Monday, March 26, 2007

Why Do We All Speak In Tongues?

Pentecostals believe that every believer who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit can speak in tongues. It's the initial physical evidence that the experience has in fact occurred according to their reckoning. Charismatics don't necessarily concur, and so I ask, "Are tongues the only initial evidence of being baptized in the Spirit?" Beyond doubt, tongues are one of the possible evidences found in the scriptures, but what about the fruit of the Spirit or prophecy and visions?

People wonder, perhaps you do too, why this fixation upon tongues among the Pentecostals? Simply, it is biblical. Except for the experience of Christ (as dealt with in this post), speaking in tongues is either directly associated or can be inferred to have occurred in every incidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit recorded in the Bible. In Acts 2, 10, and 19, tongues are specifically referenced; in Acts 8, it is clear that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was anticipated to have some physical, visible sign. Given the facts of what they accepted as evidence in chapter 10, what would that evidence be but tongues?

Even though it's not mentioned in Acts 9, we know that Paul could speak in tongues after his baptism (filling) with the Spirit (as noted in this post). Minimally, it was widespread, if not universal (as I believe) in Corinth. That other signs, like prophesying, may manifest in conjunction with tongues should not seem incredible, but that tongues is associated with every scriptural account of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit cannot be reasonably disavowed.

The earliest church had an experience that then became precedent for the church that followed. The first church used that first occurrence as a rough template to judge that which happened in their time, we should do the same. For the vast stretch of time that the historical church did not follow suit, there were no tongues and precious little other miraculous manifestations. In 1901, when that which became the Pentecostal Movement rediscovered this pattern and embraced it as normative, tongues and miracles resurfaced with vigor.

I think we can know the tree by its fruit in respect to this doctrine. Those who believe it experience what is found in the scriptures, whereas those who don't clumsily scramble about trying to explain why they don't practice what is found in the scriptures. Why would anyone attempting to abide by the Bible as instruction in godly living not want to speak in tongues?

There is, however, a big difference between the evidence for birth by and the evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit. The fact of conversion is evidenced initially by the Holy Spirit inwardly inspiring an awareness of God as Father and Jesus as Lord. Over time, it expresses itself outwardly by a lifestyle of holiness and the fruit of the Spirit. The initial evidence of baptism in the Spirit is speaking in tongues. Ideally, a Christian will evidence both.

Monday, March 19, 2007

A Test Any of Us Can Pass

Not long ago, I experienced an unexpected shock when I preached about God testing the faithful. It seems there were some in the audience who did not believe that God would ever test his children. The thought that He would led to a minor dust storm. To bring a clearing breeze, and to shine some biblical light on the subject, let me offer the following thoughts.

The biblical concept of God testing his children has nothing to do with entrapment. God does not tempt us to do evil, only to say "gotcha!" when we fail. The process of testing is actually one of love-- God searching for that which most delights Him. It is most akin to assaying or refining, or even panning for gold. When God tests us He is attempting to uncover and reveal the best that is in us, our delightful streaks.

God never sets out to prove our unworthiness; instead, he is highlighting what's good about us. Why would God do such a thing? It's not like he doesn't already know! Since he is omniscient and does know, our testing must be directed at some audience other than God. Who could that be? Angels, why yes, but also... us.

Our hearts are so contorted, we don't even understand ourselves. In moments when we honestly see ourselves (any of us not blinded by pride that is) we feel the painful awareness of our own multiplicitous failings. When God tests us he is allowing us to see something beyond that, something that he sees-- that in him we are becoming something more. Sanctified, and truly something wonderful to behold.

That God tests his children along these lines cannot be denied. It is attested to by scripture: Exodus 15:25; 16:4; 20:20 Deuteronomy 8:2,16; 13:3 Judges 2:22; 3:1,4 I Chronicles 29:17 Psalms 7:9; 11:5; 17:3; 26:2; 66:10 Proverbs 17:3 Isaiah 28:16 (even Christ was) Jeremiah 11:20; 12:3; 20:12 Daniel 12:10 Zechariah 13:9 I Thessalonians 2:4 Hebrews 11:17 James 1:2-4, 12 I Peter 1:6-7; 4:12 

God absolutely tests his children, but don't let yourself get anxious about it, it's a test any of us can pass.

Monday, March 12, 2007

What's Your Story?

Never underestimate the power of your personal testimony.

I would say that our own heartfelt story of how Jesus changed our life is one of the most attractive lures in our evangelistic tackle box. I know that signs and wonders and conviction are absolutely essential too, but more fundamental to the fulfillment of our commission from Christ is our personal witness. Telling people from a first-hand perspective what Christ has done for us is the persuasive key that unlocks personal evangelism.

See this great story of the power of testimony. 

Now you may think that story is only stellar because it deals with a star. It would be hard to contend that it did not have something to do with the results, but let's not miss the point-- the proclamation of the life-changing power of the gospel by a life changed by the gospel has fantastic, alluring effects.

In just a few days, trout fishers will line every brook, trickle and drip around these parts. They won't wading through frigid water, mucking around slippery banks, and fighting their way through branch and bramble to waste their time fishing with empty hooks! They'll offer what they consider the best bait they have. Evangelizing Christians have some mighty fine bait in their personal testimony. So, why not get out there and tell your story and see if you aren't more successful in fishing for people?

Monday, March 5, 2007

Count the Cost

I was 19, lost in the fog of drug abuse and crushed under the weight of self-loathing, when I remembered something I had once known about Jesus. I picked up The Way and started reading the Bible between bong hits. About 3 weeks later, a knock at my door revealed two Campus Crusaders doing their witness thing.

They wanted to "share" a little booklet with me that would tell me how I could receive Christ. I may have been a burn out, but that didn't mean I wasn't polite to strangers. I invited them in and listened with interest. At the end of their presentation they asked me if understood all they had shared, "yup," I answered.

"Did I believe it?" they wondered. "Sure," I said, "and added, "that's the coolest thing I've ever heard!" "Then let's pray to receive Christ right now!" they pressed. "No," I said, "can't do that." Why?" they asked incredulously. "Because I'm not willing to give up everything to follow Christ," I answered naively. I had been reading the Bible and I knew one couldn't follow Jesus just by acknowledging him mentally and not changing the direction of his life. I wasn't ready to do that.

They thought going through everything again would shake my reticence, and so, pencil in hand marking the words on the page as we read, we did it all again. They asked again, and I resisted again. We discussed, I resisted, they got upset, I kicked them out. I didn't receive Christ for another two years. Thank God my life didn't end before my resistance to Christ did.

Could they have handled the situation differently and been successful with me? Perhaps... if they had met my objection straight up with a challenge to stop piddling around when I knew the way, turn my life over to Christ and start following him. Instead, they relied on the "just receive Christ" (i.e. pray the prayer) and it will all come out in the wash. That's nothing but wishy-washy and flew in the face of the Bible which I had been reading.

I wish that we would stop playing the "bait and switch" game; that we would stop, in blatant distrust of Jesus, sugar coating the gospel thinking that we're helping the cause!. This non-evangelistic evangelism is demeaning to Christ, to the cross, and to all those who have faithfully gone before. This is not some frivolous social club, it's the kingdom of God. It comes at a price and those saved need to count the cost-- at least that's what's spelled out in the Word.