AboutRev. Robert Woods Expertise I am an Senior Pastor of Southminster Church in Louisville, KY. I have a Masters of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I have an undergraduate degree in Government/Pre-law. I have special expertise in Church versus State issues. I have done intensive study in Baptist Doctrine and Eschatology. I can answer questions about separation of church and state, christian involvement in politics, what is the Baptist view on abortion, or capital punishment, who is going to heaven or to hell, what are the differences between the churches, why do Baptist immerse people, when is Jesus going to return, what are the signs of the end of time, is the battle of Armageddon going to come soon, and more! I am also co-author of the Book: The End of Days The Warning ISBN-13: 9781424199808 Check out our web site at http://www.theendofdaysthewarning.com
Expert: Rev. Robert Woods Date: 7/20/2008 Subject: Speaking in tongues
Question Dear Rev,
Thank you for the opportunity given to contact you. One of your responses
caught my attention, your opinion and believe about the baptism in the Holy
Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. It seems like you believe in
speaking in tongues, but that it is not the only "proof that you have been
baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is a very interesting view. Where does that
place you theologically? Baptist, pentecostal, charismatic? I am a 4th year
theological student. I do believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit is for today. I
also believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, I do not agree with
the fact that speaking in tongues is the only "sign ' that one has been
baptized in the Holy Spirit. Traditionally I am pentecostal. However, I am not
sure were I fit in with this view, that's really why one of your responses
caught my attention. Initially I thought I might be more baptist, but always
thought they do not believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I will really
appreciate it if you will take the time to respond and perhaps tell me where I
will fit in best theologically, for example Baptist. I am currently studying
through a none denominational seminary and have not cemented my believe
in regards with this topic.
Thank you for your time
Answer Blessings and thank you for your question.
Yes, I do believe in the filling of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. Obviously, this is Biblical and was the norm in the early church. However, I don't believe that tongues is the only sign that a person is filled with God's spirit. I speak in tongues but it is not what my church or my ministry is focused on. We believe in all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and focus on each person developing and recieving the gifts that God intends for us.
Now I have some great pentecostal friends who discribed it to me like this: Pentecostals believe that Speaking in tongues IS the sign that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit while Charismatics believe that tongues is one of the signs but not the only one. I guess this makes me a Charismatic Baptist.
There are many in my denomination who would like to see me leave because I believe in the gifts. However, a few years ago I heard R.T. Kendall speak. He was a Nazarene, a graduate of Southern Seminary, and pastor of Westminister Church in London, England, one of the most traditional, oldest and famous churches in Europe. He was filled with the Holy Spirit while pastoring this church. He pointed out that most of the leading pentecostals throughout history were first Baptists. Baptists are grounded in the word, that grounding makes us less vulnerable to every new teaching or new thing. But, Baptists shy away from the gifts of the spirit because they have seen the abuses (rightly so at times). Now there are also Spirit churches that focus on experience, revelation and new teachings, but sometimes they go off the deep end and are fooled by the flesh because they don't have the grounding in Scripture. Kendall says that there needs to be a marriage between the Word churches and the Spirit Churches. We need both to combat the enemy. So I have decided to stay Baptist while teaching, preaching and operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There are a lot of Spirit filled Baptist churches in this country. More and More are being led that way.
I can't tell you what denomination to belong to. But, as Baptists, each of our churches are Autonomous. You will find one that shares your beliefs if you search for them.
