Pentecostal vs. Non-Pentecostal

I have a conceren that has been on my mind for some time. My wife's family in Arizona have a long heritage of membership in the Assembly of God Church, a well known Pentecostal church. My wife and I have recommitted ourselves to Jesus Christ, and have been regularly attending a church with a Baptist affiliation. I am convinced that the Lord has led us to this church by working through our daughter, who has been participating in their youth ministry for longer than we have been going there ourselves. It is a succesful church with attendance and membership growing exponentially. Our church teaches the Bible as the authoritative word of God, has a small group ministry which is the heartbeat of our church, teaches salvation through Christ, and has all the elements you would recognize in a church led by the Holy Spirit.

In a handout given to us in their church membership class, it is mentioned that the most truthful way of describing their fellowship is "The High Desert American Baptist Premillenial Evangelical Non-Pentacostal Church." But it is not named that. Just simply, High Desert Church.

I know it is not a salvation issue if you are pentecostal or non-pentecostal, but I would like to know more about the differences between the two. Is one actually superior in worship style? Does either one have an advantage over the other? Or does it even matter?

I plan to ask this question when I attend another class offered by our church, "Discovering Christian Theology," which teaches more about the bible and its contents, why some books were included and not included, etc. But I would like an answer from any knowledgeable third party, for a more objective response. And by the way, do you consider yourself Pentecostal or Non-Pentecostal? Just curious. Thank you in avance for a truthful, helpful and timely response. Sincerely, lasher

You may find a few,

A large branch of Baptists were Calvinistic in origin

I dont know why that is such a sore point, can you shed some light on that

but I can show you volumes of doctrinal statements of Baptist Churches that clearly state Baptists are not Calvinist!

Likewise, I could do the same and demonstrate a number are not Armenian.

Like I said in post #2 - clearly today they lie somewhere in between. In my hurry to get a post up before I headed out the door, I hadn't read far enough in my texts to note that.

Either you dont know what Calvinism is or you dont know what the Basic Baptist theology is!! :-)

Hence the reason I referred to my text. Your emoticon doesnt viel your tone. We are conservative Christian brothers - no reason to abandon civility.

What I do know though is the jump from Pentacostalism to Baptists would still warrant an investigation into Armenianism and Calvinism as the Pentecostal faith is so spirit led and shades of Calvinism remain in Baptists, perhaps more predominantly in some lineage than others. Lacking that info in the original post - I took the conservative side. Now if the poster joined along the Annabaptist line of Baptists - perhaps the jump from Pentacostalism would be less complicated (doctrinally).

It saves to say - we are both right to a degree -

I havent had the opportunity to dig too far on the web, but which way do the Southern Baptists and the Landmarkers lean & which is the predomninant line today?

Blessings brother

Well stated. The only comment I would add is that many Pentecostals seem to believe that "speaking in tongues" is almost a requirement rather than one of many possible gifts. Personally, I think "speaking in tongues" served its purpose at Pentecost and is generally speaking not a "gift" for the church today. That said, I would not go so far as to say that there are not people who possibly have such a gift. My main argument would be with those who claim some sort of superior communication with God through "speaking in tongues" when that was not the purpose described in the New Testament.

There does not seem to be a single reference to "speaking in tongues" in the Old Testament and then only at Pentecost in the New Testament, although I am aware of other verses that are used to support/justify the speaking in tongues for the present-day church.

Your main point that the Pentecostal v. Non-Pentecostal issue is not a salvation issue and therefore should not lead to division within the Christian community.

hello, I have a similar question...I recently relocated to a different state. I am pentecostal, and I speak in tongues, I also believe that God is our healer. This is my question, I have been attending a Baptist church for a few weeks, I have always been involved in church, they don't believe that tongues or that healing is for today. I have a little problem with that...not so much the tongue thing, that's is given to me, but healing is for everyone, because I have a problem with this issue, should I try finding another church or keep attending. thanks for any help.

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