Immature Pentecostal

Many from all denominations have chosen to join Pentecostal bodies over the last century. The Churches of Christ have had a few leaders converted, but way less than many other denominations. There have been some who wrote about their experiences and why they accepted the Pentecostal arguments. This will discuss those arguments.

Most who were converted were those with little background in studies of the Holy Spirit. They were put in a position where they needed to learn the topic and studied themselves without a lot of help from others. They were on an Island without support.

They basically began to see scriptures from a Pentecostal spin.

2Pe 3:16  AsG5613 alsoG2532 inG1722 allG3956 his epistles,G1992 speakingG2980 inG1722 themG846 ofG4012 these things;G5130 inG1722 whichG3739 areG2076 some thingsG5100 hard to be understood,G1425 whichG3739 they that are unlearnedG261 andG2532 unstableG793 wrest,G4761 asG5613 they do alsoG2532 theG3588 otherG3062 scriptures,G1124 untoG4314 theirG848 ownG2398 destruction.G684

.In most cases it was people who had just begun a study of the Holy Spirit and chose to use Pentecostal materials to supplement their study. Either the Pentecostals are twisting the scriptures or the cessationists who believe tongues ceased are twisting them. As I have studied the arguments it is clear to me the Pentecostal arguments were easily proven false. Those who were new to the study of the Holy Spirit wouldn't see them though.

I have been studying the arguments since my teens when first introduced, 40 years ago, I would say that my first year was very difficult and I slowly amassed enough information to truly defeat Pentecostal arguments. Most who were converted did so in their first year or two. It makes a lot of sense.

Ray Charles Jarman a Disciple of Christ wrote in The Grace and The Glory of God, 1971, that he was led into the Baptism of the Holy Spirit soon after his conversion through a short period of study. He says, "my heart began to soften toward the idea"...Through a wrested view of scripture and a little psychology he opened to the idea. Most books written on the subject follow this framework.

One argument used was that all Christians would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and therefore all were meant to speak in tongues. Yet there are verses showing not all who received the gifts of the Spirit always spoke in tongues.

1Co 12:28  AndG2532 GodG2316 hath setG5087 someG3739 G3303 inG1722 theG3588 church,G1577 firstG4412 apostles,G652 secondarilyG1208 prophets,G4396 thirdlyG5154 teachers,G1320 after thatG1899 miracles,G1411 thenG1534 giftsG5486 of healings,G2386 helps,G484 governments,G2941 diversitiesG1085 of tongues.G1100

This shows that the totality of Christians were not given individual gifts. Then Paul asks if all spoke in tongues or prophesied.

1Co 12:30  (G3361) HaveG2192 allG3956 the giftsG5486 of healing?G2386 do(G3361) allG3956 speakG2980 with tongues?G1100 do(G3361) allG3956 interpret?G1329

Even in the Apostolic age not all were meant to practice such gifts. This is certain. Some Pentecostals try to sidestep this fact with verses that tell the church to desire these gifts and pray for them, but that only proves not all exercised them. Which proves my point. Even Paul saying he wished all spoke in tongues proves not all did. Paul wished they hadthe experiencebut the gifts were given according to the Spirit's will, and not Paul's.

Paul's statements simply prove not all practiced each gift. Consider the following:

1Co 14:1  Follow afterG1377 charity,G26 andG1161 desireG2206 spiritualG4152 gifts, butG1161 ratherG3123 thatG2443 ye may prophesy.G4395

If they were to desire something it would show they did not all practice them.

      The next argument to be dealt with is that spotted spiritual gifts were documented in all ages, so that they never ceased. It is true some claimed such gifts, but not as you see in the early church where all churches started by apostles seem to have them. They followed the Apostles wherever they preached.

.Mar 16:17  AndG1161 theseG5023 signsG4592 shall followG3877 themG3588 that believe;G4100 InG1722 myG3450 nameG3686 shall they cast outG1544 devils;G1140 they shall speakG2980 with newG2537 tongues;G1100

The word believe isn't referring to all generations as it is present tense. Jesus is blessing the Apostles for going from unbelief earlier in the chapter to true belief.

These signs accompanied the Apostles every where and spotted gifts would tend to prove something false or faked, and not real gifts. One group used spotted gifts as their main argument as their main point quoting an encyclopedia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Recurs in Christian revivals in every age, eg,, among the Mendicant friars of the 13th century, among the Jansenists and the early Quakers; the converts of Wesley and Whitfield...

vol. 2 p. 283  14th edition

The point they were spotted in those ages do not prove they existed, for in Apostolic ages they followed the Apostles everywhere. Spotted gifts would be consistent with delusion or fakery or even Satan.

Those who switched to Pentecostalism did not take this into account.

        Another argument was based in I Corinthians 13, that which is "perfect" was seen as the coming of Christ, but the Greek word for "That" was neutral, nether Male nor female, but is more of an idea or a thing. Greek neutor doesn't support their point.

So they said the perfect wasn't the Bible but amature church.

To be honest, no matter what "that which is perfect is" we still see Paul said tongues would cease. Many taught the church would quit arguing and become mature, even if that is the teaching, Paul still said tongues would cease.

The Pentecostal points are argumentative, but can't over come the fact tongues would cease.

Many argued only  Cor.8-10 spoke of tongues ceasng so we may just misunderstand, but there are multiple verses speaking of cessation. Ephesians 4, Acts 2, etc

Act 2:17  AndG2532 it shall come to passG2071 inG1722 theG3588 lastG2078 days,G2250 saithG3004 God,G2316 I will pour outG1632 ofG575 myG3450 SpiritG4151 uponG1909 allG3956 flesh:G4561 andG2532 yourG5216 sonsG5207 andG2532 yourG5216 daughtersG2364 shall prophesy,G4395 andG2532 yourG5216 young menG3495 shall seeG3700 visions,G3706 andG2532 yourG5216 old menG4245 shall dreamG1797 dreams:G1798

Act 2:18  AndG2532(G1065) onG1909 myG3450 servantsG1401 andG2532 onG1909 myG3450 handmaidensG1399 I will pour outG1632 inG1722 thoseG1565 daysG2250 ofG575 myG3450 Spirit;G4151 andG2532 they shall prophesy:G4395

It is clear the days is not an eternal length and they would eventually end.

Act 2:20  TheG3588 sunG2246 shall be turnedG3344 intoG1519 darkness,G4655 andG2532 theG3588 moonG4582 intoG1519 blood,G129 beforeG4250 that(G2228) greatG3173 andG2532 notableG2016 dayG2250 of the LordG2962 come:G2064

"Before" tends to imply a certain period of time.

It is obvious Paul meant tongues were meant to be temporary.