Is Pentecostal spirituality healthy, vibrant and on the cutting edge today or is it dissipating? Evaluate, analyze and explain your conclusion.
Well, I think that since the Pentecostal movement is a worldwide movement, than it would be good to see it’s spirituality from a worldwide perspective. Pentecostalism seems to be thriving tremendously all around the world especially in countries that are experiencing revival, such as China, India, Korea, Latin America, Africa, Indonesia, etc. Is Pentecostal spiritually healthy? Healthy things grow in a positive way right, and Pentecostalism is doubtless growing worldwide, some instances more dramatic than others. Pentecostal and charismatic movements are gaining ground. According to one expert on global Pentecostalism, "at least a third" of Asia's Christian population is now charismatic or Pentecostal, and the proportion is 'steadily rising" (Anderson 2004: 123). Is it vibrant? The Korean Pentecostal phenomena, was and still is a phenomenal church growth in effects. Is it cutting edge? An article by Sung-Gun Kim cited that, “Christianity has become exceedingly influential in modern Korean particularly in its Pentecostal guise...... the Korean mega-churches, – numbering amongst the world’s twenty largest Congregations – are mostly Pentecostal. And I think that i can say Korea is just an example, the house churches and under-ground churches in China are another great example. I don’t think that Pentecostalism’s spirituality is dissipating, largely because of its missiological nature. Missions and evangelism is to Pentecostals what flour is to bread. So my personal interesting observation is that as long as there are places where the Gospel of Christ has not been reached, Pentecostalism is likely to fade away. It was effective in the past, even in the days of the apostles; it will be effective in the future where the gospel needs to be preached until the coming day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hi Jase!
ReplyDeleteGood article written. But on the subject of is it healthy, would you think that it is to myopic to just use growth in terms of numbers as the measuring rod for whether Pentecostalism is healthy or not? Wouldn't a more intricate evaluation and analysis of the doctrinal part or the way they do things now and before be a more holistic viewpoint? Because I personally feel that many of these Pentecostals are just Pentecostals by name only. They do not know their origins, their doctrines or even what the believe in that differentiates them from the rest. If say we take these people out of the statistics, by logical reasoning, one can only assume that the numbers would be greatly less than what it is now.
Hi jase,
ReplyDeleteYes in the aspect of missiology the Pentecostal churches are doing well. How about the Area of Spiritual gifts and charismatic word-eg: prophecy, interpretation of tongues... Is is dissipating or isit a common sight in our services?
Is Pentecostal Missions growing or is it dying? It is not growing in some areas of the world, only in some where they seem to be vibrant. The body of Christ has to feel each others pain, grow together right?
ReplyDeleteHow the do you account for the lack of growth in other areas. the leaves of the tree maybe growing, and the fresh shoots are still producing green leaves, but the roots of the tree is rotting. Don't you agree? Shouldn;t all things grow in our churches meaning not only numeretical but also in the gifts of the spirit? Can missions and giving die? Giving in the chruches of Malaysia has dwindled, con one aspect of the body of Christ grow and the others suffer and rot? Again shouldn't everything grow together or else it is unhealthy and dangerous growth?
Your thoughts please...
Hi Jase,
ReplyDeleteI think there is a confusion as to the question on whether Pentecostal spiritual is still vibrant, healthy and on the cutting-edge in our post-modern culture today. Firstly, let's not makes up spirutality with both Pentecostal and Charistimatic. My question will-be - in which spiritual aspects you think we have still holding ground (maybe you may want to use Charity's article on church-life)?
Hi Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI do agree that numbers are not a definite way of measurement, but they do tell a lot. especially when the question is not so much about spirituality health, but vibrancy, effectiveness and cutting-edge. As for health, i don't think there is a way to measure or even evaluate it, do you agree? I also don't think that an evaluation and analysis of the doctrinal aspect would tell us of the health of it. Just knowing and believing in the doctrines doesn't make one spiritually healthy. But i do understand what you say that many are just nominal pentecostals. when it comes to health, my personal opinion is that experience speaks the most, but how do you measure experience?
Hi Charity,
ReplyDeleteya i do agree that the area of spiritual gifts is dissipating, for even though i come from a pentecostal church, i don't know much and how they operate in the church. i myself am trying to learn more and seeking this gifts.
Just for a personal opinion from you, do you think it is only dissipating in Malaysia, or else where as well. And how should we get it back?
Hi Lionel,
ReplyDeletewhen it comes to natural growth, all growing/living things will eventually rot and die right. so ya i do agree that the gifts of the spirit are whithering in the pentecostal churches. but are we totally dependant on it for edification? are we necessarily dying without it? in other words, are the whitering of spiritual gifts fairly be equated with the whithering roots of a tree? But on the other hand, i personally think the church can't go on without missions and evangelism. it is a mandate of the church. A healthy tree even before its death will reproduce.
Hi Freddie,
ReplyDeleteI don't quite understand your comment and your question. Do you mind rephrasing or explaining them?
Thanks.
Hi Jase,
ReplyDeleteI like that broad perspective you gave us. I think it is really encouraging to see many churches, as you stated, are actually growing under Pentecostalism umbrella. However back here in Malaysia, what do you think is hindering our Pentecostal churches from flourishing like these worldwide churches you've stated? And one more question, what measures do you suggest which will bring back our pentecostal churches health.
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ReplyDeleteHi Kenrick,
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, i personally think it is because churches in Malaysia are not passionate and daring in going to the M's to preach the gospel. There is hardly any evangelism to the M's. If truly the Azusa street was an evangelism and missionary movement than omitting this in Malaysia is a big hindrance for revival. Do you still hear about missionaries coming to Malaysia? seldom right? even if they come, they will usually work with the chinese, indians, etc. they have already done their part, it is now our responsibility to bring the gospel to the M's. also i think malaysian churches are too comfortable. and not fulfilling the great commission and being too comfortable usually go hand-in-hand. Think about this, there is only about 9% of Christians in whole of Malaysia; and around 6% are from East Malaysia. That leaves only three percent in W.M. That means if you go to a supermarket of 100 people, only 3 people are Christians. While saying this, the M’s consist of 60 to 70% of the population. Cure: just mobilize ourselves and bring the gospel to the m's and build house churches among them, see whether we will go on our knees and cry out to God for power and the spirit's move or not?
Hahahahaha.....lol!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't talking bout the 'm' people la. I was just basically comparing the Malaysian churches(us) as those worldwide ones you've mentioned. You've said they have he vibrancy, yes?
So why do we lacked that vibrancy here in our own pentecostal churches? But it was good to hear bout what you have said about the 'm' topic:)
Hi Jase,
ReplyDeleteMaybe I need to rephrase the comment. The question asked in the article is whether Pentecostal is still healthy, vibrant and in the cutting edge today. My point is there is spirituality difference between Pentecostals and Charismatic. Pentecostals hold on to a sets of spiritual-values or heritage e.g. strong emphasis on speaking in tongues as the evident of he baptism of the Holy Spirit; mission-oriented due to eschatology belief; holy living; manifestation of prophecy, divine healing etc. You have been touching on global view in general and also involved charismatic movement. Can you elaborate on local individual Pentecostal Churches condition today; whether these Pentecostal spirituality still healthy, vibrant and in the cutting edge as before?
Hey Jase,
ReplyDeleteYea, i would agree with you in certain sense. But on the subject of is it vibrant, wouldn’t you think that today’s Pentecostals have compromised to much to be vibrant and relevant to the society that it has lost its unique and individual identity? That even ‘God-consciousness’ have been on the reduce but ‘self-consciousness’ or ‘self-gratification’ has been on the rise. Woudn’t that show that Pentecostalism is spiritually dissipating?
hey it sounds like you are saying that we are just a seasonal thing? that we will dissipate and give birth to other movements? also you are saying we are not doing that bad, i can dig. but what movements do you for see us giving birth too?
ReplyDeletehelp me understand you reply to my comment... LOL
Hihi...
ReplyDeletewell yes i guess it's dissipating everywhere. We are so caught up with our world and all that is going on. We leave the Spirit to just a theory, or a subject we learn and read about. But no real experience.
This is a sad thing.
I don't think Jesus purpose the church to be such.
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ReplyDeleteHi Kendrick,
ReplyDeleteI actually have answered your question the way i would answer it wor. If you ask why do we lacked that vibrancy here in our own pentecostal churches?my answer would be the same in my former reply to you. losing the evangelistic and apostolic zeal would cost our health.
Hi Freddie,
ReplyDeleteThe reason why i touch on the global view is because if we want to evaluate pentecostalism, i think we should evaluate it on a worldwide basis, as it is a worldwide movement. we can't just determine it's health etc. based on just one country. But if you would like to zoom in on malaysia, then i think we are not that healthy and especially not that vibrant & cutting edge because the new generation don't even know much about the gifts of the spirit much less practice it. We don't even know how to practice it now a days. But most of all, i personally think we have lost our missionary and church planting zeal.
Hi Jase,
ReplyDeleteWell, I personally think not only Malaysia is affected. I can't quote off-end the reference but I read an article on the Pentecostal state in United State that the condition is not as favorable as before. Even in South Korea which recorded tremendous growth has slowed down. I picked Cho-Yonggi church for example; I was there 25 years ago when their membership already almost touching one million but it looks like the statistic still stand; why? The churches in England is losing ground. Maybe I may disagree with you that Pentecostal even at global view is not as promising as before. Any further comment?
hmm you seem to have two opinions.. that the pentecostal movement is healthy, but its spiritually is dissipating..
ReplyDeleteIn that case, what is the driving force behind it? :)
Hi Lionel,
ReplyDeletei answered in that way in responce of you equating that the roots of pentecostalism (which you identify as the gifts of the holy Spirit) is rotting, and therefore everything is dying because the roots is the foundation of the tree right. I personally agree in that the gifts of the Holy Spirit is dissipating but i disagree that that is the root of pentecostalism, however i think the root of pentecostalism is the missionary and world evangelizing zeal, if this rots than the whole of pentecostalism rots. So the birthing or reproduction of new things are not new movements but new churches even unto the ends of the world. And often (based on personal observation again) is that to the new places where the gospel is trying to reach, often the gifts of the holy Spirit somehow tend to be prominantly visible again. Where you hear of healings and miracle, signs and wonders, etc.
Hi Jason,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned, “It was effective in the past, even in the days of the apostles; it will be effective in the future where the gospel needs to be preached until the coming day of the Lord Jesus Christ…” If you were a church leader, how would you encourage your church members to preached the gospel to the unbelievers?