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Back to Biblical Baptism
I’m growing conerned with some trends I am seeing in the Trinitarian Pentecostal Church when it comes to our theology of Baptism.
I’m seeing churches baptizing Christians who are walking into a “new season.” I’m hearing things like “I want to strengthen my walk with the Lord.” “I’m ready for a new level of ministry.” “I’m ready to sell out moving forward.” I’m scratching my head. Where is the theology in this. Orthodox Christian theology has always stood on the biblical principle that baptism is specifically linked to regeneration.
The second trend which is kind of linked to the concern above, is simply the amount of re-baptisms being performed. I don’t see any biblical precedent for that either. I completely understand the idea…someone has walked away, lets baptize them when they get back, but I think as a pastor, I may try to tamper that down a bit.
I recently had a man get saved at the church. He asked me the other day if he needs to get re-baptized. I told him I’m not completely against it but I wanted to hear about his baptism experience. He told me how meaningful and special it was and he just regrettably drifted away from the Lord for many years. I said, “If you feel compelled to be baptized again, I will do it. But I think we can trust your experience in the water and grow in sanctification from here”
The public figure in me wants to baptize him and post pictures so everyone knows what’s going on over here. But it’s not about that is. It’s never been about that.
I’m concerned with the independent holiness churches that I love, that have people who have been saved for many years and still have never gotten around to baptizing them. I’m concerned with churches that have a more modern expression of Pentecostalism that seemingly have a minimal vetting process when it comes to baptism, to determine if a person has truly experienced regeneration.
And finally…this is not a fight I really want to fight…but, there’s no principle in scripture that points to baptism being a “public profession of faith.” It was often a private, intimate experience. Just look at Saul and Ananias or the Ethiopian Eunuch. I’m afraid the result is that many have decided to be baptized without ever deciding to follow Christ.
Bottom line, baptism is not just symbolic, it is a sacrament. This sacrament is an invitation to participate in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, through a holy encounter with the Spirit. And I think a lot of what people are trying to accomplish, should actually be accomplished in another sacrament…foot washing. But that’s another discussion for another day.
– A. G.
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Pastoring is Rewarding
Pastoring is rewarding.
I resigned my church exactly 5 years ago. I had pastored for 12 years and have since served as a worship pastor and evangelist. I’m content with my context of ministry but I thought I’d share why I miss pastoring.
Pastoring is rewarding. I’ve poured my heart and soul into people and watched them completely turn their lives around. The outpouring of gratitude that I have received has been overwhelming. There is a network of people who have made themselves available to help me in any way they can because of the investment I’ve made in their lives. For that I am thankful.
Pastoring is rewarding. I’m too much for some, yet too little for others. But to the people I pastored, I was everything they needed. God blessed our relationships in such a way that can only be described as having our “hearts knit together.” I could preach a sermon that would encourage one, save another, and build another’s faith to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. For that I am blessed.
Pastoring is rewarding. I’ve always tried to be generous with my resources. God blessed me while I was pastoring in inexplicable ways. Faithful saints provided for my family with unexpected offerings, meals made in love, and offers of help with refusal of compensation. They’ve worked on my vehicles, fixed my plumbing, repaired my A/C, and cooked me countless meals. For that I am indebted.
Pastoring is rewarding. Words that I don’t even recall saying have been remembered, cherished, and brought back to my memory by people who held on to those words for comfort and strength. For that I am amazed.
Pastoring is rewarding. You give everything you have. It’s hard to explain giving your all, emotionally, physically, and spiritually to a congregation, but at the end of the day, I can’t think of a better group of people to have given every ounce of my energy to, than the people who called me pastor. For that I am grateful.
Pastoring is rewarding. You try your best to protect the sheep from the wolves. Prayers are offered, warnings are given, and counsel is rendered because you are more than a hireling. For that, I have no regrets.
Pastoring is rewarding. It’s my dream job. Still is. Probably always will be. May the Lord continue to bless all the shepherds who read this today. Your work is not in vain and great is your reward!
Andrew Gonzalez
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The Suffocating Sin of Sectarianism
I am a Pentecostal believer through and through. I believe in the gifts of the Spirit; all of them. I practice demonstrative worship. I strive to live a sanctified life. I don’t mind saying…I think we’re the best thing going.
Pentecostalism is the fasting growing religious movement in the word, adding an estimated 35,000 new converts daily. I’m proud to be a part of it. I grew up in the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world as the son of an Assembly of God pastor. I pastored an Independent Holiness church for 12 years. Now I am a licensed Ordained Minister with the Church of God out of Cleveland, TN. I’m not going anywhere. These are my people. This is how I have church. This is the way I live my life.
You know what I’ve realized though? As a Pentecostal evangelist, pastor, worship leader…we get it wrong. We get it wrong pretty often. Sometimes we teach and preach things that aren’t biblical. We’ve been guilty of looking down our noses at people from other traditions. As an emotional body of believers, we can find ourselves dangerously allowing emotion and “experience” to override sound biblical truths.
Why am I saying all of this? My heart wants to express the freedom I’ve found from the suffocating sin of sectarianism. The first step to finding such freedom is understanding that no group of believers is perfect, and we all get some things wrong, including Pentecostals. Sectarianism is when someone becomes so devoted to a certain sect or belief that they completely reject anyone who does anything even slightly different than them. I’ve seen this in Pentecostal circles, but I’ve seen it in other traditions as well.
I remember conducting a funeral at a Missionary Baptist Church several years ago. The pastor’s wife was lamenting to me prior to the service that her daughter had “left the faith”. I expressed sympathy and told her that I would be praying that her daughter would get back in church. She revealed to me that her daughter was still going to church. When asked where she attends, the mother with tears streaming down her cheeks and agony in her voice responded, “Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiirst Baptist!” My sympathy came to an abrupt end and with an eyeroll that spanned from east to west, I returned to my work.
When I was leaving California to take a church plant in Hot Springs, AR, I asked my pastor, Bro. Brad Moss, to give me advice on my new adventure. He told me one sentence that I have never forgotten. “The Baptists are not your enemy.” That may sound silly to some, but if you’ve ever been suffocated by sectarianism, you understand how vital that advice was for me.
In Mark 9, the disciples of Jesus were upset that they had encountered others who were casting out devils in the name of the Lord, yet they were part of a different group. Jesus looked at them and responded with a golden principle who’s flames have been extinguished by the rushing waters of ego.
“He that is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:40
Read that again and tell me why the Baptists can’t work with the Methodists, and the Lutherans can’t join arms with the Pentecostals. Those who are not against us are for us! That’s incredible news. Especially if you have a heart to reach your community.
My hometown of Hot Springs has pressed through the barriers of sectarianism, and it has been a blessing to my life. If you are content with plugging away pastoring your few and making no impact on your community, then, by all means, continue. But if you really want to have Godly influence on those around you, you might want to reevaluate your stance on working with others.
The grace of God has brought me to Pentecostal pulpits in the Holiness Church, the Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Church of God, the Pentecostal Holiness International Church, the Church of God, and even the Apostolic Church. But, in my opinion, greater than that, the grace of God has rescued me from sectarianism to the point that I’ve been able to remodel a house for a widow with an Evangelical Church, play music for revivals in the Baptist Church, have intense prayer meetings with a pastor from the Church of Christ, be embraced by Lutheran pastors during a difficult time, and lead Presbyterian pastors in worship for their annual presbytery meeting. In doing all of this, I have seen addicts delivered, the homeless fed, widows cared for, saints encouraged and lost souls saved.
Without sacrificing my distinctive traits as a Pentecostal, I have found great value in my brothers and sisters from other traditions. They have found value in me. Isn’t that how the family of God is supposed to work anyway?
-AG
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Why I’ve Stayed in the Church
I recently reconnected with one of my best friends from high school. Our conversations over the last few weeks have been like a cold drink of water on a hot summer day. We are approaching our 20 year reunion, (that hurts to say), so we’ve had a lot to catch up on. It’s been a blast listening to him talk about the places he’s been and the things he’s experienced. I’ve enjoyed getting to hear about his beautiful wife and daughter and listen to his dreams for the future. Last night, our conversation turned towards “religion” for the first time.
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My Greatest Investment
I’ve never been much of an investor when it comes to my finances. I wish I had done better about that earlier in life. I spent my 20’s living in the moment and not really thinking about my financial future. I guess that’s common of a lot of people. Fortunately, I’ve made some observations over the last few years that have caused me to be thankful for the things I DID invest in.
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The Weary World Rejoices
It is December. The last month of the longest year of a generation. Inexplicably, the year 2020 didn’t contain any more days than any other leap year on record. The hours weren’t any longer than they usually are, and the minute hand ticked on cue every 60 seconds. The cadence of time was right on beat…but something has seemed off. The year may not have had any added weeks in the calendar, but for many, it had added disappointments. Adversity, frustration, and disenchantment have become somewhat of a “norm” and I have found myself surrounded by a world that is weary.
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Repurposed
In the 18th chapter of the book of Jeremiah the Lord is portrayed as a potter. The prophet is sent to the potter’s house, not to preach a sermon as before to the gates of Jerusalem, but to prepare a sermon, or rather to receive it ready prepared. His instructions were concise and clear.
Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
It’s important in ministry; as we are accustomed to preaching, and teaching, and directing, and guiding; to stop and realize that God has words for us. He has words specifically for me, and words specifically for you.
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When “Why?” Never Gets Answered
I see pain every day. I empathize with anguish on a weekly basis. I’ve driven away from an old man in the middle of the night with his companion of 65 years in my care. I’ve stood next to a dad as he’s tried to figure out how his son’s car went off the road. I’ve held the hand of a 6 year old as he said goodbye to his momma. And I’ve helped momma’s rock babies that they’ll never get to take home. I see pain. I hear pain. I feel pain. But very few situations compare to the family who is grieving over someone who took their own life. (more…)
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The Day That Time Stood Still
Two days throughout the year really affect me on my journey of grief. Though I feel my father’s absence on Christmas and Thanksgiving, I had already spend those days without him, living in Arkansas, so far from my California “home”. The first day is April 14. That was the day he slipped into eternity. The second day is January 5, his birthday.
A few days ago, his birthday appeared on the calendar. It hit me. It hit me hard. I don’t really know why. I pretty well have my grief under control…(I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.) I have spent the last 6 years of my life with families who are meeting me on the worst day of theirs. Grief is an important road we travel. I don’t believe healing is possible without it. With this in mind, I occupy my days, and often my nights, trying to figure out how to help people take that first step into the healing process. It can be quite challenging because everyone is different. Every family is different. Members within the same family are different.
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When Holidays Feel Like Hollow Days
The holiday season is in full swing. It’s by far my favorite time of year. From the time I was a child and anxiously awaited the opening of neatly wrapped gifts…to the time when I came to the realization that it is truly more blessed to give than to receive. It is a season to spend with family and friends. Our homes are decorated, our children excited, and our taste buds are anxious. Its placement at the end of the year, wraps the season in the warmth of reflection. It’s a time when we stop and look back at the year that is coming to a close. This can result in overwhelming thankfulness, peace and joy as the highlights of the year dance through our heads.
Andrew Gonzalez
Preacher, Musician, Writer
Andrew Gonzalez 