Essay Example on Pentecostalism: Belief in Spirit Baptism & Speaking in Tongues

Over an extended period, Pentecostalism has been commonly known for its belief in the Spirit baptism that is coming with the physical initial evidence doctrine, called speaking in tongues. Indeed, the practice of the doctrine of initial evidence has become a distinctive element of the Pentecostalism since it was started. Additionally, the Spirit baptism followed by initial evidence doctrine of speaking in tongues is a common subject in various Biblical books such as Mark, Luke, Acts, and 1st Corinthians (Friesen, 2013). Speaking in tongues is also a common practice among the believers. This particular practice has been acknowledged by several classical Pentecostal churches as well as various charismatic researchers. The Pentecostals are made to believe that speaking in tongues is confirmation that an individual is filled and possessed with the Holy Spirit (McGee, 2008). However, in my opinion, I disagree with this statement that speaking in tongues becomes the initial evidence of the Spirit baptism since there is other existing evidence of the Spirit baptism, such as prayers, Biblical teachings, witnessing, and worshipping (Macchia, 1998). This evidence is usually mentioned in the scriptures and hence indicates that a Christian has received Spirit baptism.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

I'm afraid I have to disagree with this statement that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the Spirit baptism due to several reasons: First, the critics of doctrine of initial evidence claim that it is a dishonest act to base the doctrine on the historical tale. As a Biblical historian, Saint Luke acted as a reporter of what happened, but he did not teach about various events that should always occur (McGee, 2008). Indeed, his storyline is descriptive but not prescriptive. Therefore, if we consider everything Luke had recorded as the prescription for how the churches are often expected to believe as well as behave, we would have to emphasize on all the Christian believers be communistic and that the prayer cloths be sent out to heal individuals (Acts 19:11-13).

Second, the Biblical scripture offers quality amount clear teachings, which not mere historical conclusion is regarding the proof of getting possessed with Spirit during baptism. Nevertheless, none of these Biblical teachings emphasizes speaking in tongues. As most individuals get possessed with Spirit, they show signs of Spirit's fruits, including love (Romans 5:5). Their lives are mostly attributed to the passion of the Lord God, the boldness to declare the truth as well as holiness. Hence, if any charismatic fact is to be involved with being possessed with the Holy Spirit, it is prophecy, that is speaking and teaching the God's Good News with the powerful anointing as well as revelatory visions, as Peter taught that these prophecies would accompany the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in an individual.

It seems evident from Paul's letter to the Corinthians that he did not assume that all the Christian believers would speak in tongues at a given point (Friesen, 2013). In his letter, he asks, "Are all the apostles, prophets, and teachers possessing the gift of healing or speaking in tongues?" Of course, the response is no, and yet, Paul advised the believers in Christ to always acquire to be filled with the Holy Spirit (1st Corinthians 12: 29-30). Hence, this aspect clearly shows that Apostle Paul did not expect all the Christian believers to speak in tongues as well as did not determine various tongues as the essential manifestation of being possessed with Spirit.

Again, if speaking in tongues is evidence that shows that an individual has a distinctive in filling of the Holy Spirit, I would expect several individuals who speak in tongues to overall show more of the fruits of the Holy Spirit than other individuals. This factor was not even the case in the New Testament (Macchia, 1998). Yes, the Corinthians indeed spoke in tongues, but Apostle Paul rebuked them for being spiritually young and lacking seriousness.

Besides, practically, as a former Pentecostal believer, I can prove that the doctrine of the initial evidence, without doubt, create a two-class Christianity, differentiating between those who have spoken in tongues and those who have not. Typically, the New Testament understands that no such classifications in the Bible (McGee, 2008). Those Pentecostal believers who have not spoken in tongues are advised to acquire and practice this particular initial evidence of Spirit baptism. However, the New Testament has no account of Christians seeking the experiences of speaking in tongues. Even in the various episodes in the Book of Acts that Pentecostal believers always refer to in support of their position, speaking in tongues occurs as nobody has the desire to look for it.

Furthermore, after going through the Spirit baptism process, it is not a guarantee that all the believers will be gifted to speak in tongues. There has been heavy criticism within and outside the Pentecostalism of this particular doctrine and its practices (Friesen, 2013). For instance, in most countries such as Chile or some European nations disagree with doctrine of the initial physical confirmation called speaking in tongues. Most Pentecostal believers and pastors in those countries have never spoken in tongues since they believe that it is not necessary as the church doctrine (Macchia, 1998). The other reason for rejecting this particular doctrine involves a high emphasis on the public spiritual experience than personal experience with the Lord God. Usually, those believers who speak in tongues in the Pentecostalism assume to be perfect in performing it in public, which at times has negative implications since the public cannot interpret whatever they are speaking (McGee, 2008).

Similarly, when the doctrine of the initial evidence in Spirit baptism is overstressed, the outcome will involve getting the believers who speak in tongues, but personally do not know God. Typically, having gift of speaking in tongues without God’s love is just a senseless noise that an individual makes without a purpose. According to 1st Corinthians 13:1, "Speaking in tongues even if they are of angels or people without a great love relationship with God, they are as good as nothing." Therefore, the main problem of Pentecostalism involves the combination of reward of speaking in tongues with a close connection with God via his love. The believers should speak in tongues and demonstrate God’s love by supporting His people.

Speaking in tongues is not only physical proof of the Spirit baptism. Believers should differentiate between initial evidence and the only evidence of Spirit baptism, that is, if something originated first, it does not make it the only one (McGee, 2008). Indeed, this might be the main confusion among the Pentecostal believers to challenge the initial evidence as to the only Spirit baptism evidence. Moreover, the Biblical scriptures confirm to other evidence in the Bible, as Mark in the New Testament argues that speaking in tongues as one of the main signs that will accompany those who believe in it, however, Mark in his expression did not lament that speaking in tongues is the only Spirit baptism.

According to Mark 16: 16-18, it illustrates other signs of Spirit baptism apart from speaking in tongues such as casting out demons, drinking dangerous liquids without being hurt, or fighting serpents. The same manner in Acts 1:8 indicates that the believers get powers as well as have the ability to be witnesses after possessing the Holy Spirit. Hence, capabilities, as well as aspects of witnessing, become the evidence of the spirit baptism (Macchia, 1998). Acts 2:4 talks about the believers' speaking in tongues as Holy Spirit provided them with the expression, but not as the only evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism. The confusion is that those believers who got baptism in Holy Spirit spoke in tongues; nevertheless, there is a need to make clarification based on other evidence that followed after that.

Generally, it should be noted that speaking in tongues cannot be only evidence of the Spirit baptism. It can be acknowledged as significant evidence in Pentecostalism, but it should not be regarded as the primary evidence. The perfect practices of the Spirit baptism will accept other evidence and not consider one as the only evidence. Hence, this aspect calls for the acknowledgment of other gifts as well as elements of the Holy Spirit in the baptism (Friesen, 2013). Notably, even originators of the Pentecostal church, like Charles Parham longed for their church believers, would all speak in tongues, but in the real sense, only a few believers who got their messages spoke in tongues. In my opinion, this means that there exist several believers within the Pentecostalism who are baptized through the Holy Spirit, but they are not able to speak in tongues.

Some of these Pentecostal believers portray other fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Hence, individuals should not be judged based on not speaking in tongues. Consequently, this confusion poses a danger of hypocrisy in Pentecostalism and its entire liturgy. Most believers will fake it by pretending to be speaking in tongues as if they are possessed with the Holy Spirit makes it challenging to distinguish between the rightfully possessed with the Holy Spirit and those. The latter is not (Macchia, 1998). Therefore, the leading solution is allowed believers to express their gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit without necessarily compelling them to speak in tongues. This aspect will make them feel free from just acquiring something they are not gifted in and prosper in their Holy Spirit gifts as well as fruits.

Conclusion

To conclude, doctrine of initial physical evidence needs a proper method as the while believers speak in tongues as evidence that they got and possessed Spirit during baptism. Again, as indicated in the New Testament, Biblical scriptures like Acts, Mark, Luke, and many more, not all those who utter in tongues become guarantee that they are baptized through Holy Spirit. Therefore, apart from speaking in tongues, there is also another evidence of the Spirit baptisms like worship, prayer, patience, humility, love, and many others as currently practiced by many believers across the globe. Again, I suggest that the Pentecostalism believers should not stress on gift of Spirit and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, like love, kindness, humility, faithfulness, and much more.

References

Friesen, A. T. (2013). Norming the Abnormal: The Development and Function of the Doctrine of Initial Evidence in Classical Pentecostalism. Wipf and Stock Publishers. https://www.amazon.com/Norming-Abnormal-Development-Classical-Pentecostalism-ebook/dp/B00C6AA520

Macchia, F. D. (1998). Groans too deep for words: Towards a theology of tongues as initial evidence. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies, 1(2), 149-73. https://www.aptspress.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/98-2-macchia.pdf

McGee, G. B. (Ed.). (2008). Initial evidence: Historical and Biblical perspectives on the Pentecostal doctrine of Spirit baptism. Wipf and Stock Publishers. https://www.amazon.com/Initial-Evidence-Historical-Perspectives-Pentecostal/dp/1556357354