Bapticostals: Holiness, Full Gospel, Free Will, etc.

I know there seem to be a multitude of Baptists here on CF. I'm curious to how many of you fall within the so-called Bapticostal movement that's increased in prominence in the last few decades.

During my youth, my family and I went to a Full Gospel Baptist church. We visited for the first time during a gospel sing, and it wasn't long that we made it our home church. In comparison, I'd say they were quite similar to other Southernized full gospel congregations, like the Church of God and the Assemblies of God, because they had tent revivals, prayers for the healing of the sick, speaking in tongues, and the operation of the other spiritual gifts. We went there for several years before gradually easing into something different.

Where we live now, there's a small, brick Holiness Baptist church right down the road. It's the first Holiness Baptist church I've ever seen (I've seen others since then). We've been on a few different occasions. Their a holiness body of people, dressing conservative according to the Bible, sustaining from worldly amusements, operate in the gifts of the Spirit, and practice worship services that border on the a cappella. I don't really know if the latter is out of personal doctrine or conviction, or from the lack of musical abilities among the saints.

All I know about Free Will Baptists (I've seen it written as Freewill sometimes) is that they don't generally reside with the "once saved, always saved" theology that populates many Baptist denominations. As I gather, some of their more traditional congregations (as the more liberal batches call them) maintain a conservative outward attire and modesty amongst their people, but their doctrine and beliefs on the spiritual gifts is diverse. Some of them, as I hear, might be sympathetic, while others hold to the cessationist view that the gifts are ceased.

As aforementioned, the main purpose I have for this thread is to simply see if there are any Baptists on CF that fall under the Bapticostal umbrella. Some of you that may considered yourself as such may very well not sit under a denominational banner, but might have at one time before going independent or finding a church or ministry that included the more Biblical-orientated worship and operation of the gifts.

So, where you at Bapticostals? I know you're out there!

Dave L said:

I think any who baptized adult believers by immersion since the onset of the New Covenant era in the first century could be called baptists. It seems possible that I was baptised by someone who was baptized by someone who was baptized by someone.... going all the way back to the first century who was baptised by the disciples.

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I would assume that definition would rely entirely in the context to which you are using the term Baptist. If you're using it generally then what you've said would apply.

JM said:

There is no such thing as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy or Bapticostals. Baptists do not speak in tongues, Pentecostals often baptize with water upon a profession of faith, the two systems are not compatible. Baptists believe revelation has cased with the 66 books of the Bible while Pentecostals are still claiming to have the gift of prophecy and revelation.

Just check the Statement of Faith for this forum...the Bible is the only rule of faith.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

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That isn't true for all self-identifying Baptists. Not all believe the gifts have ceased.

JM said:

Then you're not a Baptist. It really is that simple, Baptists...historically, did not believe in gifts.

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You're right. I'm not Baptist.

But just because a denomination historically states something doesn't mean ideas don't change. Revelations occur. And so on.

rockytopva said:

A large number of black folks speak in tongues and identify themselves as Baptist.

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Most black churches practice a form of Pentecost and exercise the gifts, regardless of denominational affiliation.

JM said:

My wife is a Baptist, my in-laws are Baptist...they're black. They do not speak in tongues and agree with me.

My children are half black and they don't speak in tongues, not even half the time, so...



My point is, charismatic gifts are not considered part of the Baptist heritage, and shouldn't be. Just because you baptist upon the profession of faith doesn't mean you're a Baptist.

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Not all black Baptists are charismatic in doctrine. Maybe it's a Southern thing because most of the ones in my area seem to be more sympathetic to the gifts and their operation in the modern Church.

rockytopva said:

Paul asks, “Do all speak in tongues?” - 1 Corinthians 12:30 and my perspective as a “PenteBaptist” is that not all who speak in tongues do so with the actual Holy Spirit and we must be careful here.

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I agree. There are counterfeit tongues. Not all tongues are of God.

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. - 1 Corinthians 14:39

The part in bold is what many Christians willingly exclude from their churches today.