Blog Posts - Ironworks Pike Community Church

How Our Church Handles Pentecostal Issues.

4/27/2021

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!

Soapbox: What's With All The Church Scandals Going On?

4/14/2021

Soapbox time: I am astounded by the plague of bad behavior that has spilled out of American conservative Christian leaders in recent years. Rather than name names, I'm just going to say:

Popular Christian preachers need to limit their travel schedules, and make sure they aren't on the road too much. This has never been a problem for me, because I stay in place and serve one flock. But I can imagine how certain sins are facilitated if a man travels too much, and is away from his wife and church too much. Don't work yourself so hard you become extra-vulnerable to those temptations, then feel sorry for yourself that you're working so hard!

Don't rationalize or make excuses to yourself for immoral thoughts and feelings. God says sex is to be limited to a husband and his wife, period, no exceptions. No, you don't deserve special treatment. Call it what it is, and keep digging that rot out of your inner self.

I'll use a harsh word here: if you are a Christian man in a position of ministry authority, don't be an arrogant fool about it. The phrase "elder rule" has come to mean, "overbearing little lordships who push people around." 1st Peter 5:3. Do not attend churches that have this "elder rule." Christ described His leadership style ("yoke") as gentle, humble, and reasonable. The Bible teaches congregational government with elders, it does not teach elder rule.

Don't have other people write books, then put your name on them. That's a violation of the commandments not to steal, and not to bear false witness. That goes the same for making up slanderous stories about people you have fired. Don't trash people on their way out, even if you did need to fire them. That makes you a liar, and a "murderer with your mouth."

How is it edifying to the Body of Christ to publicly talk sarcastically about Christian figures by name? I don't get these conferences where preachers sit in easy chairs on the stage and trash-talk other Christians. It is possible to address issues properly if errors are being spread abroad by popular speakers. Sure, there are times when we should do that. Christ did publicly challenge error. But you can do it by focusing on the issue rather than on an individual, and do it without sneering.

Christian leadership style is never to be defined by some famous CEO's style, or whoever the president happens to be at any given moment. Are we so weak-minded that we adapt our leadership tone and talk to some godless politician? Vile speech is not "honesty." Arrogance is not "strength." Lying is not "shrewdness." And the ends never justify the means, if the Word of God forbids those means.

<hops off soapbox>