DISTINCTIVE OF PENTECOSTALISM AND BIBLICAL REVELATION FOR AFRICAN ECCLESIOLOGY
Keywords:
Distinctive, Pentecostal, Biblical, Ecclesiology, GiftsAbstract
Purpose: Distinctive of Pentecostalism and biblical revelation for African ecclesiology examined a brief historical background of Pentecostalism in America, Asia and Africa, with a view to point out a distinctive of Pentecostal namely: baptism in the Holy Spirit in the light of biblical revelation.
Methodology: The work uses historical, theological, descriptive, philosophical, and deductive approaches to elicit information.
Findings: Findings revealed that the real Pentecostal are those whose life, and character traits and practices adhered to the scriptures, and not necessarily adherence to waves and emotionalism. The work identified the true position of real Pentecostals as those who radiate the life of Christ in practice. The study also noted that it is clear that speaking in tongues is a gift of the scriptures, but it is not meant to be manipulated, taught, or faked just to sound spiritual. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit. He distributes to individual as He wills. The distributive will belong to the Holy Spirit. It is foul when tongues are taught to people, manipulated, or put into use to sound spiritual so as to deceive the faithful.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that Speaking in tongues is a gift of God for the edification of believers as they go about the witness of Christ, yet it should not be used for personal aggrandizement to deceive the people of God or to sound spiritual. True Pentecostalism should be conformed to imaging the character of Christ so as to season the decay in our world today. Emotionalism goes with much of the wave that comes and goes, but genuine Pentecostals will stand the test of time, hence Pentecostal brethren will do well to show the character of Christ like in Acts 11:26.The study also recommends that Gift of the Holy Spirit is a great blessing for the church advancement. Any believer is expected to bless and grow the fellowship with the unique gift or gifts the Holy Spirit has graciously endowed. Speaking in tongues should not be legislated for believers; rather it should be left to the distributive prerogative of the Holy Spirit for genuine seekers of the gifts.
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