Wednesday, February 11, 2009

2. Is Pentecostal spirituality healthy, vibrant and on the cutting

Is Pentecostal spirituality healthy, vibrant and on the cutting
edge today or is it dissipating? Evaluate, analyze and explain your
conclusion.

I sadly believe Pentecostal spirituality is dissipating today because the majority of the Churches of the Assemblies of God (AOG) Malaysia are not encouraging Christians to desire and exercise the gift of speaking in tongues during their weekly Sunday services. The common excuse we hear from Pastors is they do not want to frighten away the unbelievers from Church. Consequently, there is also a lack of teaching and emphasis on the baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues for believers. Many Christians today are afraid or ashamed to speak and pray in tongues. They have to be personally encourage to speak in tongues. In conclusion, my personal opinion and observation is Pentecostal spirituality is dissipating from the majority of the Malaysian AOG Churches.
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23 comments:

  1. bryanbooFebruary 12, 2009 at 5:57 AM

    Hi Kee Ming!

    Wouldn't basing on speaking in tongues alone be too inadequate? What about the others like evangelism and the fundamental bedrock of our movement, missions, which are on the rise these days (if compared to before). By this, would you say that they are improving and spiritually getting 'healthier'?

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  2. ƈϞɕяιʈɣFebruary 12, 2009 at 6:12 AM

    As a church leader what are some of your suggestion in bringing back your church to a healthy leval in the aspect you wrote about?

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  3. lionel.lkyFebruary 12, 2009 at 9:30 AM

    Is tongues the only meassure of health? Does a doctor only check your thumb to find our if you have the flu or a fever? What other meassures is there for meassurignt he health of the chruch?

    As the pastor what is the biblical basis that you can have to rebuke and explain that tongues is meant to be used in worship and to edify the Body of Christ? how would you then introduce the biblical teaching to the members?

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  4. Freddie OngFebruary 13, 2009 at 7:58 PM

    Kee Ming,
    Well, you have a point there to say AOG chruches in Malaysia is losing its cutting edge as a Pentecostal movement; especially speaking in tongue. But I would like to ask if possible in a 'Pentecostal' church-life; what are key-aspects do you think we have comprised beside speaking in tongues? I believed the spitual aspects can be seen in our spiritual heritage as Pentecostal. In other words, what have we actually comprise in today's post-modern culture?

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  5. Jase FooFebruary 17, 2009 at 5:45 AM

    Hi Kee Ming,

    What if a church strongly encourages it's members to practice the gift of tongues in their own private spiritual life instead of in the church, would that suffice and considered as being healthy? after all they are still speaking in tongues. In your opinion, what would you think is the purpose of speaking in tongues in a public church service? Is pentecostal spirituality based on speaking in tongues only or speaking in tongues in a corporate basis?

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  6. Heart of DorcasFebruary 17, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    How many of us and what would it cost to be a twenty first century "Seymour" to proclaim God's gift of the Holy Spirit once again? In trying to be a seeker friendly church we may loose sight of the One that people came to find...

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  7. Freddie OngFebruary 17, 2009 at 11:58 PM

    Hi Kee Ming,
    I need to edite the wrong spelling: compromised not comprised. I hope you can response to my comment soon.
    Since you did mention that AOG churches in Malaysia is actually dissipating as a Pentecostal body, is there any suggestion or remedy to arrest the decline?

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  8. bryanbooFebruary 18, 2009 at 9:46 AM

    Hey bro!

    The emphasis on speaking in tongues during a service is on the rise. More and more churches (especially in the AoG) are returning to encourage members to speak in tongues and they are teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. According to you, would that mean that they are no longer dissipating?

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  9. kenrickFebruary 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. kenrickFebruary 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM

    Hi Kee Ming,
    On one particular sense, you said that the Pentecostal spirituality is dissipating in terms of tongues. What about other aspects? Do you think that it is also dissipating in passing down the Pentecostal heritage that we now have to the next generation? Is it actually possible for that to take place? If yes, how would you approach it?

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  11. lionel.lkyFebruary 18, 2009 at 10:36 AM

    Would there be a reply to our questions?

    Its rather hard to tackle everything but you got to try taking it one step at the time.

    But adding on to the many questions, should the emphasis of revival and the speaking of tongues come from the pastor? And if the pastor doesn;t do it, will it mean that his education in theology is wrong then? will it mean that we need to do something where theology is learnt i.e. bible schools? where should the emphasis start?

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  12. ƈϞɕяιʈɣFebruary 19, 2009 at 6:06 AM

    Please reply to our questions... we need to interact... all else we're just be piling questions... :)

    Okay... how much do we as pentecostals value the sacrifice of early church fathers? Are we taking it too lightly these days?

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  13. Kee MingFebruary 21, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    Hi Bryan,

    Missions and evangelism are both very important aspects of a Christian’s life and we need to encourage them to do both. Every Christian should evangelize because if we have experienced the love of God, naturally we would want to tell others about Christ. I think churches are losing the cutting edge in evangelism today and are too focus on activities.

    I am glad to hear you say speaking in tongues is on the rise today, but is it happening in other churches as well? If it is not, then it is dissipating.

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  14. Kee MingFebruary 21, 2009 at 8:15 AM

    Hi Charity,

    As a church leader, I would preach on the importance of the baptism in the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. By doing this I would be encouraging the church members to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

    I think Pentecostals have lost their identity today and do not understand the sacrifice of the early church fathers. Yes, we are taking it too lightly because of the lack of teaching in this area of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Thanks for your comments.

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  15. Kee MingFebruary 21, 2009 at 8:33 AM

    Hi Lionel,

    Besides tongues, I believe evangelism and missions is also important in measuring the health of the church. If I have the opportunity to be a pastor some day then I would refer to the famous scripture quoted by Pentecostals in Acts 2:3-4; “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.”

    The emphasis of revival and tongues should come from the pastor because he is the shepherd of God’s flock. I am glad we are doing this course Pentecostal Foundation because I am beginning to learn about my heritage as a Pentecostal. It should be taught in Bible colleges but I believe only Bible College Malaysia is offering this course. The emphasis should start in Bible colleges because we are preparing lives for ministry and these lives will impact other lives. Thanks for your comments.

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  16. Kee MingFebruary 21, 2009 at 8:40 AM

    Hi Freddie,

    In today’s post modern world, I believe we have compromised in evangelism and missions. We have lost the cutting edge in these two areas.

    We need to teach the members on the importance of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. Please refer to my earlier comments too. Thanks for your comments.

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  17. Kee MingFebruary 21, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    Hi Jason,

    I think we still need to pray in tongues as a corporate body. Please refer to Acts 2:3-4. When we pray corporately in tongues, it is like tongues of fire. These tongues of fire will spread to the next person. Pentecostal spirituality is based on speaking in tongues in our own private devotion and also corporately as a body of Christ.

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  18. Kee MingFebruary 21, 2009 at 8:56 AM

    Hi Dorcas,

    I believe God will always raise up leaders in every generation who are hungry and passionate for Him. Jesus will always be the One whom we emphasized because without Jesus then our tongues will be like the sounding of a gong. Paul says, If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1).

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  19. Kee MingFebruary 21, 2009 at 9:01 AM

    Hi Kenrick,

    I believe we have lost the cutting edge in the areas of evangelism and missions. We will have to teach the younger generation on the importance of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced in speaking in tongues. Please refer to my earlier comments. Thanks.

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  20. AngelineFebruary 22, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    hey, you were saying that

    "As a church leader, I would preach on the importance of the baptism in the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. "

    how often would you do that? Would your church pastor 'approve' of this sharing regularly?

    Also, don't you think that unless your church has a very high turnover of members and a many salvations weekly. Chances are that regular members would be hearing the same thing over and over again.

    What do you think then of using discipleship classes as an avenue to teach new believers and church members on the basic doctrine for speaking in tongues?

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  21. kenrickFebruary 23, 2009 at 7:27 AM

    Hi Kee Ming,
    Ahaha thanks, but so many references and comments made. Which one? Ehehe. I'll try to view one by one:)
    But nevertheless I agree with what angeline just wrote in terms of actually sharing the importance of baptism of H.S. and its applications too frequent. I think if it will be a "turn away' for adults, what even more for youth? Do you suggest any practical steps in doing so other than what Angeline has proposed by having discipleship classes?

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  22. Kee MingFebruary 25, 2009 at 5:58 AM

    Hi Angeline,

    Thanks for your comments. If my pastor approves of this sharing, I would share in my cell groups and we could have a Christian Education class on the baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. Yeah, discipleship classed would be another avenue to teach.

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  23. AngelineFebruary 25, 2009 at 6:29 PM

    ermm then what about the part of preaching it over the pulpit?

    how often would you do it. u didn't fully answer my question lah =P

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