What Sets Aside Pentecostal from other Denominations?

Jay,

There are a number of divisions within the Pentecostal church with varying beliefs, and Charismatics have very similar theology. However, the identifying sign of Pentecostals is speaking in tongues, as sacraments identify Catholics – but there is a lot more to it.

It sounds like you want to a church that had dialogue preaching, as opposed to monologue. That is not a sign of being Pentecostal – although it was a main characteristic of the Azusa Street Revival, where monologue preaching was prohibited. However, dialogue preaching is just becoming more popular in Protestant environments in general. I think dialogue preaching should be used almost exclusively in prison services, and it is the common format of house churches.

Pentecostals believe that God can be experienced supernaturally just like it is represented in the Bible – nothing about the power of God has ceased. Thus, you will see a great focus on discerning the guidance of the Holy Spirit in Pentecostal environments and an expectation of witnessing supernatural power. Pentecostals place an emphasis on experience over theology and are quick to point out that theological arguments should be avoided on issues that the Bible does not fully set out. Pentecostals are plain people, who value where a person is at spiritually, and who see less significance to a person's worldly accomplishments.

The Assembly of God represents the theology of the Azusa Street Revival, which is now referred to as Classical Pentecostalism. However, there are other divisions, such as Holiness Pentecostals, Oneness Pentecostals, Word of Faith Pentecostals (although I think the Word of Faith movement is more Charismatic now). These divisions have their own distinguishing characteristics.

Classical Pentecostals believe that the main purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for evangelism, but as a side affect that it also causes a person to want to praise God more often and more intensely, to study the Bible more thoroughly, to have a greater sense of joy no matter what one is going through, and many other things as well. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit consists of having a greater abundance of the Spirit, and this changes everything about a person's life, but in particular, a believer experiences more guidance in life and how to carry out God's plan for one's life.

Well, I guess I could go on and on.... but....

Thanks for that reply MPaul

The biggest differences that I can see are,

We believe that all the gifts offered the Apostolic church - tongues, prophecy, healing, etc, - are still available to us today, and

we worship with oomph. With Spirit. We allow more freedom in worship - if you want to dance before the throne as David did, you can dance. If you want to cry, or laugh, or shout "Glory," that, too, is welcome.

The answer to that question is going to be complex indeed since there are differences even within the Pentecostal movement. Even if you were to look solely at the Assembly of God you will come up with variations of many kinds. Part of the reason for this may well be because of the belief in the autonomy of the local church - a position I strongly defend [ although I'm not even sure this is the practice of the AOG worldwide].

In my experience here are some of the differences others have stated to me or accused pentecostals of.

We believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as an experience subsequent to the original accepting Jesus as Savior, and also that speaking in tongues is the evidence [not to be confused with the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 12].

We believe that healing and miracles are for today and that the gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 are still in operation or intended to be in operation today.

The interpretation of 1 Corinthians 12, 13 & 14 is in sharp contrast to many other denominations.

Holiness was also considered a major difference, although I cannot say this is exclusive to the Pentecostal Church or movement.

As I have mentioned that is my experience. Others may differ on this.

I will also mention that I was saved and grew up in the AOG movement in Southern Africa founded by the Mulin Bros and Nicholas Bhengu (hope that's right spelling).

stormdancer0 said:

The biggest differences that I can see are,

We believe that all the gifts offered the Apostolic church - tongues, prophecy, healing, etc, - are still available to us today, and

we worship with oomph. With Spirit. We allow more freedom in worship - if you want to dance before the throne as David did, you can dance. If you want to cry, or laugh, or shout "Glory," that, too, is welcome.

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and the snacks are better too!

If you don't mind, I'd like to try to answer your questions one at a time.

Jay217 said:

I'm sorry if i sound like I'm trying to start a fight I'm merely curious about some of the thing you've said.

So you don't believe in practicing a literal baptism like what John the Baptist did with Jesus, but as more spiritual saying alluring to what John said - I cleanse you with water but [Jesus] will cleanse you with the holy spirit.

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We believe there is a water baptism, which is the baptism of repentance. However, we also believe there is a Spirit-baptism, where the Spirit of God is "poured out" upon a believer - and it is only for believers. Non-believers cannot receive this. It is more than the water baptism, in that it indicates not repentance, but the outpouring of the Spirit on a believer's life. I think a good way of looking at it is, the salvation prayer brings the Holy Spirit into your heart. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit lets Him out into every aspect of your life. They sometimes occur at nearly the same time, but sometimes can be hours/days/months apart. Even the Disciples received the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them before He ascended. Then it was ten days later when Pentecost occurred, and they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

What is the evidence you speak of when you say "speaking in tongues is the evidence?"

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Many (but not all]Pentecostals believe that the initial, or first evidence, that someone has received this baptism is that they are able to speak in Heavenly languages; i.e. languages not naturally understood by the speaker. Sometimes it is a language that others may know (Like Hebrew or French) but sometimes it is a prayer language, one that only your spirit and God understands. But this is not a skill that can be learned. It is a gift.

what are the miracles for today? and as for the gifts - you believe that many of god's gift - healing and tongues are still in use by many people today still?

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Every miracle performed by God through the Apostles, including Paul, is available for us today. I have seen them. All of them. Miraculous healing, miracles, tongues, interpretation, prophecy (that has been subsequently fulfilled), all of them. Even saw someone raised from the dead. Brain dead for 10 days - verified by every neurologist in town and multiple mri's, EEG's and CAT scans. 20 days later, she walked out of the hospital. The doctors are still scratching their heads, and she's still praising God.

how do your interpretation to the gifts sharply contrast? the gift of Love in 13 says If i speak with human tongues and angelic as well,, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal" It just doesn't seem that its interpretation can be much different.

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Without love, every miracle in the Bible is worthless. It doesn't matter in God's economy if you can raise the dead and literally move mountains, if you do not have love, it amounts to nothing. I'm not sure what you are asking in this question, but I hope that helps.

Stormie

Jay217 said:

I'm sorry if i sound like I'm trying to start a fight I'm merely curious about some of the thing you've said.

So you don't believe in practicing a literal baptism like what John the Baptist did with Jesus, but as more spiritual saying alluring to what John said - I cleanse you with water but [Jesus] will cleanse you with the holy spirit.

What is the evidence you speak of when you say "speaking in tongues is the evidence?"

what are the miracles for today? and as for the gifts - you believe that many of god's gift - healing and tongues are still in use by many people today still?

how do your interpretation to the gifts sharply contrast? the gift of Love in 13 says If i speak with human tongues and angelic as well,, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal" It just doesn't seem that its interpretation can be much different.

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Not at all. An honest query is not a fight. I will try to answer you... though I may have misunderstood part of your questions. I'll try to be brief.

In answer to your first question, Baptism in the Holy Ghost is not substitutional to water baptism, which we still practise. At some point after their declaration of repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ we will baptise the new believer in water as exampled and instructed by Jesus Christ. However in line with Peter's command to them on the Day of Pentecost, "Repent everyone of you and be baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." [Acts 2:38] We instruct new believers to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, or be baptised with the Holy Ghost. It is part of the ongoing Christian experience: Repentance [and faith], baptism in water, and the infilling of the Spirit.

Why do we call it the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Because we believe it is what John the baptist was referring to when he said, "He will baptise you with the Holy Ghost and fire." Also because it is what Jesus called it, "John truly baptised you with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Acts 1:5.

We believe that tongues is the evidence that one has been baptised with the Holy Spirit in line with the events in the early church and their continuing practise as is revealed in the Book of Acts. Church history also supports this fact. 1. We read that on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was first received that they spoke in other tongues [or languages] Acts 2:4. 2. Then again at the home of Corneluis we see that Christ confirmed his work in Cornelius' household as he baptised them in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues Acts 10:44-48 [notice that they were baptised immediately because of this - Scriptural proof that this baptism was not to replace water baptism]. 3. Many years later we find Paul at Ephesus where he baptises the believers in water [so that they may receive the Holy Spirit] and, after laying hands on them [As Peter and John did in Samaria Acts 8:14-17] they begin to speak in other tongues Acts 19:6. It is interesting to note that we have, through the declaration of a bishop, evidence that it was commonly believed that they spoke in other tongues in Samaria, though the passage itself does not declare it.

In more recent times it was at Parnham's Bible College that they determined that Tongues was the evidence that one had been baptised in the Holy Spirit, and they laid hands on each other and began speaking as they did in the Scriptures. Although I must add that these things took place unexpectedly in other parts of the world around the same time. I am not a great historian, but I can ask for evidence of these things if you wish.

What are the gifts for today? In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 Paul mentions 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit which are available to every believer 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10. Word of wisdom; word of knowledge, faith [a specific gift for a specific moment], diverse gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophesy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. All these ought still to be in operation today. Thus they are the miracles for today.

It is your last question that has me a little confused. Let me start off by saying, love is a fruit of the Spirit, not a gift of the Spirit. There are those who believe that miracles ceased with the age of the apostles, or more specifically, with the cannonisation of Scripture, using 1 Corinthians 13:10 as their defense. They directly contravene Paul's instruction in chapter 14:39. "Therefore brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues" by interpreting chapter 14 in such a way as to forbid to speak in tongues.

Since we do not believe that the display of the fruit of love forbids prophesying, working miracles and speaking in tongues; nor do we believe that the cannonisation was "that which is perfect", nor do we forbid to speak in other languages in the church [please note my clarification], it is obvious that we do not interpret these passages as others do but rather in contrast.

You may, however hold no such contrast in your beliefs. That I don't know.

I trust this helps clarify what I said.

Stormie....

I hadn't noticed what you had written when I posted my answer. Thank you.

Not a problem, kerr4y!! The more the merrier.

Jay217 said:

I've been wondering well what the question implies what sets the pentecostal church out from other denominations?

From what I've seen and talked (went to a pentecostal service today) It seems alot more of a laid back church.

Also the Pastor (this is a small church) approached much of the congregation and speaking their thoughts on the subject at hand and what they felt. So seems alot more focused on the individual.

What are the other major differences in your opinion?

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The primary distinctions of Pentecostalism are three fold:

1. Belief in the existence AND the pursuit of the Charismatic gifts of the Spirit as essential to a healthy walk with Christ and a healthy church

2. Belief in a significant work of the Spirit called "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" that is distinct and subsequent to the work of the Spirit in conversion

3. Belief that the Initial Physical Evidence of Spirit Baptism (point 2 above) is the manifestation of speaking in tongues, or glossolalia

there are other cultural and theological aspects (like pre trib rapture and exhuberant worship) that are COMMON but not universal.

The above points are what theologically signifies Pentecostalism across the board.