Reflections of an Undeconstructed Pentecostal
The holiness of God is revealed in creation (Romans 1:20). Creation declares God’s glory, splendor, and righteousness. The order/structure of the Holy Trinity is revealed in the natural and moral order of creation. The Father creates through the spoken Word and moving Spirit. Creation as “good” and “very good” speaks to shalom – a state of wholeness in which all things are in order.
Continue reading “Some Reflections on Holiness and Salvation”
I do not believe in Christian nationalism. But I do believe that faithful Christians can be patriotic citizens. On Independence Day, many Christians will assemble to celebrate our great country. To properly love one’s homeland is by no means immoral. So, I offer a few ways faithful Christians can demonstrate love of country.
Continue reading “Patriotism is a Public Duty”
My first experience in Church of God academia occurred in 1978 at East Coast Bible College (Charlotte NC). My first class, Old Testament Survey, was taught by Dr. Ken Bell. I will never forget his first words: “This is not going to be a glorified Sunday school class.”
Continue reading “In Praise of Church of God Academia”
Prayer is an exercise in theology and the language of prayer is the vocabulary of theology. Even so, we must acknowledge that the infinite and perfect God cannot be fully known by finite human language. We must acknowledge the mysterious and apophatic nature of God. Prayer places us in a posture of bowing down while looking up in wonder. The act of prayer is to acknowledge that God is. As we encounter God in the language of prayer and the place of worship, we are compelled to engage the mystery of the Holy One who is wholly other, uncreated, self-existent and omnipresent. As we step into that holy place we are at once terrified and at peace, overwhelmed by the omnipresent One. To “see” God is to fall “like a dead man” (to be slain in the Spirit?!) (Revelation 1:17; cf. Ex. 33:20).
Continue reading “How Prayer Reveals the Holiness of God”
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled down, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand (Psalm 37:23-24 NASB).
In November of 2021, I traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to conduct a pastor’s seminar for the Southwestern Hispanic Region of the Church of God. I awakened early Saturday morning, November 21, and decided to go for a run. I was staying in a hotel near a medical center with paved sidewalks that were well lighted. I was about two miles into my run when I tripped and fell flat on my face. It happened so fast that I couldn’t catch myself. My face and knees were bloodied.
Continue reading “When We Stumble and Fall”
A revelational model is informed by Paul’s teaching on the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. In this model, God reveals information through the word of knowledge to the minister about a suffering person so that the minister can intercede.[1] The “word of knowledge” (1 Corinthians 12:8) is a spiritual gift of revelation – knowing by the Spirit.
Continue reading “A Word from the Lord: A Revelational Model of Pentecostal Healing”
Prayer is theology in action. Prayer is a means of grace in that the Holy Spirit moves in our heart so that we may cry out to God. Prayer is prevenient grace in that when we don’t know how or what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26). Likewise, we pray according to what and how we believe. If we believe in error, or practice wrongly, that will have a negative effect in how we pray (Jas. 4:3). Even so, God’s prevenient grace is evident in that faith is a gift of God to unbelievers and believers. We pray as an exercise of faith, and sometimes we pray when we have little to no faith, but God graciously responds (Mark 9:24).
Continue reading “Why Pray for Healing?”