience are intrinsically related and essentially can’t be separated. Jesus spoke clearly of the coming Spirit and His mission in John 16. At it’s essential core, the mission of the Holy Spirit is to draw all humanity into a relationship with their creator. Amplified, that mission includes convicting us of our abject spiritual poverty and moral bankruptcy, and convincing us of our absolute need for a savior who offers divine forgiveness and perfect love. Looking further, the Spirit comforts the repentant heart and breathes grace and assurance of Divine forgiveness. Yet in the midst of comfort, that same Spirit may also act as a sharp stick, scolding and admonishing us. I’m thoroughly convinced that when we hear our consciences speaking to our centers, it’s a result of being goaded by the Spirit.
The essential core of the Pentecostal experience is equally clear. Essentially, the objective of this experience is to empower us to be bearers of the Gospel and participants in the Holy Spirit’s mission in the physical universe.
St. Peter is the supreme example of this statement. Consider Peter; brash, impulsive, and rushing in where angels fear to tread. When the iron was on the anvil, he disavowed his associations with the Christ, and cursed those who insinuated the contrary. Yet when this Galilean everyman received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on that day of Pentecost, he was filled with a new-found power that allowed him to become a channel of God’s grace, mercy and peace. Stained-glass hagiography aside, Peter was a “Regular Guy” with the full compliment of normal hopes, dreams, desires and passions. His living legacies may be found seated in any pew of any church the world over. We all know “Peter’s”; those plain-spoken men who work hard, honest days with their calloused hands. We’ve seen these same men manifest the love of Christ to those in their worlds. As was the case of Peter, this empowerment is clearly the result of the Holy Spirit operating in the lives of these men (and women).
“The Promise and the indwelling presence.” The debate continues within orthodox, evangelical circles as to the validity of the contemporary Pentecostal experience. Positions and passions are varied but for a Biblio-historic view, let’s consider the following passages from St. Luke’s Acts of the Apostles.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and all who are far off – for All whom our Lord will call.” Acts 2:38-39 (NIV)
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and Arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them “Did you Receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Acts 19:1-2 (NIV)
Receiving the “Gift of the Spirit”, according to Luke’s account in Acts would appear to be normative by the account of Luke. In 2:38, Peter makes the clear, declarative statement that all who repent of their sins and call on the name of the Christ for forgiveness will receive that Gift of the Spirit. He further implies that the promise is open-ended, crossing generational, ethnic and chronological barriers.
We find ourselves thrust some 15 years into the future with Acts 19:1-2, where Apollos asks believers in Corinth if they’d received the Holy Spirit. A continued reading reveals that they weren’t familiar with the gift but when they availed themselves, the gift was received. “Cessation or Perpetuity?” This is the point of debate between pentecostals and nonpentecostals; do the “Gift of the Spirit” and the accompanying Spiritual Gifts exist in perpetuity, or did they cease at the closure of the apostolic age? Sincere, orthodox children of God exist on both sides of the debate and I would be both arrogant and wrong to use this question as a litmus test of one’s faith in God. Unfortunately though, there are those in both camps that sling arrows and accusations at the other, keeping phrases like “Apostate”, or “Blasphemer of the Holy Ghost” in their quivers. This behavior only alienates and destroys. “ Questions for the Cessationist.” We need to establish the fact that there are several “Gifts of the Spirit”.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Cor. 12:7-11 (NKJV)
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Rom. 12:6-8 (NKJV)
Often, both sides seem to loose touch of the fact that Tongues, Interpretations and Prophecies aren’t the sole Gifts of the Spirit. A reading of I Corinthians 12:8-10 lists a multitude of gifts: Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Miraculous Powers, Healing, Prophecy, the Discerning of Spirits, Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues. We see this list amplified and expanded in Romans 12:6-8, where we see: Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouragement (or Exhortation), Leadership, Giving, and Mercy. If we’re to say that the “Gifts of the Spirit” ceased at the close of the apostolic age, how do we reconcile the fact that the many or most of these gifts are operating within healthy, Biblio-centric churches? Too, what church could ever expect to be salt and light in their community without the presence of these gifts in their midst?
“The Prescription for Balance.” The Pentecostal experience MUST exist under the bright light of God’s word if it’s to remain biblio-centric and relevant to the move of God! The extrabiblical forays into frothy-mouthed kookiness and fanaticism have not only hijacked the Pentecostal worldview, but have deprived the bulk of the church of a major source of blessing as well. There is a struggle for the soul of the Pentecostal worldview, and its outcome will guide the future of Pentecostal groups and opinions. If biblio-centricity is lost, these groups will be at best, marginalized to the point total insignificance and at worst, become a bulwark of apostate zeitgeist. The outcome rests in the hands of those who’d call themselves Pentecostal. “ Against the plumb line of Scripture.” Scripture sets the precedent and provides the instructions for operation of Gifts of the Spirit and as the case of any doctrine or teaching of Scripture, it’s non-negotiable; we tinker with them at our own spiritual peril.
A clearer understanding is especially needed in the area of what some will refer to as “sign” gifts. A “Message in Tongues” is not a communiqué from God through the Spirit ( or Mary, in the case of some Charismatic Catholics). Simply put, its quite the opposite. According to I Corinthians 14, one who is speaking in tongues is communicating with the Lord, not channeling for Him. Typically, this error occurs when one assumes to have received the Gift of Interpretations. The “message” will typically be one of where the Lord places His “Good Cosmoskeeping Seal” on the worship service, or one that stirs up the congregation. Typically too, this is the result of doctrinal ignorance but sometimes, those wanting to stir up a service that’s perceived as being dead purposefully do it. This is disingenuous and just plain wrong! “Manifestations” are another area that demands examination. By manifestations, I’m speaking of those things that are rife within Pentecostal circles and range from the sublime to the ridiculous. They range from extra-biblical at best, to downright unscriptural at their worst. Pentecostals must stop excusing bizarre, disorderly conduct the like of that seen in Toronto. The God who created the cosmos at the sub-atomic level is a God of propriety and good order, not a Lord of bedlam and chaos. When someone starts shouting in the middle of a speaker’s message, the only thing being manifested is spiritual ignorance or just plain bad manners. Consider for a moment… When the pastor or teacher is delivering a sermon, a bona fide gift of the Spirit is in Operation and saints are being encouraged and equipped. Should we expect an orderly God to randomly manifest his presence in a way that degrades this equipping process? “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” I Cor. 14:40 (NIV)
Gifts are for service, and must be sought after. Each Spiritual Gift serves to build and strengthen the church, both on a local and universal level. Unfortunately though, a majority who claim to be spirit-filled can’t tell you what gift or gifts they’re received. Oh sure, at one point in their lives, they may have spoken in other tongues at the altar, but that’s the end of their story. If we’re to believe that tongues are the initial evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling ( A point that’s also wide open for debate), we should reasonably expect secondary and subsequent evidence of some other form of gifting. We do no service for the kingdom by simply reveling in an experience we may have had decades ago. Rather, we should seek out the gifts (and avenues) or service that we might be a greater blessing to the world around us.
Conclusions A biblically synthesized approach to the Pentecostal experience will not only place the church on a sound doctrinal footing, it will also invigorate the ministry of God’s Church on Planet Earth! I challenge anyone who’d call themselves Pentecostal or Charismatic to consider this, repent of error or ignorance, then avail themselves to the working of God’s Holy Spirit in their everyday lives. I also challenge any non-pentecostal believer to look beyond the what is being foisted off on the church as a move of God, and consider for a moment that our Lord still gifts and equips his faithful children. Tarnished, old silverware is anything but attractive. Yet with silver polish and loving labor, the old silver pieces are returned to their original luster. With God’s word, the tarnish of misunderstanding, ignorance or outright hucksterism can be removed from the Pentecostal experience, revealing the beautiful gift our God gave His church.
End Notes
1. “Mountain folk religion” An entire article could be devoted to this subject but for the purposes of brevity and clarity, I’ll provide a concise definition. Essentially, this is a belief system that’s a sticky mélange of Christian terminology, false/erroneous doctrines and spiritism. The phenomenon has far more to do with North American neo-animist superstition than historical Christianity. Look for an article on this in the future.