It's great to see dialogue between Pentecostal and Evangelical.
I believe it's sadly missing in the Church.
I fall into the Pentecostal camp. My testimony is that I got saved in my twenties, and within about six months I began speaking in tongues. I thought everybody did.
As a young babe in the Lord, I just assumed most people's experiences were the same.
I soon found they weren't. I enjoyed going to both Pentecostal and Evangelical churches,
and hanging out with both groups.
I found, however, that Evangelicals were more closed to Pentecostals' experiences than Pentecostals were to the experiences of Evangelicals.
Maybe just my humble opinion.
We both share the Word, and that is crucial in my opinion.
Lynn, this is really profound. A Word! Thank you. "I found, however, that Evangelicals were more closed to Pentecostals' experiences than Pentecostals were to the experiences of Evangelicals."
As a Pentecostal kid in school, there were Evangelical kids, who weren't allowed to eat with me or play with me, for fear that they'd catch a demon. The public school enforced it. So, yeh, the same
What does the word “Evangelical” mean nowadays? Seriously.
“Evangelical” certainly doesn't retain it's original meaning (“belonging, or pertaining to, the Good News of Jesus Christ [the Gospel]”).
“Evangelical” doesn't by definition even separate Lutheran from Catholic or Calvinist (Reformed) thought as it once did.
So, what does it even mean to be (an) “Evangelical” anymore?
I pose the question because it matters. Why? Because it defines the Gospel we're commanded to share (Mark 16:15). Lots of professing Christian sects claim the title, but we great difficulty defining it in Biblical terms.
The Body of Christ must have a correct understanding of the Gospel (Galatians 1:6-24). If she doesn't, a false Gospel will be preached, and that's no gospel at all (vss. 6-7).
If “Evangelical” doesn't mean what it originally meant, and if we can no longer Biblically define it, then what's the value in contrasting it with anything else?
Thomas, you're right that a lot of words can lose their meaning or be changed to mean something else over time.
On the other hand, the point of the article is to help Christians learn to hear and follow the voice of God. Julie and I come from different Christian backgrounds. So it makes an interesting contrast for many people who think in terms of titles and categories. But as far as I'm concerned, we're both Christians who love Jesus. So the point is not to define what the words Evangelical or Pentecostal mean. But to offer Christians in whatever “camp” they congregate with answers from real people about how they can also hear God speak.
I love that last tip: Ask. Lol... perfectly simple.
This is a great discussion.
It's great to see dialogue between Pentecostal and Evangelical.
I believe it's sadly missing in the Church.
I fall into the Pentecostal camp. My testimony is that I got saved in my twenties, and within about six months I began speaking in tongues. I thought everybody did.
As a young babe in the Lord, I just assumed most people's experiences were the same.
I soon found they weren't. I enjoyed going to both Pentecostal and Evangelical churches,
and hanging out with both groups.
I found, however, that Evangelicals were more closed to Pentecostals' experiences than Pentecostals were to the experiences of Evangelicals.
Maybe just my humble opinion.
We both share the Word, and that is crucial in my opinion.
Lynn, this is really profound. A Word! Thank you. "I found, however, that Evangelicals were more closed to Pentecostals' experiences than Pentecostals were to the experiences of Evangelicals."
Unfortunately I've seen the same.
Lynn, generally I have experienced something similar with Evangelical churches.
I like your perspective that we are all believers in Christ and one family with the same Bible. I think sometimes it's easy for people to forget that.
Thanks for reading and sharing.
Thank you, Eric and Julie! May the Lord continue to bless your open discussions.
As a Pentecostal kid in school, there were Evangelical kids, who weren't allowed to eat with me or play with me, for fear that they'd catch a demon. The public school enforced it. So, yeh, the same
Wow! 😲 Interesting. I like going to Evangelical churches.
I have nothing against Evangelical churches, I've gone tomany and many have softed,sorted, but it's not an apples to apples comparison.
I’m so sorry you experienced that!
What ever happened to “they will know we are Christians by our LOVE”?
That’s why Christians must study the WHOLE counsel of God, and not just cherry pick the parts they “feel comfortable with”.
I offer this for consideration:
What does the word “Evangelical” mean nowadays? Seriously.
“Evangelical” certainly doesn't retain it's original meaning (“belonging, or pertaining to, the Good News of Jesus Christ [the Gospel]”).
“Evangelical” doesn't by definition even separate Lutheran from Catholic or Calvinist (Reformed) thought as it once did.
So, what does it even mean to be (an) “Evangelical” anymore?
I pose the question because it matters. Why? Because it defines the Gospel we're commanded to share (Mark 16:15). Lots of professing Christian sects claim the title, but we great difficulty defining it in Biblical terms.
The Body of Christ must have a correct understanding of the Gospel (Galatians 1:6-24). If she doesn't, a false Gospel will be preached, and that's no gospel at all (vss. 6-7).
If “Evangelical” doesn't mean what it originally meant, and if we can no longer Biblically define it, then what's the value in contrasting it with anything else?
Thomas, you're right that a lot of words can lose their meaning or be changed to mean something else over time.
On the other hand, the point of the article is to help Christians learn to hear and follow the voice of God. Julie and I come from different Christian backgrounds. So it makes an interesting contrast for many people who think in terms of titles and categories. But as far as I'm concerned, we're both Christians who love Jesus. So the point is not to define what the words Evangelical or Pentecostal mean. But to offer Christians in whatever “camp” they congregate with answers from real people about how they can also hear God speak.
Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙏👍