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Originally Posted by Bryan
Some people twitch or roll their eyes when you say the word Pentecostal. The term conjures up outdated images of either (1) slick-haired, Bible-thumping preachers who spew saliva on the unfortunate souls seated in the first three pews, or (2) scowling women with their hair in buns who know how to scare you with glossolalia.
Say goodbye to the worn-out stereotypes. Last weekend I saw the future of the Pentecostal movement when my wife and I attended a graduation ceremony at Emmanuel College, the liberal arts school in northeast Georgia that was founded 90 years ago by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. What we witnessed on Saturday was a refreshing reminder that God has raised up a new generation of young people who are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
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Interesting thought, however I would have to challenge your thought in the term "Pentecostal." The only Pentecostals who have used this term as slick-haired, Bible-thumping preachers spitting, and scowling women with their hair in buns are those who have narrowly defined "Pentecost" as holiness as describes by following a list of do's- and don'ts. There is a LARGE body of Spirit-filled Pentecostals that this aspect is not any a twitter of a thought in the definition of this word.
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The most unique hairstyle in the audience was probably the one sported by my future son-in-law, Sven, who graduated on Saturday with my second daughter, Meredith. Sven wears dreadlocks—a style he adopted three years ago as a prophetic act of consecration to God.
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Hmmm, with all areas there is a ditch on either side of the truth. It would appear that he jumped from one ditch into the other. Just as a strict guideline of how you should or should not have your hair has no affect on your Chrisitanity, don't deceive yourself into thinking that this is a "Prophetic act of consecration" either. Does he proclaim to be a Nazarite or something?
If you really wanted to get in a debate on this from a spiritual side you would have a VERY weak position as the history of dreadlocks is tied to spiritual movements, non of which is about the Jesus we preach (Dreadlocks are associated most closely with the Rastafari movement, but people from many groups in history have worn them, including the Hindu Shiva worshippers of India,). So to declare that it is a prophetic consecration I would tell him just live clean and come out from among other groups.
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Sven is not a Rastafarian—he is a radical Christian who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in worship and music ministry. Along with his unique hair, other things about Emmanuel's graduation ceremony made it obvious that Pentecostalism is experiencing an extreme makeover
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He may not practice Rastafarian, but he is utilizing their beliefs. It is interesting how peopel use words like "radical Christian" as though "Christian" needs some kind of pre-fix to it. A true Christian has died to themselves and their desires and realizes that their life has been bought with a price and they are not their own. Wow! I don't think a Christian needs a pre-fix to describe who they are.
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* It is racially diverse. Although Pentecostalism in this country began in the racially mixed Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, the walls of religious segregation have been pretty thick until recently. I was so glad to see African-American, Asian and Hispanic students getting their diplomas at Emmanuel on Saturday. Students graduating from college today have the greatest opportunity ever to dismantle racist structures.
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Amen on that point!
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* It offers authenticity and relevance. I've had several opportunities to address the students at Emmanuel during the five years that my two oldest daughters attended there. I've eaten meals with them, played Frisbee with them and just hung out in their dorms. And what I've seen is that young Christians today aren't interested in the three-step formulas or the money-focused messages they got from their parent's Pentecostalism.
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I have a problem with the usage of the world "relevant." People using this word tend to imply that the Bible is not "relevant." That is what has birthed the whole seeker sensitive movement, now the emergent church movement, not long ago the Todd Bailey thing.
What most call "relevant" is error. It is a doctrine that allows a person to stay the same and fill good about themselves. Want to know what is relevant in the world we live in today?
Without Jesus you are sinner bound for hell!
That's relevant!
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Today's Christian college students are nauseated by any kind of religious hype: blow-dried evangelists, insincere appeals for offerings, faked healings, goofy buzzwords or schmaltzy Christian pop music. What they crave is reality—honest relationships, healthy mentoring, passionate worship and daring faith that is reflected through brave actions, not just words.
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I read a study not so long ago that in "Today's Christian colleges" as you stated that up to 50% of the professors are not even born again. Of course they are nauseated by any form of "religion"
Now, you mention "hype", "blow-dried evangelists", "insincere appeals of offerings", "faked healings", etc. I would agree that any Christian would be turned off by these. The problem is the people you are talking about would call in type of an appeal to live clean and deny yourself "hype."
They would call any evangelist "blow-dried" that told you that you needed a Savior and that the walk of a Christian will cost you in denying the things of this world.
They would also call any offering an "insincere appeal" because it is not about the offering it is about their desire to spend their money to satisfy their carnal nature and not the funding of the gospel so others can hear it.
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* It aims to impact the culture. The speaker at Emmanuel's graduation ceremony was way outside the traditional Pentecostal box. Bonnie Wurzbacher, a senior vice president at The Coca-Cola Company, used examples from her own life as a female executive in corporate America to challenge the students to blaze a new trail. She reminded them that whatever their chosen careers—in education, business, government, law, the arts or full-time ministry—all are sanctified ways to serve and glorify God when He is at the center of their lives.
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It was probably a good speech and there is a valid point in it. We are to glorify God wherever we are. The only thing I would add is "don't chase a career, chase God. What does God want you to do with your life?"
The best way to glorify God is to allow God to control your life.
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* It inspires selfless sacrifice. Just a few days before Emmanuel's graduation, a 22-year-old senior named Brittani Panozzo died in a car crash. She was supposed to have graduated with Meredith and Sven, but Brittani's life ended abruptly when she accidently swerved into the path of a pickup truck on Highway 29 near the school. Her death shook the campus—but her brief life also inspired her peers.
At a memorial service for Brittani held four days before graduation, students were reminded that she spent her last semester as an intern on the mission field in South Africa. She had planned to move to Bangladesh after graduation so she could work with orphans and serve churches there. Her dream, according to campus pastor Chris Maxwell, was that Emmanuel would one day sponsor a 24-hour prayer house that would also meet the needs of the poor in the local community.
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Awesome story! Something everyone should keep in the forefront of their thinking.
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I see Brittani's fervor in so many young people today. They have a reckless passion to rid the world of injustice. They know that Christian ministry is not just limited to preaching sermons or having prayer meetings; they also want to rescue exploited girls, dig wells to provide clean water and help kids learn English. And they're willing to forfeit the suburban house with the three-car garage for a chance to change the world.
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Humanitarian work is awesome and much needed. It also opens the door to evangelism and fulfills many scriptures about helping those who are less fortunate than yourself.
However, those who do humanitarian work must always remember to keep the first thing first. While, giving someone clean water so that they are not dying prematurely or suffering from disease is good, if they spend eternity in hell it was a mute point. Rescuing an exploited girl is phenomenal, but if she is only rescued and not saved you've only achieved a temporary solution.
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