What is it to be a pentecostal?
I think to be a pentecostal is to believe in certain distinctive features of the pentecostal pattern found in the bible as well as to hold on to some of the original pentecostal revival's practices, responsibilities and mission mindset. To be a pentecostal, is to belief in the existence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is always followed by speaking in tongues as the initial evidence. This is important as i believe it follows a biblical pattern that we can observe from the new testament: on three occasions of the Holy Spirit coming on believers recorded in the bible, all three occasions were followed with the speaking of tongues. A pentecostal also believes in the manifestational gifts of the Holy Spirit. But i think they practice this only after the individual experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Also, after experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, one is expected to be filled with an evangelistic zeal, or passion for missions, as well as being empowered to do so.
Jason,
ReplyDeleteI have two comments..
first u said that, "I think to be a pentecostal is to believe in certain distinctive features of the pentecostal pattern found in the bible .." That sounds very general to me.. If I am a non pentecostal reading your blog I would assume that any features which i find distinctive in the Bible, believe in it would make me a pentecostal... However I trust that this is not your implication. So would you plz varify the distinctive features.
second after experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, one is expected to be filled with an evangelistic zeal, or passion for missions, as well as being. True but how would you explain if a Spirit filled believer does not have any of the above experience?.. could it be jz your personal experience generalized?
I agree with Charity. On the subject of manifestation of Gifts of the Holy Spirit and having evangelistic zeal or passion for missions, if one does believe in the existence of the Holy Spirit, receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues as initial evidence but do not have exhibit any manifestation of Gifts of the Holy Spirit or having evangelistic zeal or passion for missions, is he or she still considered as a Pentecostal?
ReplyDeleteI'll help Jason out a little by giving my two cents worth (sometimes I wonder why two cents... why can't it be five Cents...LOL) see to believe in distinctive manifestations is what makes us distinct. As much as this is found in the bible but the thing is other denominations do not stress it that much. In fact we as Pentecostals were some of the first that would go out, reach people groups not traditionally reached by people. we would go into literally the 'ends of the earth'.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that we as human have different experiences, true. But this is the fundementals of what we beleive and i beleive anyone who wants to be a Pentecostal and beleives in what we beleive would seek and want these distinct characteristics. Whether we get it right away or not. why put a timeline on how God can work and when He can work?
Hi Jase Foo,
ReplyDeleteI hope you do not mind me asking; are you a Pentecostal believer? By the way, maybe some historical facts given by some fellow students' blogs may help us to understand much better the birth of Pentecostalism movement. I believed the word Pentecostal already reminded us about why the early Pentecostal fathers like Parham and Seymour spoke much the Apostolic Faith / Message in reliving Acts 2 as fulfillment of prophecy before the end times. Maybe Jase can help by explaining your personal view whether NECF latest survey that 75% of chruches considered themselves Charismatic. Does that means Pentecostals had already over the peak?
Hi charity,
ReplyDeleteya, mine was rather general. Here are a few distinctive features/patterns in the bible to believe in. I think it is foundational for pentecostalism. here is what i can identify so far:
1.) To believe Luke 24:49 as available to all christians.
49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
2.) And that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is primarily for witnessing.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
3.)And upon that fulfilment of that promised, was immediately followed by speaking with tongues.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
not only on this occasion, but on two more occasions recorded in Acts 10:45-47, 19:5-7
As for the second question concerning evengelistic zeal, i was basing it on what i've read and heard about the revival back then. i enjoyed the article we were asked to read that day titled, Asuza Revisited, by Blumhoffer because it very well catches the spirit behind the revival. But it could be that, it was also coupled with the good teaching(by ppl like Parham and Seymour themselves) about the need for worldwide evangelism. So we could kinda see the empowering of the Holy Spirit as needed with an advantage in power and fervency both for inner-life and outreach. If someone is filled, yet does not have a evangelistic zeal, I would say that he might not yet know the significance and original purpose of that Baptism, and needs to be taught, also not forgetting the work of the Holy Spirit Himself through time to convince and plant the zeal.
Wah, didn't realize my comment so long! Aiyo!
ReplyDeleteHello Freddie,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the Asuza Revisited by Blumhofer, i do identify with the experiences of them of the revival, and like they sum it up, it is about wanting "more of God", also "purity of heart and life", "pursue a more intense Spirit-driven piety", even in "mundane activities of daily life", "to move on and get busy", "transformed the meaning of life by heightening sensitivity to the spiritual world", "sense of divine immediacy, guidance, and intervention for doing mission(or evangelism)", etc, etc.
If all this is pentecostalism, then boy i want to be a pentecostal more and more and i am grateful that i am a pentecostal. But if it is just a typical characteristic of revival, then i think catching this spirit or hungering for it is just as vital, if not more, for our love and walk with Jesus.
Thanks Jase!! Good Job
ReplyDeleteHi Jason,
ReplyDeleteYou have defined what it is like being a Pentecostal. Is it just your own theory? Have you experience them yourself? The reason I ask this is because most churches claim themselves to be Pentecostals and yet may not thoroughly experience all the criteria or elements you've listed above. Even so, who is responsible for giving 'Pentecostal' its true definition? How can we tell which element is acceptable and which is not?
Wah this site is so Hot for debate!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Kenrick,
ReplyDeleteas for your question, i think i am limited. as i can only answer from my experience.
I think as for my experience of pentecostal, it brought a personal revival, but on a gradual increase. and also depended as i look back at my increase day by day, experience by experience in the understanding of the work and ways of the Holy spirit and my learning to yield and let it fuel the flame in my heart and life.
I also think there are two aspects/sides about being a pentecostal, one is the theological/doctrinal aspect of being a pentecostal. In other words being a pentecostal in believing its doctrine. The other is the practical/experiential aspect of being a pentecostal, which is living out the spirit filled life which often resembles and close-to what the early pentecostals testified. for the experiential aspect, there is no defining, but simply describing, as one probably vary from the other. last of all, i believe a radical balance in both aspects is necessary. However it is one being the foundation and the other a life long journey.
Quote:
ReplyDelete"A pentecostal also believes in the manifestational gifts of the Holy Spirit. But i think they practice this only after the individual experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Also, after experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, one is expected to be filled with an evangelistic zeal, or passion for missions, as well as being empowered to do so. "
Your final sentence says that one is expected to be filled with an evangelistic zeal or passions for missions. That, according to you, is what a Pentecostal believes in. If I am to read between the lines, I would rephrase is and say that one isn't a Pentecostal if he or she does not have that zeal, as according to your sentence. But in your reply to Charity, you said
"If someone is filled, yet does not have a evangelistic zeal, I would say that he might not yet know the significance and original purpose of that Baptism, and needs to be taught, also not forgetting the work of the Holy Spirit Himself through time to convince and plant the zeal."
In other words, he or she is still a Pentecostal even without that zeal. Isn't that kind of contradictory? Sorry ya... Kind of blur la... Can't link the two.
Do you consider yourself a Pentecostal? If yes, why are you one?
ReplyDeleteKee Ming,
ReplyDeleteSorry for being rude to say that you have asked a shallow question just for the sake of asking a question in this blog. On top of the fact that you have yet to give a convincing answer and explanation to your own blog question.
Although Jase had not say "I'm a Pentecostal" but it is more than obvious that he is a Pentecostal from his sharing out of his experience as one. He also gave detailed reason of why one is a Pentecostal.
Thus your question has already been answered. This is literally my two cents worth of comment (*wink at Lionel) as it is better than one cent muahahaha...
Hi Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI also blur la, hahaha.
Well then i would have to say that if this discussion is valid, then there seem to be varying degrees (in maturity, experience and understanding i suppose) in being a pentecostal. But we you are talking about doctrinal wise, then one just need to believe in the pentecostal doctrine?
Hi Jase Foo,
ReplyDeleteThanks for replying me. Myself has always believed that when one holds true a belief, he will practice it whole-heartedly. If that is the case, I would like to hear your opinion on one thing - can a person both be a true Pentecostal and a Charismatic at the same time?
Hi Freddie,
ReplyDeleteI think a pentecostal should be more and more charismatic in his/her practice if we consider that Charismatic comes from the word "charisma" which means gift. Therefore they emphasizes more on practicing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Also considering that the Charismatic came largely from a pentecostal background but they emphasize more on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. So i think a pentecostal should also seek ot their individual gifts of the Holy Spirit and thus being charismatic in that sense. in other words, we are charismatic in that sense and should be.
Hi Jase Foo,
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your blog. One thing I would like to comment on is the verb you used "I think." Are you sure hundred percent of what you write here? Or you just think or feel about it? Or you believe?
It is just my reflection to your topic. According to Dr Ma said that many believers want to be more pentecostal and Charismatic, but yet they are less of Christian? Would you please respond to this?
Lastly, if a believer is in the pentecostal dinomination, just believing in the baptism of the Holy Spirit ant the menifestation of the gifts and no encounterment of the baptism of the Spirit, can he/she still count as a pentecostal?