Posted: 05/23/2012 at 1:13pm | IP Logged

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Fruit and the Evidence of True Pentecost Pentecost’s power is more than wind, fire and supernatural hoopla. Without love it is just noise. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “Pentecostal”? A. A woman with a beehive hairdo, support hose, Granny shoes and no makeup? B. Someone rolling on the floor while speaking in tongues uncontrollably? C. A slick-haired televangelist in a white suit who begs for donations? D. A sour-faced Christian who looks like he just sucked all the juice out of a lemon? E. A sincere Christian who passionately loves God and people and believes in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit? I wish we all could answer E., but we Pentecostals have an image problem. I’m not ashamed of the word itself, but I don’t use it as a label because the bad stereotypes (A., B., C. and D.) have just about ruined it for the rest of us. Many people associate Pentecostals with dry legalism, fanaticism, charlatanism and downright hatefulness.

"Unselfish love, generosity, brotherly affection and sincere kindness is just as much a manifestation of the Spirit as healing or miracles. In fact, powerful signs and wonders are more likely to happen in an atmosphere that is bathed in Holy Ghost love."

One friend of mine says it this way: “Some of the meanest people I know speak in tongues.” That’s tragic, because the majority of Pentecostals in the world today are not mean, legalistic or stuck in a time warp. Most are from the developing world, a majority are young and many will be leading the global church in the next decade. Part of their job will be to redefine the word Pentecostal for a new generation.  Read More