How Our Church Handles Pentecostal Issues.

I would like to describe how our fellowship approaches Pentecostal issues. I'm writing this because I think there are people with Pentecostal backgrounds who might feel led by the Lord to come visit with us, but they feel some concern that we're anti-Pentecostal. I would like to clear up any fears of that type.

Our church-association teaches that the Holy Spirit is equally the eternal God, just like the heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God. The Holy Spirit is essential for anyone being able to find Christ. He has the power to drive off Satanic powers, and enlighten the soul. The Holy Spirit divinely inspired the Bible. He causes spiritual rebirth in those who call on Christ, and then He personally indwells us. It's by the Holy Spirit's power that we're able to grow in faith and overcome our sinful weaknesses. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus Christ -- His Person and His mission -- in the world today. Every church ought to be Spirit-filled.

The reason we don't call ourselves a Pentecostal church is because, from a doctrinal standpoint, we don't teach that speaking in tongues always happens when a person is Spirit-filled. Now, every church ought to be Spirit-filled. We feel it is very important to be Spirit-filled, but Ephesians 5:18-20 says that joy, thankfulness, worship, and singing are the main ways the Spirit's filling manifests. 

Being Spirit-filled also empowers a Christian to overcome fear, and speak God's word with boldness (Acts 4:31). He also enables a Christian to work miracles (the apostles in particular, Acts 13:9). Without digging deep into the doctrine of the thing, I preach that the tongues miracles in Acts had specific historical reasons in the plan of God why they happened. I also, speaking for myself, believe that the gift of tongues can happen today, though I'm a bit skeptical whether everything that is called "Spirit-filled" really is .

Our church-association accepts various opinions about tongues. Some of our preachers believe gifts like tongues and healing ceased after the apostles died.  Others of us believe that those gifts can and do happen today, but are cautious about claims regarding them. Others of us believe those gifts should happen in our churches more "normatively" than they do.  We accept all of these viewpoints. We try our best to treat each other respectfully.

We're strong on the authority of the Bible. No matter how we understand God's guidance -- whether it's all Bible and wisdom, or if it can include special communications from the Lord -- the Bible is our highest authority.  The Bible is our measuring-stick for all other spiritual experiences. We evaluate our spiritual experiences in light of the Bible.

We teach that Christ still  miraculously heals, but we don't teach that God wants to heal every Christian of every disease, in every circumstance. A lot of psychological and physical harm has been done to sick people by that doctrine. It is a message of condemnation, if someone isn't healed. We need to be humble and say we don't always know why God does or does not do something.

We can be sure that God will meet our every need through His riches in glory through Christ Jesus! Jesus knows our every weakness, and sympathizes with our suffering. But He might answer our prayers in ways we don't expect, or according to a schedule we don't expect (and sometimes there is secret sin or unbelief we don't know about). We live in a fallen world, and there won't be perfect healing until Jesus comes back.

There might be people in our community who would like to find a good church, but who come from a Pentecostal background and want a church that has a high view of the Holy Spirit, including a living faith in His ability to intervene in daily life. I hope this short article clears up any concerns that person might feel. On the other hand, there might also be people who have been hurt by "charismania", and are looking for a church fellowship that honors the Holy Spirit but avoids unscriptural extremes. You are all welcome. And who knows, you might have an important God-given role to play in our fellowship as the Lord brings you alongside to help!