About Shane Wilkins Expertise I can answer questions about trinitarian pentecostal theology, pentecostal history, probably most questions about pentecostal cultural things too.
Experience Credentialled minister with the assemblies of God denomination (which is pentecostal) expert under Assemblies of God board. Completed bible college courses through Global University of the Assemblies of God
Organizations Kentucky District of the Assemblies of God
Question Hello Mr. Wilkins,
My husband and I are searching for a new church home. We are both Episcopalians, but we find the church to be too rigid and unChrist centered, if you know what I mean. Could you please, in a nutshell, explain the Assembly of God theology and culture? Also could you compare it to the Baptist religion? Thank you very much for your help. Sandra
Answer In a nutshell? I don't know. But here goes. The assemblies of God has a statement of 16 fundamental truths, i'll give you a condensed version, the full thing can be found somewhere at www.ag.org.
1. The Inspiration of the Scripture:
we believe that in the original manuscripts the bible was given by direct inspiration of God, and that every word in it is the word of God and is completely accurate in all that it affirms.
2. The One True God
we believe that there is one God (Dt 6.4) and that he has revealed himself as a trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. All are equal, all are eternal, all are God, yet there is not three gods, but One.
3. The Deity of Christ
we believe Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, did real physical miracles, paid the penalty for our sins on by his death on the cross, was resurrected from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God the father. He was both fully God and fully man simultaneously.
4. The Fall of Man
We believe that God created man good and just, but that Adam and eve willfully sinned and incurred the punishment of physical and spiritual death.
5. the salvation of Man
we believe that man is saved by faith alone through the grace of God.
6. The ordinances of the church
we believe that there are only two ordinances ordained for the church, baptism and holy communion. we call these ordinances instead of sacraments because we do not believe that these rituals which we perform themselves impart any spiritual grace, instead we believe that they represent our participation in the faith community by identification with the death of Christ (in baptism) and the life of Christ (in communion). we follow the original early church pattern in our style of baptism and baptize by immersion.
7. Baptism in the Holy Spirit
we believe that there is a second definite experience distinct form and after salvation called baptism in the Holy spirit. we believe that it is available to all believers and that it confers spiritual gifts and empowerment to be a witness. (acts 1.8) this baptism also brings a deepened love of the word and desire to live a holy life before the Lord.
8. Initial physical evidence of Spirit Baptism
we believe that the first outward sign of having received baptism in the holy spirit is speaking in tongues. (acts 2.4) This tongues-speaking is similar in nature to the "gift of tongues" which paul describes in 1 cor 12-14, but different in purpose and use.
9. Sanctification
we believe that God desires his children to continually grow in grace and holiness. we also believe that a person is declared absolutely righteous in God's sight at conversion, but that there is a continual reliance upon the holy Spirit to transform our lives and make us holy in actuality. therefore sanctification is both a process of growing more christlike, and an instantaneous declaration of right standing before God based upon the work of Christ.
10. The Church
we believe that the mission of the church is to a.) Fellowship and Disciple the believers, b.) Evangelize the lost, and c.) to be a community for the Worship of God.
11. The Ministry
we believe that God has instituted a divinely called and appointed body of ministers to help the church fulfill its mission.
12. Divine Healing
we believe that divine healing of the body is a part of the atoning work of Jesus. (Isa 53.4-5) we regularly pray for the sick and ask God to heal them.
13. the rapture of the church
we believe that Christ will come soon and remove his children living and dead from the earth in an event called, "the rapture" (from a latin word meaning "snatched away") (1 thes. 4.16-17)
14. The Millenial Reign of Christ
we believe that following the rapture there will be a period of 7 years called the tribulation. after this period, christ will return again and personally establish his rule over the nations for a thousand years period known as the millenial reign.
15. The final Judgement
we believe that after the millenium that God will judge the living and the dead, some will be rewarded with eternal life, some with eternal punishment. Satan and his demons are to be destroyed at this time.
16. The new heavens and the new earth
God will create a new heaven and new earth.
ok, this is different from what the baptists believe only in points number 7, 8, and 12. Well i hope this answers what you were wondering about. I encourage you to go visit an A/G church. the worship style will be very different than an episcopal church, but you might get used to it.
