the Pentecostal Christian’s experience of Indeed, an early church father, John vain about it. Either is avoidable.
the Holy Spirit brings it all together. Chrysostom, argued from Acts 1:3 that In sum, baptism in the Holy Spirit
Undoubtedly, love is the essential apostolic miracles in Acts provided “evi- and life in the Spirit are multidimension-
attribute of the Spirit-filled life (ch. 13). dence” and “proof” of Christ’s resurrec- al. They encompass sanctification and
The Holy Spirit unites those full of His tion. They, in effect, “authorized” the edification, or power for holiness and
presence and power in a divine love Christian religion. In other words, extra- charismatic empowerment, without
embracing diversity. Thus, different kinds ordinary demonstrations of the Spirit’s diminishing the distinctiveness of either
of tongues from the Spirit signify the uni- power have evidentiary value. This evi- one. The fruit and gifts of the Spirit are
fication of all peoples, surpassing color dence is not limited to speaking in indicative of diverse elements of the Spir-
and gender as well as man-made creeds tongues. Yet the obvious prominence of it’s unified activity. The ethical and
and confessions. speaking in tongues further suggests its charismatic elements support and build
The primary evidence for the Spirit- unique evidentiary value. up each other. In short, speaking in
filled life is the visibility of Christ in the
believer. Daily living a holy life in the
PENTECOSTALS MUST GUARD AGAINST RETREATING FROM
love of God and neighbor dramatically THE CHALLENGES OF THE PRESENT GENERATION BY ROUTINELY
testifies to the presence of the Holy Spirit.
REPEATING YESTERDAY’S ANSWERS. WE MUST NOT FLEE IN
However, devout Pentecostals also discov-
FEAR FROM TODAY’S DEMANDS OR DILEMMAS.
ered in the Scriptures an immediately
observable sign of receiving the baptism Speaking in tongues is about more tongues is part of a complex congruent
in the Holy Spirit: speaking in tongues. than initial evidence. Pentecostal theolo- with the purposes of God in Christ
gians suggest varying views. Speaking in through the power of the Holy Spirit in
Evidentiary Value of
tongues serves as a unifying force in the the Church today in love and unity.
Speaking in Tongues
movement, with ecumenical and social Thus, the Church of God accomplishes
The doctrine of speaking in tongues as implications. Further, it is a special form its mission to the world not only by
the initial evidence of Spirit baptism plays of prayer. It may express solidarity with proclamation of the Gospel but also by its
prominently in the history of Pentecostal- Jesus through sharing in His mission demonstration (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
ism. Yet Pentecostals do not typically through the Spirit. Tongues speaking can Dr. Kinnamon suggested some his-
identify tongues as the prized possession signify the unutterable cry of the toric churches have been afraid of the
of Christian experience. Pentecostal spiri- oppressed. It can be primal speech defy- Holy Spirit. He implied they should get
tuality stresses a deep, sustainable piety ing the limits of human language in over it. Pentecostals are not usually afraid
focused on the personal experience of encountering God. It may express of the Holy Spirit. However, we must
God’s presence affecting total human exis- strength in the midst of weakness. guard against retreating from the chal-
tence. Speaking in tongues is therefore an Tongues involves intimacy with God as lenges of the present generation by rou-
inseparable part of an intricate complex of loving Father. Speaking in tongues can be tinely repeating yesterday’s answers. We
authentic spiritual experience. It accents a sign of God’s saving presence and must not flee in fear from today’s
the reality and validity of the gospel of power. Tongues can even be a kind of demands or dilemmas. A bold, brave Pen-
Christ for contemporary believers. language of the Kingdom. Tongues can tecostal theology of spirituality must
In the Acts prologue (1:1-5), “infallible signify God condescending to commune develop our distinctive teaching and
proofs” (v. 3) signified a compelling sign. and communicate with mere mortals at experience of the Holy Spirit in directions
It implied proofs that carried certainty of the level of their capability. that adequately address our age with ded-
conviction. Luke’s references to the Holy In any case, Pentecostals should not ication, depth, and diplomacy. We have
Spirit and to Spirit baptism in that con- think they are somehow superior to other nothing to be afraid of, and certainly not
text (2:33) suggest application beyond the Christians because of tongues. Rather, we from the Holy Spirit.
interim between Jesus’ resurrection and should testify to the beneficial blessings of
ascension to the subsequent Pentecost the Spirit—a gracious gift we can hardly Adapted from Tony Richie, “From Suspicion
event and experience of the Church as deny. Neither should any allow being to Synthesis: Toward a Shared Wesleyan
well. That would imply an emphasis filled with the Spirit to become divisive. and Pentecostal Theology of Spirituality,”
throughout Acts on evidentiary charisma- Division over tongues usually occurs either Rethinking Wesleyan Theology: Essays in
ta as signs of Jesus’ enduring activity by forcing out those who are Spirit-filled Honor of Laurence W. Wood, ed. Nathan
through the Holy Spirit in His disciples. or by those who are Spirit-filled becoming Crawford (forthcoming 2010).
EVANGEL • JUNE 2009 25
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