Pentecostalism: More Than a Style of Worship

I used Facebook to ask for input. The question was: "What will it take to restore Pentecostal passion and practice to our churches?"

I was surprised how many of the responses focused on liturgy, orders of service, traditions, and methodologies. For example, Andrew Bracht wrote:

Is the restoration of "Pentecostal passion & practice" what God wants for the A/G? What does that mean? Azuza Street ... is that the way forward or do we have to learn to be missionaries and contextualize our ‘Pentecostal passion & practice’? For instance, how do we encourage people to spend long periods of time at the atlar after service? For Wednesday services that introduces a whole host of issues for children attending school, and dads & moms who get up early. Yet the extended altar services are squarely in the middle of traditional 'Pentecostal practice'. To me the issue is clear...some people won't do that and some people will. For some larger suburban churches that's an impossible choice for their general services, therefore many have opted for home/cell/small groups. Traditional Pentecostal practice (extended group prayer, lingering) can be encouraged and pursued in those contexts to it's fullest extent.

Of course, I did not have traditions or certain liturgies in mind. In fact, I was not thinking of the church service at all.


Much more than a building or activities during certain hours of the week, the Church includes the people of God indwelt by the Spirit of God. Pentecostal practice is not a style of worship or prayer. It is the Spirit of God working in and through His people.


It is my contention that the contemporary church needs to permit the Hoy Spirit to determine the gifts, service, and workings of His people (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).


The work of the Holy Spirit in and through His Church is vital. The Spirit fills His people with love for the lost. He assembles them as an incarnational and serving community. He equips them with the tools needed to minister efficaciously to those who are sick, suffering, oppressed, or demonized.
As the Spirit manifests Himself through signs and wonders, He creates opportunities for evangelism. Commonly called Gifts of the Holy Spirit, these tools or manifestations are special “abilities” or divine enablements graciously given to certain members of the Body of Christ so they may effectively minister to those in need.


That these enablements are of divine origin is clear because they produce what is impossible through natural agency.


Young Pentecostal ministers who want to make a difference in the world must understand that the only effective way to make a lasting impact is by ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Only the Holy Spirit can transform individuals from the inside out. This inward transformation is the first step to solving individual, familial, and societal problems.


Drug addiction is one of society’s most complicated challenges. It is devastating to the addict as well as all those associated with the addict. Addictions are difficult to treat. However, Dr. Roger Thompson (Head of the Criminal Justice Department at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga) found that whereas most secular drug rehabilitation programs only experienced a cure rate of 15% of their graduates, Teen Challenge of Chattanooga, Tennessee had a 67% success rate in helping their graduates live a drug and alcohol free lifestyle. [1]


Indicators of success included a consistent life-style due to a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, stable employment, financial independence, an absence of trouble with the police, an ability to enjoy freedom without supervision, and little need for additional drug treatment once completing the Teen Challenge program. The transforming power of the Holy Spirit made a difference in the success of treating addicts.


Denise, Erin, and Derek are living testimonies to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit delivered them from addiction to drugs and alcohol.


So, let me ask the question in a different way: "What will it take to see the Holy Spirit manifest Himself through signs and wonders in and through His people?"

[1] http://www.teenchallenge.com/main/stats/utreport.htm