Gifts of the Spirit in a Baptist Church?

Jonathan Mathews · Apr 25, 2019

Hello everyone!

I'm interested in how people with various spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) tend to congregate with people like themselves into denominations. For example, I found a lot of people with the Gifts of Words of Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith in baptist churches, but most people I know with the Gift of Tongues/Interpretation, Prophesy, Healing, Miracles in Assemblies of God, Pentecostal, and other "charismatic" groups.

My question is, have you ever been to a Baptist Church where people Prophesied, spoke in Tongues, laid on hands for Healing, or gave specific words of Knowledge?

NOTE: I feel that many congregations would benefit greatly by receiving/encouraging people to come in and use gifts not common to the denomination. For example, if you mixed the sound Teaching and pastor-ship of Baptists with the Apostolic and Prophetic of "charismatics", you would have a VERY complete and MATURE body of believers!

The Righterzpen · Apr 25, 2019

People tend to congregate around common beliefs.

Baptists tend to be what's called "cessessionist" - This means they hold to a belief that miraculous occurrences that had happened in the Bible have ceased.

This is why a "pentecostal baptist church" is not the norm.

Pentecostal churches have the opposite belief and this is why you don't tend to find "baptist pentecostal church"(s) either.

Presbyterian Continuist · Apr 25, 2019

Jonathan Mathews said:
Hello everyone!

I'm interested in how people with various spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) tend to congregate with people like themselves into denominations. For example, I found a lot of people with the Gifts of Words of Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith in baptist churches, but most people I know with the Gift of Tongues/Interpretation, Prophesy, Healing, Miracles in Assemblies of God, Pentecostal, and other "charismatic" groups.

My question is, have you ever been to a Baptist Church where people Prophesied, spoke in Tongues, laid on hands for Healing, or gave specific words of Knowledge?

NOTE: I feel that many congregations would benefit greatly by receiving/encouraging people to come in and use gifts not common to the denomination. For example, if you mixed the sound Teaching and pastor-ship of Baptists with the Apostolic and Prophetic of "charismatics", you would have a VERY complete and MATURE body of believers!

A Bible-believing church will have the gifts of the Spirit operating in it, regardless of the denominational label. The gifts of the Spirit are not "Pentecostal" or "Charismatic", they are the Bible, and those who don't believe in their use for the day just don't believe the Bible in what it teaches about them.

Ttalkkugjil · Apr 25, 2019

Jonathan Mathews said:
Hello everyone!

I'm interested in how people with various spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) tend to congregate with people like themselves into denominations. For example, I found a lot of people with the Gifts of Words of Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith in baptist churches, but most people I know with the Gift of Tongues/Interpretation, Prophesy, Healing, Miracles in Assemblies of God, Pentecostal, and other "charismatic" groups.

My question is, have you ever been to a Baptist Church where people Prophesied, spoke in Tongues, laid on hands for Healing, or gave specific words of Knowledge?

I have not.

harmonmarie · Apr 25, 2019

I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but I'm Southern Baptist now and when I first joined we had a member that was dying of cancer and he stood before the church while the elders of the church laid hands on him and lead a prayer for him. Later, while he was in the hospital and we all believed he was dying, the elders of the church (or maybe the deacons, I can't quite recall who went) took oils and anointed him. After that he improved rapidly and he's back to playing the guitar in our church on Sundays. For what it's worth, I was Methodist for most of my life and never saw any of those.

Presbyterian Continuist · Apr 25, 2019

harmonmarie said:
I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but I'm Southern Baptist now and when I first joined we had a member that was dying of cancer and he stood before the church while the elders of the church laid hands on him and lead a prayer for him. Later, while he was in the hospital and we all believed he was dying, the elders of the church (or maybe the deacons, I can't quite recall who went) took oils and anointed him. After that he improved rapidly and he's back to playing the guitar in our church on Sundays. For what it's worth, I was Methodist for most of my life and never saw any of those.

God healed that person as the result of the elders' faith and obedience to the instructions in James. It does not always happen that way because God is not, as some believe, a vending machine for us to press a button and, whoops! Out comes a healing! But anyone who ministers to a sick person in faith and obedience to God's Word allows God, in His sovereignty to decide whether to heal the person or not, depending on His will for that person.

Jonathan Mathews · Apr 25, 2019

harmonmarie said:
I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but I'm Southern Baptist now and when I first joined we had a member that was dying of cancer and he stood before the church while the elders of the church laid hands on him and lead a prayer for him. Later, while he was in the hospital and we all believed he was dying, the elders of the church (or maybe the deacons, I can't quite recall who went) took oils and anointed him. After that he improved rapidly and he's back to playing the guitar in our church on Sundays. For what it's worth, I was Methodist for most of my life and never saw any of those.

Great! Just as it's written... "If any among you are sick, let the elders of the church annoint/lay hands and they shall recover" That's an example of the Gift of Healing and Miracles written in Corinthians.
Thanks for sharing.

Sabertooth · Apr 25, 2019

Historically (in the USA), churches like Vineyard, Assembly of God, Foursquare & similar non-denoms have occupied the middle ground called for in the OP. I occasionally hear of Baptists who break through and, as a consequence, retract their Cessationist position. (FYI, the opposing view is, oddly enough, called Continuationism.)

Ttalkkugjil · Apr 25, 2019

Sabertooth said:
Historically (in the USA), churches like Vineyard, Assembly of God, Foursquare & similar non-denoms have occupied the middle ground called for in the OP. I occasionally hear of Baptists who break through and, as a consequence, retract their Cessationist position. (FYI, the opposing view is, oddly enough, called Continuationism.)

To be clear - not all Baptists are cessationists.

Sabertooth · Apr 25, 2019

Ttalkkugjil said:
To be clear - not all Baptists are cessationists.

That's encouraging!

Ttalkkugjil · Apr 25, 2019

Sabertooth said:
That's encouraging!

What kind of Spiritual Director would I be if I wasn't open to understanding the movement of the Spirit.

DW1980 · Apr 26, 2019

Jonathan Mathews said:
Hello everyone!

I'm interested in how people with various spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) tend to congregate with people like themselves into denominations. For example, I found a lot of people with the Gifts of Words of Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith in baptist churches, but most people I know with the Gift of Tongues/Interpretation, Prophesy, Healing, Miracles in Assemblies of God, Pentecostal, and other "charismatic" groups.

My question is, have you ever been to a Baptist Church where people Prophesied, spoke in Tongues, laid on hands for Healing, or gave specific words of Knowledge?

NOTE: I feel that many congregations would benefit greatly by receiving/encouraging people to come in and use gifts not common to the denomination. For example, if you mixed the sound Teaching and pastor-ship of Baptists with the Apostolic and Prophetic of "charismatics", you would have a VERY complete and MATURE body of believers!

Yes, I would describe myself as charismatic, and I got that in a Baptist Church. Many Baptists are charismatic.

Jonathan Mathews · Apr 27, 2019

Sabertooth said:
That's encouraging!

Sabertooth said:
Historically (in the USA), churches like Vineyard, Assembly of God, Foursquare & similar non-denoms have occupied the middle ground called for in the OP. I occasionally hear of Baptists who break through and, as a consequence, retract their Cessationist position. (FYI, the opposing view is, oddly enough, called Continuationism.)

Yes. I just watched a great video comparison of Cessationism vs Continuation by John Piper. In that video, I found no errors in the Continuation doctrine, but found several errors in the Cessationism doctrine.

Once again, I am in full agreement with John Piper, but while I love John McCarthur, I believe his teaching on the spiritual gifts of Tongues and Prophecy ceasing is false. And I believe they are both considered Baptists.

lismore · Apr 29, 2019

Jonathan Mathews said:
Hello everyone!

I'm interested in how people with various spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) tend to congregate with people like themselves into denominations. For example, I found a lot of people with the Gifts of Words of Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith in baptist churches, but most people I know with the Gift of Tongues/Interpretation, Prophesy, Healing, Miracles in Assemblies of God, Pentecostal, and other "charismatic" groups.

My question is, have you ever been to a Baptist Church where people Prophesied, spoke in Tongues, laid on hands for Healing, or gave specific words of Knowledge?

NOTE: I feel that many congregations would benefit greatly by receiving/encouraging people to come in and use gifts not common to the denomination. For example, if you mixed the sound Teaching and pastor-ship of Baptists with the Apostolic and Prophetic of "charismatics", you would have a VERY complete and MATURE body of believers!

Hello Jonathan,

I was in a Pentecostal Church for 8+ years, didn't see much evidence of your question in bold, apart from once, or maybe twice, someone gave me a false word of knowledge. Also recall a couple of prophecies about the church moving to a new building, that never transpired.

I have been in a Baptist Church since 2009. I think there maybe there is a disconnect in the way that Pentecostals/ Charismatics see Baptists, something about form rather than substance.

I have never met a Baptist who does not believe that God speaks today, through the Holy Scriptures for example. The pentecostal obsession for someone to stand up and flamboyantly proclaim in outlandish language something that at best we already know through the word aka prophecy, for example is more about form than substance. Hulaballoo! Pomp! What about the substance?

Can't we read in the word something about the character of God, do we need a self appointed 'Apostle' or 'prophet' to shout, froth at the mouth, jump up and down to learn it?

But I've received scripture references from people that turned out to be spot on and directly what the Lord needed to say to me. People who would never darken the door of a Pentecostal/ Charismatic church and yet are way ahead of them in hearing from God.

I have never met a Baptist who does not seek prayer in hard times, including sickness. On the other hand the Pentecostal obsession with media marketing of 'healing testimonies', 'healing ministries' etc. The pressure to perform and massage healing testimonies. Not to mention the Pente/Charismatic obsession with money, or desiring the gifts of the Spirit without the Fruit of the Spirit. Or some of the extremely odd teachings that emerge from Charismatic circles? Joel Olsteen, Benny Hinn, Todd Bentley, just to name a couple.

God Bless

Jonathan Mathews · Apr 29, 2019

lismore said:
Hello Jonathan,

I was in a Pentecostal Church for 8+ years, didn't see much evidence of your question in bold, apart from once, or maybe twice, someone gave me a false word of knowledge. Also recall a couple of prophecies about the church moving to a new building, that never transpired.

I have been in a Baptist Church since 2009. I think there maybe there is a disconnect in the way that Pentecostals/ Charismatics see Baptists, something about form rather than substance.

I have never met a Baptist who does not believe that God speaks today, through the Holy Scriptures for example. The pentecostal obsession for someone to stand up and flamboyantly proclaim in outlandish language something that at best we already know through the word aka prophecy, for example is more about form than substance. Hulaballoo! Pomp! What about the substance?

But I've received scripture references from people that turned out to be spot on and directly what the Lord needed to say to me. People who would never darken the door of a Pentecostal/ Charismatic church and yet are way ahead of them.

I have never met a Baptist who does not seek prayer in hard times, including sickness. On the other hand the Pentecostal obsession with media marketing of 'healing testimonies', 'healing ministries' etc. The pressure to perform and massage healing testimonies. Not to mention the Pente/Charismatic obsession with money, or desiring the gifts of the Spirit without the Fruit of the Spirit.

God Bless

Thanks for sharing your experience. My experience in the Assemblies of God church (2-3 years) was different. I received several Words the were spot on. I heard a message in Tongues with interpretation that was exactly what God had been telling me personally during that week. Yes, they prayed in tongues without interpretation.... that was disorderly. And 1/3 of the pastors were wolves in sheep clothing. But otherwise, it was genuine, powerful, worshipful, and very encouraging. I'm sorry you were in mess, it sounds like. But I was still put out of that Church for obeying the Holy Spirit. I interupted a Wolf in Sheeps clothing "pastor" who was taking Glory away from God by yelling "Jehovah!". They escorted me out. 1 month later, that pastor was exposed for stealing and adultery and was removed. He was a false prophet and God told me about them before they were removed.

lismore · Apr 29, 2019

Jonathan Mathews said:
Great! Just as it's written... "If any among you are sick, let the elders of the church annoint/lay hands and they shall recover" That's an example of the Gift of Healing and Miracles written in Corinthians.
Thanks for sharing.

I know many Baptists who have been physically healed. I think it's more the baggage that causes the disagreement than the healing itself.

Sabertooth · Apr 29, 2019

lismore said:
...obsession with money, or desiring the gifts of the Spirit without the Fruit of the Spirit. Or some of the extremely odd teachings that emerge from Charismatic circles? Joel Olsteen, Benny Hinn, Todd Bentley, just to name a couple.

Prosperity doctrine has always been on the fringe. It certainly isn't part of the Empowered Evangelicals set.

Ttalkkugjil · Apr 29, 2019

lismore said:
I know many Baptists who have been physically healed. I think it's more the baggage that causes the disagreement than the healing itself.

I've known many Baptists who have been healed. What I don't know is many Baptists who have been instantaneously healed.

Romans 8 · Apr 30, 2019

Jonathan Mathews said:
Thanks for sharing your experience...
Yes, they prayed in tongues without interpretation.... that was disorderly. And 1/3 of the pastors were wolves in sheep clothing. But otherwise, it was genuine, powerful, worshipful, and very encouraging. I'm sorry you were in mess, it sounds like. But I was still put out of that Church for obeying the Holy Spirit. I interupted a Wolf in Sheeps clothing "pastor" who was taking Glory away from God by yelling "Jehovah!". They escorted me out. 1 month later, that pastor was exposed for stealing and adultery and was removed. He was a false prophet and God told me about them before they were removed.

They do this at the Pentecostal church I've been attending. I don't think it's right. It says in the Bible we should not do this. Aside from this bizarre behaviour, there are no gifts which are apparent. Just a Pastor who seems more zealous about revival and filling more seats in the pews than anything else. I'm getting disillusioned. I don't want to be a church hopper going from one to the next but I'm starting to think I might have to change churches in the near future. It just seems inevitable.
I meet with a Baptist Pastor weekly for Bible study whom I admire, but he's a cessationist and therefore his church also. I though that I wanted to be a part of a church that displays the gifts of the Spirit but I don't think one exists where I live. As I sit and converse with this Baptist Pastor and we work through this workbook, I'm impressed at his faith and love for God, as mundane as I previously thought that Baptists were. But I still would prefer a church that incorporates the gifts of the Spirit, or, one that may not possess them but at least tries. It seems such a shame that many churches abandon half the Gospel and what Jesus does today, simply because to them it looks bad (people getting delivered, shaking, crying out, etc).

DW1980 · Apr 30, 2019

lismore said:
Not to mention the Pente/Charismatic obsession with money, or desiring the gifts of the Spirit without the Fruit of the Spirit.

The Baptist Church I was at was charismatic, and they definitely didn't have the obsession with money.

They also linked both fruits and gifts of the Spirit to intimacy with God, to a deep relationship where God comes first, where the goal is Him - not the miraculous. I guess the idea was that being close to God through prayer, Bible study, worship, being filled with the Spirit, would lead to both the fruit and gifts being evident in your life.

Their explanation was that the fruit comes as we submit to God in our lives, but that gifts must be received. So (I think) they would have said that the difference between a Christian who has the gifts and one who doesn't would simply be whether they desire it, and are open to receiving them. They didn't hold a "two class" view of Christians who were cessationist, or look down on them.

What impressed me was that they were not immediately obvious as a charismatic Church, there was no insistence that you speak in tongues for example.

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