The Receptive Pulpit of Tongues

rocknanchor said:

Speaking of tongues, how would you paint today's Pentecostal pulpit, large or small amount of time dealing with speaking in tongues? Would your response likely include a frequent amount of time Church oversight deals with the subject? Should a Church mirror the frequency the Apostle Paul and others exhibited in the book of Acts?

Currently, I would like to be shown by someone to be in gross error by the good report of congregations who are so pumped by the subject they break out in applause whenever the Pastor sets the subject in motion! My experience to date cannot provide such a report.

What is a good or healthy frequency for a Pentecostal assembly to be thought friendly with the subject of tongues?

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I do not think it is taught or preached frequently at all, maybe not even once a year. I think most Pentecostal/Charismatic pastors though will have an altar call for those seeking the baptism of the spirit at least every once in awhile. Some too may teach this on an individual or small group level. I don't remember the exact stats, but the Assembly of God is getting far more converts than they are getting people baptized in the spirit. This likely is why the baptism of the spirit has been reduced I think over the past few decades. More of a dulution in the Congregation in most churches, which of course does not have to occur. This subject should be taught when there are some in the church that are fairly clueless as to how it works. I think that some pastors are weak in this area (They also seem weak in teaching the end times) Rather than address a topic that is is controversial to some, they will pass it over.
Alternatives I have seen include a special class, or at an indivdual or small group level. I do know at leat one church that covers it during a new members class, though it is not as important as many of the other basics of Christianity.
I personally like K.E. Hagin's teaching on tongues. While he is known as a faith teacher, his teaching including books on the gifts and tongues in particular show the subject was important to teach. I don't think all Rhema trained pastors though emphasize it as much.

Richard T said:

I do not think it is taught or preached frequently at all, maybe not even once a year.

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I would agree with this ^.

Where I live now, most of the AOG churches don't appear to preach or teach much on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or the spiritual gifts.

A few years back, I worked in an AOG church. It was a very interesting experience, in many ways. But what a difference I saw that it made, depending on who was the current lead pastor! I believe it is the lead pastor who sets the pace for the church.

Before the new pastor arrived at our church, we had an Interim Pastor. I worked mainly under his watch. He was an old-timer, very knowledgeable of the true Pentecostal church. When he came to the church, he started teaching Wednesday nite classes on the Baptism and the gifts. It was amazing to watch the transformation that took place as he continued with his weekly lessons! People started going forward at services to receive the Baptism. People started moving in the spiritual gifts, personally and publicly in services. And this Pastor was not afraid of doing deliverances. These he, escorted with another pastor, would do privately as needed. No big ordeal or show, he just knew how to do it. People were being set free! It was all so amazing, to watch how the church came alive under the leadership of this Interim Pastor!

When the new pastor and his family arrived at the church, they took over in many of the church's positions, and the church went back to the way it was before the Interim Pastor: not discussing the Baptism, not teaching on the spiritual gifts, etc.

Not all are in agreement with the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries., but one thing I do like about them is that they still do talk about receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in their Sunday services, which are live-streamed. And persons are regularly given the opportunity to go forward and pray to receive the Baptism. Usually Donnie Swaggart is the one to lead into this, and I'm very glad that he still does. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the spiritual gifts, have not 'gone away'.