UPHOLDONG THE PRINCIPLES OF PENTECOSTALISM

Upholding the Basic Principles of Pentecostalism

Ato Cobbina

Origins and History of Pentecostalism

       The Pentecostal movement is made up of many different churches, grouped together out of a similarity in emphasis – a belief in the physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit, especially signified by speaking in strange languages speaking in tongues). The inspiration for the Pentecostal movement is the festival of Pentecost, which marks the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles 50 days after Easter, as described in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament.

 From the middle of the 19th Century, a particular strand of personal holiness teaching emerged within Protestant groups which asserted that, after conversion, a second experience was possible in which the convert would be brought into a state of cleansing from sin as they prepared themselves for a life in Christ. This, combined with Millennialism (the hopes and fears associated with the turning of the century), and a literal approach to scripture which promised spiritual gifts to believers, contributed to an increased interest in healing and other divine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The sudden manifestation of spiritual power in the Azusa St Mission in Los Angeles in 1906 is generally regarded as the birth of the modern Pentecostal movement.

 ž  Pentecostalism is spirit-driven, whereas the initial Protestant reform movement was ‘Word (Bible) driven’. The Pentecostal movement has traditionally been closely aligned with strong charismatic individuals, and seemed to arise independently in the UK, Australia, India, South African and the USA. Pentecostalism has expanded rapidly since the 1960s, and is one of the fastest-growing Christian movements in Ghana.

Key Beliefs of Pentecostalism

The Pentecostal movement is very diverse but in addition to the key beliefs common to all Christians, they believe:

 ž  Individuals need to make a personal commitment to faith and through this the presence of the Holy Spirit will become manifest in them. The Holy Spirit will most often be present through speaking in tongues, but other supernatural phenomena are also possible.

ž   The experience of adult baptism is the central rite.

ž   Scripture is interpreted literally.

 ž  The style of worship is emotional, marked by clapping, chorusing, contemporary music and dynamic preaching.

ž   Many Pentecostals believe that God rewards materially, as well as spiritually. This underscores an emphasis on positive or victorious living. Living well in turn supports a culture of tithing, of giving back to the church.

Classical Pentecostals

ž  Missions

ž  Holiness

ž  Ecclesiology

ž  Eschatology

ž  Healing & Power

ž  Holy Spirit-baptism

ž  Initial Evidence

CHARACTERISTIC QUALITIES OF
PENTECOSTAL SPIRITUALITY

"Leadership"

ž  The symbol of a leader within the Pentecostal ritual context suggest certain qualities about the leadership factor and the Pentecostal spirituality in general. In each of our focus churches leadership functions as a powerful symbol. Here, we will focus on five characteristics of leadership as experienced in the Pentecostal spirituality.

1.       Worship

ž  "Worship" represents a set of meanings configured by Pentecostals. Their understanding and practice of worship lies at the heart of their liturgies and spirituality.

ž  Pentecostals understand worship as having three main connotations: 1) worship as a way of Christian life, particularly outside of the church services and activities. All of life is seen as worship, as an expression, a gift, offered to God; 2) worship as the entire liturgy, the whole of the Pentecostal service, and 3) worship as a specific portion, aspect, or rite within the overall liturgy.

2.       The Word

ž  Pentecostals employ the term "the word" to symbolize the belief that God speaks. And that "God speaks today," as in the past, i.e., that God speaks to God's people even as God spoke in the biblical days. In the ritual, the symbol of word functions as part of the divine-human "conversation." If praise and worship symbolize the human half of the conversation, then the word symbolizes the divine side of the dialogue. Pentecostals recognize the voice of God, the word, in various forms, e.g., biblical messages, sermons, teachings, exhortations, testimonial narratives, and charismatic words.

3.       The Gifts

ž  Charismatic utterances are best understood within the symbol word, but the Pentecostal elemental symbol of "the gifts" discloses charismatic activity. The gifts continue, as they have historically, to distinguish Pentecostal ritual from other Christian liturgies and to serve as a trademark of the overall spirituality. The manifestations of the gifts (especially the Pauline charismas), plays prominently in the liturgies and congregational life of our focus churches. The gifts symbolize at least three categories of meaning, Spirit baptism, empowerment, and edification.

4.       Ministry

ž  Ministry within the framework of Pentecostal spirituality occurs in three dimensions: ministry to God in worship, an edification ministry directed within the "body of Christ," and ministry to the world. The symbolic center of the "ministry" ideal lies in the second dimension as we have just described the gift-edification. Ministry, especially in the liturgy, consists of the actions, prayers, and other rites in which believers share and serve the needs of one another in "the body" (i.e. the church or faith community). Here we will consider the symbol of ministry (to the body) as a consideration of personal hunger and exigencies, as opportunity to serve, as a framework for the rites.

5.       Missions

ž  The indigenous symbol missions connotes an orientation to the world or to society as distinct from the church. It is one of three theological relationships that the Pentecostal liturgy expresses--"relationship to the world." Here we want to highlight the importance of this symbol, "missions," as expressing an integral dimension of Pentecostal spirituality. To Pentecostals "missions" means: ministry beyond the faith community, called to accomplish God's purposes, gifted service, and distribution of resources.

The church of Pentecost as a Pentecostal church

About African Pentecostalism

A. Core values of the church of Pentecost

ž  Intensive prayer

ž  Belief in Miracles, Healings, signs and wonders

ž  A well coordinated evangelism and church-planting strategy

ž  Dedicated leadership

ž  Discipleship

 

ž  Emphasis on Holiness and Discipline

ž  Church Discipline and respect for Authority

ž  Reverence and Obedience to the Word of God

ž  Total Reliance on and the Ministry the Holy Spirit

ž  Indigenous worship style

 

ž  Self supporting financial Policy

ž  Tithe and Offering

¡  Tithing

¡  Mission Offering

¡  Free-will Offering

¡  Pastoral giving

¡  Giving of alms

B. church services

ž  Worship

ž  Modesty in dressing

ž  Congregational Choruses

ž  Sitting arrangement

c. The zeal of our Pentecostal father

ž  Prayer and Intercession with fasting – prayer is the work and the work is prayer.

ž  Dependence on the Holy Spirit

ž  Gifts of the Holy Spirit

ž  Teaching and abiding by the word of God

 

     What are we doing in our Generation?

D. culture of the church of Pentecost

ž  Self Supporting attitude

ž  Faithfulness and integrity

ž  Distinctiveness in prayer

ž  Church discipline

ž  Worship based on the Spirit and Truth

 

ž  Fellowship and generosity

ž  Respect for Authority

ž  Mutual respect and a sense of belonging

ž  Sacrificial service

ž  Total abstinence

ž  Neighborhood churches

ž  Monogamous marriage