Are We Living in a Post-Pentecostal Era?

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Enigmatically Ambiguous

It's my opinion that the Pentecostal movement, as we have known it, reached it's peak in the 1970s and 1980s. "The fastest growing movement in Christianty" perhaps has begun to decline. The kingdom of God seems to be moving away from traditional Pentecostal/Charismatic/Full Gospel/Spirit-Filled church services and the operations of the gifts of the Spirit and the trend seems to be moving toward a more Gospel-centered, Christ-centered ethic.

Certainly the impact of the Pentecostal movement has been large. Most churches embrace more demonstrative worship, raising hands, clapping, standing to their feet, emotional and experiential expressions of adoration. Most churches have praise bands, drums, electric instruments, cutting edge styles of music, etc something the Pentecostal movement was known for.

Yet, the emphasis on "moves of God", people falling out, screaming, rolling on the floor, a preoccupation with the gifts of the Spirit, sign seeking, strict standards of dress and ultra conservative lifestyle is really a thing of the past. The pressure to create the next wave of revival, the next upper room outpouring, the next Azusa street isnt there like it used to, and instead a younger generation focused on preaching the Gospel and being the Body of Christ, assisting the poor, the broken, the homeless, the addicted, the needy, the forgotten seems to be where the movement of God's church is headed.

Thank God for our Pentecostal roots! But just as each movement has had it's day in the sun, made it's contributions to the ever progressing church of Jesus Christ, we must be willing to lay down our pride and our attachment to labels and walls of division and realize that God cannot and will not be contained. The wind blows where it wants and you cannot predict where it's going to come from and where it's going to go.

I don't want to remain in the past. I want to follow where the cloud is leading. I am optimistic about the church of today and I am hopeful with the next generation. They will carry the banner of the cause of Christ on into the future until our Lord returns!

Excellent post!

People have changed, and for the right reasons. Whenever the Mask of Religion is pulled away from a particular Faith, the shock can be overwhelming at first. But once the Fantasy is revealed, and we see that Human Beings are at the base of a belief system, great Liberty can lead the next Generation into new territory that is MUCH needed.

I have great Faith in those who are beginning to lead the Church in today’s climate of understanding. It reminds of what happened when the Civil Rights movement began to expose the false image of Segregation.

[bbyrd009]

Amen.

Home church seems to be
acquiring the mantle; with
some great personal apologetics
from the entrenched religions,
Fox, Chopra, et al.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Ha! Well said... although most have no idea what you just said. That prosperity doctrine has seeped quite deep into most churches today. They don't know how to take that money and minister to their community.

Need to buy some ministers pants with 2 inch pockets.

[Monterrey]

I know a preacher that preached the prosperity stuff, told folks they could drive Audi's! Today, his is broken, church is in financial trouble and going broke! Wondering what happened?

[deacon blues]

I wouldn't call it a "Post-Pentecostal" era. More like a "Post-Denomination" era. Pentecostals are now mainstream and the baptism of the HG has breached all denominational lines. More are accepting of the gifts of the Spirit and Pentecostal style worship, and so maybe it's just that God used the outpouring of the HS to help break down those walls of separation. More churches are becoming non-denominational.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Monterrey

I know a preacher that preached the prosperity stuff, told folks they could drive Audi's! Today, his is broken, church is in financial trouble and going broke! Wondering what happened?

He didn't have enough faith. If he continues to believe and confess that faith: -- his car will not be fixed but replaced by a bigger and better one
--the church will prosper financially and have the best and most ornate building in town
--the church treasury will overflow
--every member of the church will own the best primary home, vacation home, tailor made clothes in the latest style, private aircraft, yacht, and will live to the age of 120 in divine health

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Monterrey

I know a preacher that preached the prosperity stuff, told folks they could drive Audi's! Today, his is broken, church is in financial trouble and going broke! Wondering what happened?

Clearly it was a mistake to promote church members owning Audi's. They have a reputation for being costly to maintain.

Now if he had promoted owning Lexus' then the church would probably be in great shape today!

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

Home church seems to be
acquiring the mantle;

I agree with you Mr. B Fellowshipping with other fellow believers of like minded faith in a home setting brings much more growth, and life into one's faith. Perhaps meeting as the early church did will also be part of the next phase of the restoration of the church...

[UnTraditional]

The Pentecostal age is not over. All we have seen as of late is more and more of the Laodicean spirit emerge as men in their carnality seek to silence holiness, seek to change scripture, and seek to maintain their sinful ways and think they can still make Heaven their home. True believers are growing in great revival, while false ones are leading the falling away. No, the Pentecostal era is continuing. The difference is, Laodicea seems to have more visibility right now.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by UnTraditional

The Pentecostal age is not over. All we have seen as of late is more and more of the Laodicean spirit emerge as men in their carnality seek to silence holiness, seek to change scripture, and seek to maintain their sinful ways and think they can still make Heaven their home. True believers are growing in great revival, while false ones are leading the falling away. No, the Pentecostal era is continuing. The difference is, Laodicea seems to have more visibility right now.

I believe you have misunderstood the passage in Revelation. You are referring the Laodicea spirit to those who have, "Silenced Holiness, seek to change Scripture, or seek to maintain their sinful ways".

Revelation clearly says, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."

The Laodicea spirit seems to reflect this exact same Parable that Jesus gave: "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

The Laodicea spirit is what causes a man to become blind to this one, main fact; we must never forget we are miserable, poor, blind, and naked. This is what the sinner stated in his prayer, while the Spiritual/Religious man boasted of his good works (Holiness/Good Deeds/Favor with God).

The greatest sin on Earth is when the Religious are blind by their Religion, but God will meet a man with mercy when his heart is riveted with humility and the Truth about himself.