•12.2.09
Pentecostalism always had an imagery of dynamism that is somewhat chaotic where
structure is concerned. Whenever one reads of records of early Pentecostalism, there were a few newspaper articles
that used some lay terms to describe the scene back in the days such meetings took place;
"Wild dancing", "like drunk men", "babels", "cultic", "noisy". However, that's what the reporters recorded.
We all know what it was and is nothing new to Christians.
We read it in the book of Acts and we have seen it happening again and again in video records and experientially in our own parish.
The phenomena that swept Los Angeles and in other states in the early 1900s all began with one thing: prayer and hunger for God.
That was Pentecostal spirituality at its rawest and genuine state.
Believers were hungry for God, for revival, for an outpouring like that of the one in Acts.
Someone was passionate and bold enough to believe and preach about it when it was frowned upon.
It set a community on "fire". It revived those dead in spirit. It renewed passion for the mission work.
It brought about unity when color separation was law. It spread like a wildfire throughout the world.
Over here, in an obscure land called Malaya back then, men and women hailled from this
Pentecostal movement in the States, brought to our shores two things; truth and fire.
To me, that's what I would describe Pentecostal spirituality to be.
It's raw. It's cutting edge because no other movement has caused such positive chaos throughout history.
Sadly, it is dissipating today.
Why? We have allowed professionalism, too much structure and programs, moderation, over-sensitivity to mesh with its raw form to become what it is today.
So what is it?
Bi-annual events to attract the masses.
Monthly events to invite them back
One hour, once-a-week prayer meeting.
30 minutes of preaching.
20 minutes of worship that must be accompanied by a full band.
Feel-good sermons.
Entertainment.
I know I am stepping on some toes here and it is not to point the finger at anyone but myself.
As I read more about just the early foundings of Pentecostalism, I am just ashamed of myself how I am what I am today because I did not embrace my roots.
If we do not educate the essence of Pentecostalism, or passionately embrace it, we will lose a generation.
It is not about us. It is not about reminiscing the past experiences and "outpourings"(was it even an outpouring or just a glimpse?).
It is about keeping the fire ablaze for the next generation to understand that fires only work best in this nature and not sparks.
We can not keep starting sparks and hope for the best.
Fires spread the best and fastest when environments get really hot and uncomfortable.
What is your take on this?
structure is concerned. Whenever one reads of records of early Pentecostalism, there were a few newspaper articles
that used some lay terms to describe the scene back in the days such meetings took place;
"Wild dancing", "like drunk men", "babels", "cultic", "noisy". However, that's what the reporters recorded.
We all know what it was and is nothing new to Christians.
We read it in the book of Acts and we have seen it happening again and again in video records and experientially in our own parish.
The phenomena that swept Los Angeles and in other states in the early 1900s all began with one thing: prayer and hunger for God.
That was Pentecostal spirituality at its rawest and genuine state.
Believers were hungry for God, for revival, for an outpouring like that of the one in Acts.
Someone was passionate and bold enough to believe and preach about it when it was frowned upon.
It set a community on "fire". It revived those dead in spirit. It renewed passion for the mission work.
It brought about unity when color separation was law. It spread like a wildfire throughout the world.
Over here, in an obscure land called Malaya back then, men and women hailled from this
Pentecostal movement in the States, brought to our shores two things; truth and fire.
To me, that's what I would describe Pentecostal spirituality to be.
It's raw. It's cutting edge because no other movement has caused such positive chaos throughout history.
Sadly, it is dissipating today.
Why? We have allowed professionalism, too much structure and programs, moderation, over-sensitivity to mesh with its raw form to become what it is today.
So what is it?
Bi-annual events to attract the masses.
Monthly events to invite them back
One hour, once-a-week prayer meeting.
30 minutes of preaching.
20 minutes of worship that must be accompanied by a full band.
Feel-good sermons.
Entertainment.
I know I am stepping on some toes here and it is not to point the finger at anyone but myself.
As I read more about just the early foundings of Pentecostalism, I am just ashamed of myself how I am what I am today because I did not embrace my roots.
If we do not educate the essence of Pentecostalism, or passionately embrace it, we will lose a generation.
It is not about us. It is not about reminiscing the past experiences and "outpourings"(was it even an outpouring or just a glimpse?).
It is about keeping the fire ablaze for the next generation to understand that fires only work best in this nature and not sparks.
We can not keep starting sparks and hope for the best.
Fires spread the best and fastest when environments get really hot and uncomfortable.
What is your take on this?
