PENTECOST – ALISM ……

A dear friend that I respect greatly, recently made the comment that he had no time at all for Pentecostalism, which caused me to give this some further thought.

Now, I had been ‘born again’ at what they themselves referred to as a ‘Pentecostal type’ church, and had attended there for about 25 years.  But, this local assembly had become increasingly well known as being controlling and Legalistic, and eventually we ‘voted with our feet’ and left – but that’s another story, and for another time  !

After leaving this assembly, and attending several other similar ‘Pentecostal type’ churches, I decided it was high time for me to check out the other reportedly and supposedly ‘alive’ assemblies of various denominations in the city where we live.  Sometimes, my wife came with me, and if the minister was not there when I visited, I would return.  

So over a 2 year period, I visited most of the reputably ‘active and alive’ local assemblies ( which is something that I have never heard to this day of anyone else ever having ventured to do ! )  Consequently, I would suggest that I got a good glimpse and an up-date of the local Church scene, and the leaders involved.

But returning to my friends comment.

I wonder if there is a mix-up or a blurring  of Pentecost  and ‘Pentecostalism’  ?

To my thinking, reading and experience, there is a vast difference between the two.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come …. they were all filled with the Holy Ghost    Acts 2 : 1 – 4, 17

Pentecost was a pivotal occasion for the New Testament Church that Jesus died and rose again for.  It was  the promise of the Father  Acts 1 : 4, 5  the baptism with the Holy Ghost, the ‘enduement of power from on high’ that empowered the disciples, and led them on to the incredible exploits of the Book of Acts. 

That self-same experience has been the recorded similar transforming experience of countless people of God through the centuries since then, including my wife and I.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the third fundamental as it were of the Christian faith – Repentance, Baptism in water, Baptism with the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2 : 38, 39

To me, a life without that experience is like pushing a car from behind, instead of driving it from the driver’s seat – tiring, and in our own strength.

A good analogy illustrating these 3 fundamentals is that of :

1        Repentance, re-birth   =  Purchasing an old existing dwelling and getting the

          previous owner / occupier to leave.

2        Baptism in Water  =  the washing / cleansing of the old building .

3        The Baptism of the Holy Spirit  =  the new Owner moves in, and personally

occupies his newly purchased possession.

Recalling Smith Wigglesworth, that Apostle of faith, whose ministry world-wide in the early 20th Century led to the eventual rise of the Pentecostal movement.

Every time I re-read the books about his life and ministry I am inspired anew.

And the other men and women of God who had similar transforming experiences and whose ministries abounded throughout the 20th century in particular.  I have so enjoyed their biographies, and learned so much from them, and been made thirsty for the deeper things of God the while.

But to my observation, what currently passes for Pentecostalism has degenerated into something else, and that is what has turned my friend OFF such, I would suggest.

My visits too many of the local Pentecostal type assemblies would indicate that ….

Instead of being ‘led by the Spirit’  most assemblies have slipped into a very recognizable format and routine – sit, stand, sit, stand, sit, stand, everything on cue, even the prophecies !  Switch on singing, switch it off,…. switch on prophecies, switch them off, …… switch on prayers and readings, switch them off. 

How very unlike Wigglesworth meetings, when most everything was fresh and unexpected – no routine there - the un-expected was expected !

I must ask anyone – just how or where has this constantly recognizable ‘Pentecostal’ format come from ?     And why is it reproduced so ?

The Pentecost baptism experience itself was and is so life-giving ….

modern day Pentecostalism is so often full of ‘hype’ and what is called  ‘will-worship’   even ‘strange –fire’    being from and for the senses, to create an ‘atmosphere’, and an aurora of spirituality.

And speaking of prophecies, I am reminded of a Derek Prince comment, something like  “I am so glad that we are enjoined to not despise prophecies, because from many of those that I have heard, that is just what I would do – despise them”

1 Thessalonians 5 : 20     Reports abound about poor attempts at prophecy, and some have been well publicised in the media at that.

But also, I must say, there have been times when I have heard some personal prophecies that have been remarkably ‘spot on’ and which I treasure and value.

As in all things, there is the good, the bad, …. and the others !

And the format – they just have to have musicians !

from the gross amateur to the slick  professionals - and everything in between. 

And generally -  a bevy of beautiful ‘chorus girls’ / song leaders.  

Are they converting the world, or has the world converted them instead, I must ask ?

And don’t forget the collection(s)   and appeals for building funds etc etc

The Tithe has been selectively revived from Old Testament times, the sole remnant from the Law ( but no other Law requirements - animal sacrifices or circumcision or Sabbath keeping, I note !)   

And the dancers and ribbon wavers - graceful yes -  each to his own of course.

But I must ask – why do these people generally have to do it centre-stage, and not at the rear or the sides of the room – how much of it is often just for show I ponder ?

David only danced before God  in private I read,  2 Samuel 6 : 14   not as a public spectacle.    Do the modern day practitioners dance similarly in private I wonder ?

And why are so many of Pentecostalism leaders charismatic type performers ?

From my experience, in my local travels, I have met only 3 Pentecostal ministers in the whole Auckland region that I would say have the ‘heart’ of a Pastor, besides the title of Pastor.  And these 3 are the only ones that I have sought counsel from betimes, and that have my respect.

Many of the others bother me as to their motives and conduct.

And as to infidelity – that’s another subject – the repeated and well-known instances of such among many local Pentecostal leaders is astounding and deplorable.

And why do many Pentecostal leaders seem to make (or break) their own rules ?

One set of rules for the congregation, another set for themselves – excessive life-styles (only the best will do)  affluence,  indulgences in cars and travel, lavish buildings and empire building.    

And all so often, what I can only call – the love of the platform and the microphone, and the sound of their own voice !

And the Titles …..  why, Auckland even has a self-appointed Pentecostal Bishop !

And I am reminded of David Riddell’s reported comment during one of his seminars 

and he is very widely travelled around New Zealand and its Church scene, and a noted and respected commentator, that in his opinion  “80% of New Zealand Churches are actually injurious to your spiritual health”      

What a terribly sad and indicting observation to have to make !

Recalling the often quoted maxim of ‘don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater’, could I please encourage, that while discarding and throwing out the dirty ‘bath-water’ of Pentecostalism, let us remember to hold on tight to ‘the baby’ of Pentecost, and not discard both !

So for me ……..       Pentecost  –  absolutely and essentially …. YES,   

but modern day      Pentecostalism  -  generally (and for me, reluctantly) .…  NO

And I would humbly advise to clearly differentiate between the two.