- Apr 2, 2007
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Hey folks, before I address my concern I want to assure you that I grew up in a Pentecostal church and currently attend a primarily Pentecostal church (IPHC). I was Baptized in the Holy Spirit (with evidence of speaking on tongues) some time ago so please do not think that what I'm about to say is some sort of attack on Pentecostalism from outside of the denomination. I am merely a very concerned Pentecostal who has been a personal witness and, to some degree am guilty myself of participating in, some things in various Pentecostal circles that I feel must be adressed.
I don't know other way to adress this issue but be frank about it. Throughout all of my years of attending and visiting various Pentecostal churches as well as watching and / or listening to various Pentecostal preachers on TV, radio or the internet, it has becomer clear to me that we, as a denomination(s) over the last several decades, have become just as corrupt and self seeking as the sinful world around us.
Our churches are become little more than Pentecostal "safe zones", a place where we go not to help the world but to hide from it. A place where we can go to be with like minded people to shoot a game of basketball, take a knitting or self defense class, keep our children preoccupied with various clean and safe activities, or to have a meal or watch a dvd in fellowship. All the while there are people in our communities are starving, homeless or scuicidal.
Our services yield very little real fruit. Sure a few of us may pray in tongues while another attempts to interpret, some may feel inclined to share a very vague prophetic word with little regard to past accuracy. Others may fall flat on their backs while others may feel inclined to laugh or shout or wail. Not to mention the fact that Revival has become nothing more than a denominational pep rally which last over the course of a few evenings.
All the while our pews are filled with people eagerly anticipating the sunday afternoon sporting event or the buffet at a favorite local resturaunt. Our kids are hunkered down listeing to their ipods, playing video games on a hand held or texting on their phone while busybodies go about their ussual business of spreading the latest gossip or judging what others are wearing or whining about today's sermon.
Our alters are filled with people struggling with various forms of sickness and bondage, everything from cancer to high blood pressure to depression to anxiety to pornography to homosexuality. Our divorce rate is every bit as high, if not higher, than marrages out side of the church. Our children are having sex and getting pregnant at the same rate as those outside of the church. And our people are struggling financially just as those outside of the church.
So my concern is... IF WE ARE STRULY FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT THEN WHY ARE WE NO DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD?
Lately I've been doing some research on some of the greatest men and women of God throughout church history. People who God used to not only spark genuine revival but also had a great impact on their country as well as the world. People like John Wesley, George Whitefield, William & Catherine Booth, Charles Finney, E.M. Bounds, Pheobee Palmer, Evan Roberts. All of whom God used in a mighty way and all of whom also believed in a second work of grace in the life of a believer, an indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Although it should be noted that not one on record had ever spoken in an unknown tongue.
What's my point? All of these great men and women of God believed that the primary manifestation of the indwelling Holy Spirit was a deep sense of affection and sanctification for and from God. Something that the vast majority of Pentecostals today have obviously lost sight of.
Want proof? How about the falls of Jim & Tammy Baker, Jimmy Swaggert, Ted Haggard & Todd Bentley. How about the self seeking prosperity gospel that is being preached all over christian television: "Sow a seed, reap a 100 fold harvest! Need a new car? How about a new home? Send me your money! It's guarenteed!" As if God is going to reward us for sowing a seed out of our own wordly desires and greed.
Over all, the modern Pentecostal movement (in the civilized world) has become evey bit as cold, complacent and useless as Cessationist Antinomians! (those who not only believe that the gifts have ceased but also they can sin all they like and still be saved). Over the last few decades we have become so centered on the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we have forgotten about the He who has given us the Spirit in the first place! We've become so obsessed with FREEDOM that we have forgotten true liberty resides in the death of our own sense of self!
My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, while we Pentecostals have become the most sucessful protestant denomination since the reformation, I fear that we also have the potential to become the most destructive. If we are truly going to impact the world for Christ then we desperately need what Wesley, Finney and Booth had.
I encourage you to earnestly pray and seek God concerning sanctification regardless of what you have been taught or heard. Sure many hold to the idea that sanctification is ongoing process and this is true but what if a certain degree of spiritual maturity can be achieved in this life as so many in our spiritual heritage previously believed? Please take into consideration what God has accomplished through them as evidence that there might just be something to this!
Or, you can listen to the alternative. Men like John Calvin who preached one thing yet religious pride and murder ruled his actions!
YOU DECIDE...
I don't know other way to adress this issue but be frank about it. Throughout all of my years of attending and visiting various Pentecostal churches as well as watching and / or listening to various Pentecostal preachers on TV, radio or the internet, it has becomer clear to me that we, as a denomination(s) over the last several decades, have become just as corrupt and self seeking as the sinful world around us.
Our churches are become little more than Pentecostal "safe zones", a place where we go not to help the world but to hide from it. A place where we can go to be with like minded people to shoot a game of basketball, take a knitting or self defense class, keep our children preoccupied with various clean and safe activities, or to have a meal or watch a dvd in fellowship. All the while there are people in our communities are starving, homeless or scuicidal.
Our services yield very little real fruit. Sure a few of us may pray in tongues while another attempts to interpret, some may feel inclined to share a very vague prophetic word with little regard to past accuracy. Others may fall flat on their backs while others may feel inclined to laugh or shout or wail. Not to mention the fact that Revival has become nothing more than a denominational pep rally which last over the course of a few evenings.
All the while our pews are filled with people eagerly anticipating the sunday afternoon sporting event or the buffet at a favorite local resturaunt. Our kids are hunkered down listeing to their ipods, playing video games on a hand held or texting on their phone while busybodies go about their ussual business of spreading the latest gossip or judging what others are wearing or whining about today's sermon.
Our alters are filled with people struggling with various forms of sickness and bondage, everything from cancer to high blood pressure to depression to anxiety to pornography to homosexuality. Our divorce rate is every bit as high, if not higher, than marrages out side of the church. Our children are having sex and getting pregnant at the same rate as those outside of the church. And our people are struggling financially just as those outside of the church.
So my concern is... IF WE ARE STRULY FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT THEN WHY ARE WE NO DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD?
Lately I've been doing some research on some of the greatest men and women of God throughout church history. People who God used to not only spark genuine revival but also had a great impact on their country as well as the world. People like John Wesley, George Whitefield, William & Catherine Booth, Charles Finney, E.M. Bounds, Pheobee Palmer, Evan Roberts. All of whom God used in a mighty way and all of whom also believed in a second work of grace in the life of a believer, an indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Although it should be noted that not one on record had ever spoken in an unknown tongue.
What's my point? All of these great men and women of God believed that the primary manifestation of the indwelling Holy Spirit was a deep sense of affection and sanctification for and from God. Something that the vast majority of Pentecostals today have obviously lost sight of.
Want proof? How about the falls of Jim & Tammy Baker, Jimmy Swaggert, Ted Haggard & Todd Bentley. How about the self seeking prosperity gospel that is being preached all over christian television: "Sow a seed, reap a 100 fold harvest! Need a new car? How about a new home? Send me your money! It's guarenteed!" As if God is going to reward us for sowing a seed out of our own wordly desires and greed.
Over all, the modern Pentecostal movement (in the civilized world) has become evey bit as cold, complacent and useless as Cessationist Antinomians! (those who not only believe that the gifts have ceased but also they can sin all they like and still be saved). Over the last few decades we have become so centered on the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we have forgotten about the He who has given us the Spirit in the first place! We've become so obsessed with FREEDOM that we have forgotten true liberty resides in the death of our own sense of self!
My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, while we Pentecostals have become the most sucessful protestant denomination since the reformation, I fear that we also have the potential to become the most destructive. If we are truly going to impact the world for Christ then we desperately need what Wesley, Finney and Booth had.
I encourage you to earnestly pray and seek God concerning sanctification regardless of what you have been taught or heard. Sure many hold to the idea that sanctification is ongoing process and this is true but what if a certain degree of spiritual maturity can be achieved in this life as so many in our spiritual heritage previously believed? Please take into consideration what God has accomplished through them as evidence that there might just be something to this!
Or, you can listen to the alternative. Men like John Calvin who preached one thing yet religious pride and murder ruled his actions!
YOU DECIDE...
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