What do Wesleyans believe about speaking in tongues?

[Spirit of Pentecost]

What do the Wesleyan denominations, such as the Methodists and the Nazarenes (and their divisions), believe about the charismatic spiritual gifts? Where do they stand on the cessationist and continuationist view of things?

 

[Hank77]

What do the Wesleyan denominations, such as the Methodists and the Nazarenes (and their divisions), believe about the charismatic spiritual gifts? Where do they stand on the cessationist and continuationist view of things?

Pentecostals are Wesleyan in their theology, they believe these special gifts are for today. But not all Wesleyan type believers do.

 

[Spirit of Pentecost]

Pentecostals are Wesleyan in their theology, they believe these special gifts are for today. But not all Wesleyan type believers do.

Since I am Pentecostal, I know that Pentecostal denominations are continuationist in their view on the spiritual gifts still operating in the modern church.

On the other hand, not all Pentecostals are Wesleyan in theology. Before 1910, the majority of them were, though. The Pentecostals that trace their roots to the Asuza Street Revivals came from a few different denominational backgrounds. The Wesleyan or "Methodistic" Pentecostals are found in the Church of God (Cleveland) and in Pentecostal Holiness Churches. The Reformed or "Baptistic" Pentecostals are generally found in the Assemblies of God or the Foursquare Gospel Churches.

I've heard it said that Methodists are generally more open to the operation of the spiritual gifts than most Baptists. From my experience though, it's the opposite.

 

[Dave-W]

The Reformed or "Baptistic" Pentecostals are generally found in the Assemblies of God or the Foursquare Gospel Churches.

Where did you get the idea that Assembly of God and Four Square are "baptist/reformed?"

With the exception of the pentecostal gifts, the Assembly of God is doctrinally identical to the Nazarenes.

 

[Spirit of Pentecost]

Where did you get the idea that Assembly of God and Four Square are "baptist/reformed?"

With the exception of the pentecostal gifts, the Assembly of God is doctrinally identical to the Nazarenes.

The information I've read has said the Assemblies of God came from Baptist roots, but I'm appreciate the information you have provided.

 

[Dave-W]

The information I've read has said the Assemblies of God came from Baptist roots,

The most iconic belief of the Baptists is Once Saved Always Saved.
The A/G has a longstanding policy of revoking the credentials of any A/G pastor teaching OSAS.

 

[Albion]

Some Baptists only.

 

[Spirit of Pentecost]

The most iconic belief of the Baptists is Once Saved Always Saved.
The A/G has a longstanding policy of revoking the credentials of any A/G pastor teaching OSAS.

Then, evidently, my information is wrong. In saying that, however, even if a denomination came from another already-established movement, doesn't automatically mean they are going to take all (or even most) of the original's doctrinal beliefs. Isn't the idea of having a new movement/denomination/organization to have different beliefs?

 

[Dave-W]

Then, evidently, my information is wrong. In saying that, however, even if a denomination came from another already-established movement, doesn't automatically mean they are going to take all (or even most) of the original's doctrinal beliefs. Isn't the idea of having a new movement/denomination/organization to have different beliefs?

That depends a lot on WHY the split took place. Often is over non-doctrinal issues.

 

[Anto9us]

O, for a THOUSAND TONGUES to sing
My great Redeemer's Praise !

 

[W Johnson]

I have never encountered what is commonly referred to as speaking in tongues in a Methodist Church. I did see it as a child at a friend’s Vacation Bible School during a summer break, it kind of freaked me out. I always thought that the gift of tongues meant that the person would be speaking a real language that they did not know and the others around him would understand the language.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I have never encountered what is commonly referred to as speaking in tongues in a Methodist Church. I did see it as a child at a friend’s Vacation Bible School during a summer break, it kind of freaked me out. I always thought that the gift of tongues meant that the person would be speaking a real language that they did not know and the others around him would understand the language.

I haven't seen it in church service either, but I didn't start going to a Methodist church until a few years ago. I did speak in tongues once in service but it was in a blended group after my baptism and took me by surprise. I know what you mean on the freaked out part - my friend's Pentecostal church I visited once as a teenager had some stuff going on that was definitely unfamiliar to me!

 

[Spirit of Pentecost]

I have never encountered what is commonly referred to as speaking in tongues in a Methodist Church. I did see it as a child at a friend’s Vacation Bible School during a summer break, it kind of freaked me out. I always thought that the gift of tongues meant that the person would be speaking a real language that they did not know and the others around him would understand the language.

I recollect my pastor telling of his cousin or brother (or a friend, I forget which) that was filled with the Holy Spirit in a Methodist church and began speaking in tongues. If I'm remembering the story correctly, the Methodist pastor there wasn't against it, but he felt that some of the more strictly cessationist members would reject it and perhaps leave the church. As a compromise, my pastor's friend could "get into the Spirit" in the church's fellowship hall away from the main sanctuary. Eventually, others joined him there, receiving the Spirit as he did, and I believe he eventually joined some form of a Pentecostal church.

And their are different tongues. The gift of tongues, as you speak of, is a message for the church that should be interpreted. Other tongues, however, are a personal prayer language individual Christians receive that cannot and does not need to be interpreted.

 

[Albion]

Then, evidently, my information is wrong. In saying that, however, even if a denomination came from another already-established movement, doesn't automatically mean they are going to take all (or even most) of the original's doctrinal beliefs. Isn't the idea of having a new movement/denomination/organization to have different beliefs?

That's almost guaranteed. Let's see if we can think of any denomination that came from another one and yet remained identical to it in its teachings.

 

[Spirit of Pentecost]

That's almost guaranteed. Let's see if we can think of any denomination that came from another one and yet remained identical to it in its teachings.

But we can't.

 

[Dave-W]

I always thought that the gift of tongues meant that the person would be speaking a real language that they did not know and the others around him would understand the language.

Yeah - that only happened once that we know of: in Acts 2.

 

[Spirit of Pentecost]

Yeah - that only happened once that we know of: in Acts 2.

I've actually heard multiple stories where a Christian spoke in tongues during a service with individuals of foreign tongues in attendance. One I particularly remember had this woman praying in tongues for this Mexican woman. The woman praying wasn't the most educated, and she had no knowledge for the Spanish language. Afterwards, however, the woman that was prayed for told the pastor (and others, I'm sure) that this woman was praying in Spanish, glorifying God and telling this woman of His goodness.

 

[Albion]

From a research POV, almost everyone seems to have heard a story like that one, but that's the problem--it's hearsay from sources that are sympathetic to what allegedly occurred.

 

[Dave-W]

I've actually heard multiple stories where a Christian spoke in tongues during a service with individuals of foreign tongues in attendance. One I particularly remember had this woman praying in tongues for this Mexican woman.

Yes - we have all heard stories like that, including the writing of the praise chorus "Song of Moses."

But there is only one instance in scripture.

 

[riesie]

What do the Wesleyan denominations, such as the Methodists and the Nazarenes (and their divisions), believe about the charismatic spiritual gifts? Where do they stand on the cessationist and continuationist view of things?

Very good question!