Three Problems of Posturing Pentecostals

Pentecostals love the Lord and His promise of power and mighty works. However, Pentecostals have three, huge problems they need to address.

Pentecostals typically have a “fire baptism” every Sunday. I’ve seen it in a few churches, and it is completely out of control. This is because the Pentecostal embraces the scriptural passage about Pentecost.

[1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ~Acts 2:1-4 KJV

However, they re-enact it. They run or dance around the pews to stir up the church. They start speaking in tongues. Some shame the devil with raw emotion. They praise, hollar, and weep and then pass out when touched by the pastor.

1) The problem with the Pentecostal is that they don’t understand this scripture:

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ~Ephesians 4:5 KJV

One baptism is saying that the fire baptism only happens one time. (Many of us know of certain people who have been water baptized repeatedly.)

The baptism that comes by fire is when Christ makes His home inside of you with power. God does not need to do this over and over again. So, when a Pentecostal passes out every Sunday as if to be fire-baptized, it is just NOT the truth.

In the same way, if the Pentecostal is claiming that it’s not a fire baptism, but rather, it is the power of Christ resting upon them every Sunday, then you would see a lot of them healing the sick, raising the dead, and working mighty works if they truly had the power of Christ hit them every Sunday. Instead, you might see them rejoicing about how great church service was and then, they go back to their messy lives without working any miracles.

So, it is simply a show and it is a dangerous path to giving entrance to the devil because most are living and voluntarily repeating a lie about having a power that causes a person to act out. God does not take possession of one’s body and then contradict the Holy Spirit of self-control.

2.) If a Pentecostal church says, “Let’s ‘usher in’ the Holy Spirit”— clearly, they do not realize that the Spirit of God is already with a baptized believer. The Holy Spirit is already present. The only thing that needs to happen is to do things decently and in order as the Bible lays out; teaching and training the church attendees to live a godly life.

3.) Another problem the Pentecostal has is misinformation about the gift of tongues. Many are believing that the gift of tongues is the “first sign.” God can give any gift He desires first. I’m a witness who was fire-baptized in 2003. Tongues was not the first gift I received. “Discerning of spirits” was my first gift. Yet, I was given tongues in 2009.

All of God’s spiritual gifts arrive with power— but not crazy.

Furthermore, a Pentecostal ought to stop teaching the practice of “practicing tongues to get tongues.” Don’t do it. Someone told me to do this, but guess what God did. God not only sent me a passerby who told me that my megachurch was practicing witchcraft, God also sent an angel who told me twice in my right ear — while I was in that church — that it was “Wiccan.” This means a form of witchcraft because it is babbling and being made up.

It does not matter how godly your thoughts are while trying to get tongues, if you are making up the words, it is Wiccan. After you get tongues in truth, then you can practice because God takes over the words.

By the way, people might pass out when getting fire-baptized, but again, this only happens one time, not repeatedly. With tongues, eyes don’t roll back in the head, nor convulsing, nor dancing like a tribal ancestor, nor having a memory lapse whenever you speak in tongues.

I practice tongues regularly and privately; and my back straightens, I become more motivated, and He helps me. Tongues is especially helpful during fasting. If more Christians understood, they would not be so quick to equate tongues with the out-of-control drama that Pentecostals have perpetuated.

Therefore, the practice of tongues ought to be in a secret place. God makes it clear that if a new person comes in an active, tongues-speaking church, they will think the people have gone mad.

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? ~1 Corinthians 14:23 KJV

Do you think God is pleased with that impression?

Please note:  You can only get spiritual gifts if you’ve been fire-baptized, not before and not through a water baptism.  You also cannot transfer gifts unless the power of Christ is upon you.  Therefore, if the Pentecostal would stop trying to manifest gifts, they might be more likely to experience greater works if they were content with a quiet, disciplined holiness, bible study, and a praise that does not lead to confusion for new converts.

Pentecostals have great potential because they know the apostolic power of God has not ended. However, they should put away the Pentecostal name and just call themselves Christians.