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Non-Pentecostals commonly criticize the movement by saying it teaches that those who don’t speak in tongues also don’t have the Holy Spirit, but I’ve encountered few Pentecostals who deny the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in other sincere Christians. That accusation is false. What Pentecostal theology does attempt is a retcon of Scripture’s teachings regarding baptism. The Christian faith is famously summarized as “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” in Ephesians, but for more than a century Charles Parham & Co. have tried inventing a second baptism.1
It’s important to distinguish first wave Pentecostalism in the early-20th century from the second wave charismatic renewal movement beginning in the ’60s. Both affirm a subsequent greater filling of the Spirit as a post-salvation event, but only Pentecostalism insists upon framing it as a second baptism. For this reason, I tend to be a bit gentler with charismatics. Nevertheless, this whole mentality produces a two-tier faith where there are better (Spirit-filled) and worse (unfilled) Christians, which breeds some of the most perverse spiritual pride you’ll ever find. It’s ugly.2
New Testament theology is complex. Christians acting in good faith have strong differences on matters of beliefs and practices. That’s perfectly reasonable. There must be room for thoughtful disagreement, especially about secondary matters. Unfortunately, it can be hard to keep things charitable when one of these brothers and sisters riff condescendingly with remarks like, “Oh, so you’ve only received the baptism of Jesus?”, “You’re not Spirit-filled, so your ministry isn’t fully powered”, or “You have head knowledge, but it’s too bad you don’t truly know God like we do.”3
Those studying trends in global Christianity observe a shift toward a more charismatic faith. That doesn’t align with my own theological convictions but, ya know, I could be wrong. Perhaps God is up to something surprising that can’t be explained by other factors. I’m open to that. As such there needs to be space for a diversity of theological perspectives on the so-called “sign gifts.” However, there are two things beatnik Christianity won’t abide: claims of a second “baptism in the Holy Spirit” and two-tier condescension. Both are deleterious to any hope for ecumenical unity.4
The original beatniks… yyyyeah, I got nothin’. There’s no obvious connective tissue between the Beat Generation and in-house debates among Jesus followers about the Holy Spirit. What I really want to say is that, as a recovering Pentecostal, I know charismatic-leaning Christians genuinely mean well. Maybe some of ’em really do commune with God in a heightened or special way, but here’s my question: if they’re that attuned to the Spirit, wouldn’t they also be sensitive to how much damage and division is caused by their condescension and bad interpretations?
To quote Kevin Bacon in Animal House, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?”↩
Here’s a true story: In high school, I asked a Pentecostal youth minister about the beliefs of the other non-Pentecostal youth pastors in our small town. It confused me how they wouldn’t believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They were all quite friendly and worked closely together, so I anticipated a kind explanation. Instead he was so critical about their not being Spirit-filled that I finally commented, “Huh. It sounds like you think they’re barely even Christian.” He replied, “Barely.” Yet this dude vehemently denied having an ego or begin condescending.↩
This aren’t hypothetical examples. I was born and raised Pentecostal. These are but a sampling of hurtful, real-life things that have been said to me or people close to me.↩
It’s the same problem I have with Roman Catholicism’s closed communion to “separated brethren” in other Christian traditions.↩
