Before I even begin, let me make it clear that I already know that this is blog is not going to go well with many. There are some in the Pentecostal church who cling to an emotion based experience that lacks any depth or day to day relevance. It is an experience that feels good in the moment...Sounds good at the time...Looks very spiritual to those around...But, provides no change in the life of the individual outside of the moment.
Please understand, I am very Pentecostal. I believe in the charismata...glossalia...and I do not believe that these are irrelevant or out of place for the 21st century church. I am a 5th generation Pentecostal believer. I pray in a language that I do not understand. I intercede in a language that I do not understand. I have been used by Holy Spirit in the gifts of faith, tongues, interpretation, and prophecy. I am not writing in opposition to the Pentecostal doctrine and belief system. I am writing in opposition to a movement and experience that is based on an emotional outburst. I am writing in opposition to evangelists and preachers that push people down so as to cause others to assume they are super anointed. I am writing in opposition to teens, children, and adults "falling out" because it is what is expected of them in the moment. Read on if you dare...
I'm not so sure, at this juncture, that this writing will be as incoherent and rambling as I had intended for this blog to be. In reality, this may turn into a rant....although, mind you, not placed directly on Facebook.
I am concerned for the future of our churches. Inadvertently, we have raised up an events based generation...Probably 2 generations. This phenomena is multi-faceted. Let's begin by defining the "events" upon which we have raised said generations to rely upon. They are youth/junior camp, camp meetings, tent meetings, WinterFests and "revivals". I placed "revivals" in quotes because the things that we deem "revival" are not true revival. Genuine revival does not occur within a short series of meetings. Genuine revival begins in the hearts of people. We have taught adults and children alike that a Pentecostal service is not relevant or powerful unless there are multiple people laid out on the floor, weeping their eyes out, and speaking in tongues. Granted, I support these manifestations of Pentecostal worship. The problem for pastors and laity alike is that when all the excitement and emotion fades, there is rarely a genuine and lasting life change. In addition, they go back to their home churches (AKA reality) and find that every gathering within the local body is not of the same level of excitement that was experienced at said event. Thus, church is boring unless we are at camp, revival, etc. Where is the practicality in all of this?
Acts 1:8 (NLT) -- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth
Power to be witnesses everywhere we go. Not power to fall down in the floor necessarily...Not power to speak in tongues necessarily...Not power to slow dance in the altar area...POWER TO BE WITNESS TO THE POWER, LOVE, MERCY, COMPASSION, AND CARE OF JESUS CHRIST. Power to love and not hate. Power to forgive and not hold grudges. Power to get saved and stay saved every day of your life. Power to see every class of people with the same worth with which Christ has perceived them.
I am afraid that many Pentecostal people are not interested in listening to a preacher unless he is shouting and running the aisles. For many, the content of the message is unimportant. It is all about how excited everyone is. I am inclined to believe that if you preach pecan pie with enough charisma and emotion, you can get most Pentecostals shouting in nothing flat.
On the flip side, if a Pentecostal preacher preaches and teaches with sustenance and conviction he is labeled boring and irrelevant. I remember once when Paul preached so long that a man fell out the window. I guess the greatest church planter and apostle known the Christendom was a boring preacher and certainly not Pentecostal.
Hear my heart: I am not bashing Pentecostalism. I am simply saying to the Pentecostal church world that it is time to start living out our faith every day of our lives. There is a practical side to Pentecostalism and it has been nearly lost on American Pentecostals. Believe it or not, doctrine and theology are important aspects of Christian living. Emotionalism provides no understanding of doctrine. Emotionalism is not interested in theology. No wonder so many Pentecostal believers are snowballed by the likes of Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, and Joel Osteen. Doctrine and theology have been trumped by emotionalism and the event.
Have a blessed day.
In Christ Alone,
The Messy Rambling Incoherent Pastor
Please understand, I am very Pentecostal. I believe in the charismata...glossalia...and I do not believe that these are irrelevant or out of place for the 21st century church. I am a 5th generation Pentecostal believer. I pray in a language that I do not understand. I intercede in a language that I do not understand. I have been used by Holy Spirit in the gifts of faith, tongues, interpretation, and prophecy. I am not writing in opposition to the Pentecostal doctrine and belief system. I am writing in opposition to a movement and experience that is based on an emotional outburst. I am writing in opposition to evangelists and preachers that push people down so as to cause others to assume they are super anointed. I am writing in opposition to teens, children, and adults "falling out" because it is what is expected of them in the moment. Read on if you dare...
I'm not so sure, at this juncture, that this writing will be as incoherent and rambling as I had intended for this blog to be. In reality, this may turn into a rant....although, mind you, not placed directly on Facebook.
I am concerned for the future of our churches. Inadvertently, we have raised up an events based generation...Probably 2 generations. This phenomena is multi-faceted. Let's begin by defining the "events" upon which we have raised said generations to rely upon. They are youth/junior camp, camp meetings, tent meetings, WinterFests and "revivals". I placed "revivals" in quotes because the things that we deem "revival" are not true revival. Genuine revival does not occur within a short series of meetings. Genuine revival begins in the hearts of people. We have taught adults and children alike that a Pentecostal service is not relevant or powerful unless there are multiple people laid out on the floor, weeping their eyes out, and speaking in tongues. Granted, I support these manifestations of Pentecostal worship. The problem for pastors and laity alike is that when all the excitement and emotion fades, there is rarely a genuine and lasting life change. In addition, they go back to their home churches (AKA reality) and find that every gathering within the local body is not of the same level of excitement that was experienced at said event. Thus, church is boring unless we are at camp, revival, etc. Where is the practicality in all of this?
Acts 1:8 (NLT) -- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth
Power to be witnesses everywhere we go. Not power to fall down in the floor necessarily...Not power to speak in tongues necessarily...Not power to slow dance in the altar area...POWER TO BE WITNESS TO THE POWER, LOVE, MERCY, COMPASSION, AND CARE OF JESUS CHRIST. Power to love and not hate. Power to forgive and not hold grudges. Power to get saved and stay saved every day of your life. Power to see every class of people with the same worth with which Christ has perceived them.
I am afraid that many Pentecostal people are not interested in listening to a preacher unless he is shouting and running the aisles. For many, the content of the message is unimportant. It is all about how excited everyone is. I am inclined to believe that if you preach pecan pie with enough charisma and emotion, you can get most Pentecostals shouting in nothing flat.
On the flip side, if a Pentecostal preacher preaches and teaches with sustenance and conviction he is labeled boring and irrelevant. I remember once when Paul preached so long that a man fell out the window. I guess the greatest church planter and apostle known the Christendom was a boring preacher and certainly not Pentecostal.
Hear my heart: I am not bashing Pentecostalism. I am simply saying to the Pentecostal church world that it is time to start living out our faith every day of our lives. There is a practical side to Pentecostalism and it has been nearly lost on American Pentecostals. Believe it or not, doctrine and theology are important aspects of Christian living. Emotionalism provides no understanding of doctrine. Emotionalism is not interested in theology. No wonder so many Pentecostal believers are snowballed by the likes of Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, and Joel Osteen. Doctrine and theology have been trumped by emotionalism and the event.
Have a blessed day.
In Christ Alone,
The Messy Rambling Incoherent Pastor
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