[This post is a response in part to Brian LePort whose thoughts I have appreciated and for the most part agree. Unlike Brian's post this one is more of a personal reflection. I pray it helps some out there. these are not my final thoughts they are simply my reflection along the way, so to speak. You may disagree with me and that is fine. But PLEASE be respectful and nice]
“Hi, my name is Mark and before I was a Christian I was a pentecostal!” 
This is how I used to introduce myself to groups of clergy whom I did not know. It is a very rude and offensive statement to many, and rightly so, but at the time it reflected in many ways how I felt about my Christian experience prior to entering Seminary. This may come as a surprise to many readers of this blog but I initially trained for ministry at an Assemblies of God Bible College. It was only after my wife and I left the AG that I studied at Seminary and received ordination as a CoC Minister. My time in Bible College was fr the most part good. My experience as a pentecostal for the most part was not good! but the AG did arouse my interest in biblical studies and introduced me to ministry. For this I can be thankful. The Bible College was not the most academic of places as you will soon read. It was here during an assignment for Acts that I began to rethink the doctrine of initial evidence. A process that would see me eventually leave the denomination…
During Bible College we were given an assignment relating to our study of the Book of Acts. We were to interview a pastor of another denomination regarding their views concerning baptism of the Holy Spirit and initial evidence. Then we had to write a response outlining why they were wrong. I chose a Charismatic Baptist minister. It was the first time I had ever heard another argument from someone who spoke in tongues who believed that tongues, although a gift of the Spirit, was not proof that one was indeed filled with the Spirit. On the way home from that interview I began to think of all the men and women of God who had done great things in Jesus name and yet did not speak in tongues. How could any one argue that Billy Graham did not have the Spirit. I wrote my assignment. I didn’t think this person was wrong! I think I passed but begrudgingly I suspect!
After I left Bible College I sought ordination as a AG minister. As part of that process I was asked to declare my views on the initial evidence. A fellow minister knew of my struggles told me to sign the form in the affirmative. No one would ever know that I thought differently. I am ashamed to say I signed it. I lied…
I was an AG church planter for 3 years. There is a lot more to the story but the relevance to his issue is: For three years I wrestled with this matter. I spoke with many colleagues who quietly agreed but told me to shut up for the sake of my career. I knew in my heart that I could not affirm the central identity marker of my denomination. Over those three years I read the Bible, I studied Acts and I read widely and academically. then the day arrived. I can take you to the exact place where I felt God speak to me (not audibly) and I knew I had to hand in my credential and resign as a pastor with the AG. My career was over. I wrote the letter and resigned my position. It was the beginning of the lowest point of my life…
Many years later I am comfortable saying that although I returned my credential I did not give up on speaking in tongues. I am blessed to serve a denomination that has embraced me as an outsider. I minister in the most wonderful church in this great state of South Australia. It is not a charismatic or pentecostal by any stretch of the imagination. Nevertheless, the Spirit is at work as is evidenced in the hearts and mind of those gather week in and week out to worship God and listen to his Word preached! It is a faithful community of God’s people.
On a final note: Gordon Fee and his views on the Spirit have been wonderfully helpful; as have Karl Barth’s thoughts in CD IV:1 The Doctrine of Reconciliation. Perhaps I will share some further thoughts concerning the matter from a Biblical/Theological viewpoint later on. For now I will say this: It is my opinion the Spirit is given to all creation, but all of creation is not given to the Spirit. I believe a person cannot come to faith apart from the work of the Spirit who awakens us out of sin and into the life of faith. God has never withheld his Spirit from His people. To say that God would create a second class of Christians who had not received the Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tin tongues verges, in my opinion, on heresy. Maybe these words are strong but I do not see any where in Scripture, especially the NT, God withholds himself from those who believe. To have Christ is to have the Spirit, to have the Spirit is to know we are the Father’s children. The triune life into which we are invited cannot be fractured in the ways proposed by proponents of speaking in tongues as initial evidence. Speaking in tongues and life in the Spirit must not be confused. Perhaps all Christians should speak in tongues but then again perhaps only some are gifted to do so. Well, I have said far more than I had planned!
Peace be with you,
Mark
