Question
From a question about Speaking in Tongues presented on January 26, 2006.

Continuing Answer
There are two ways by which this gift is thought to be received. First, the gift is given subsequent to salvation. In some denominations one must speak in tongues (a gift listed in 1 Cor. 12) as the initial evidence that the Gift of the Holy Spirit has been received. We must remember that the idea of a second work of the Spirit has its roots in the Wesley Revival and serves as the basic foundation for the teaching among modern Pentecostals who find their roots in Wesley.

It should be noted for clarity that the language filled with the Spirit in Acts 2 is identical to the language in Luke 1 and Acts 4.31. The conclusion you can draw is that subsequent is not a theological mindset, but is arrived at either because of our experience or the experiences of others. It is a good idea to allow Scripture to nudge our presuppositions toward a more theological mindset, as we consider any topic in Scripture. Subsequent does not seem to be in the mind or heart of God. Second, the Gift of the Holy Spirit is given at conversion. In an article by Clark Pinnock in Perspectives on the new Pentecostalism edited by Dr. Russ Spittler, (186) he says, “Baptism is a flexible metaphor, not a technical term. Luke seems to regard it as synonymous with wholeness (Acts 2.4, cf 11.16). Therefore, so long as we recognize conversion as truly a baptism in the Spirit, there is no reason why we cannot use baptism to refer to subsequent fillings of the Spirit as well. This major experience or experiences ought not to be tied down in a tight second blessing schema, but should be seen as an actualization of what we have already received in the initial charismatic experience which is conversion.” The focus of this statement suggests that conversion is the first baptism in the Spirit and that there are many baptisms which will follow. All of these continuing experiences are only an actualization of what was completely given at conversion. This understanding provides us with liberating knowledge: there are no second-class believers, some who have and some who have-not.

When you go shopping at a supermarket to buy food, there is often no difference in some of the foods available except the label and price. The ingredients are the same and even the taste is the same. Some of us are given to purchasing only labels while others purchase content. Baptism in the Spirit is a label. In Fire and the Fireplace, Hummel says, “The Church often faces the problem of the medicine bottle and its label. It is possible for a person’s experience of God to be better than his doctrinal explanation of it. Unfortunately, the reverse can be true. Orthodox theology is often affirmed with little Christian character and service. Good medicine may be incorrectly labeled, while an accurate label can adorn an empty bottle” (185). We spend far too much time debating over the phraseology of this gift and too little time reaping the benefits of the gift. We have to call this experience something and we have all sorts of Christianese at our disposal. We could call it baptism, infilling, empowerment, a special touch, being zapped, overwhelmed, or any number of other metaphors. For Paul and Luke it seems clear that one baptism, many fillings is an adequate way to understand this gift. In the book of Acts there is no one model for how an individual comes to fellowship with God through Jesus. There is no specific sequence of events lined out for everyone to follow. What one can say is that the Spirit blows where he desires. Russ Spittler says, “Completeness and not subsequence strikes me as a better category by which to understand the arrival of the Spirit in Acts” (Reflections…. 5).

Question
From a question about Speaking in Tongues presented on January 26, 2006.

Continuing Answer
There is a difference between the language of the Gift of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. When you refer to the Gift of the Holy Spirit, it begs the question, when do you receive this gift? The common language for that reception is called Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is not my concern to provide a comprehensive study of this idea, but only introduce you to the concept known as the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Depending on who you are talking to when you use this phrase, you will either receive an extreme amount of heat, or if you are fortunate, some light.

The concept of being baptized in the Holy Spirit is presented in the four Gospels (Matt. 3.11; Mark 1.8; Luke 3.16; John 1.33-34). Luke also uses the phrase in Acts 1.5 and 11.16. Jesus is the speaker at Acts 1.5, while Peter is quoting Jesus in Acts 11.16. In all these passages the term is baptize not baptism. It must be noted that the term baptism in the Holy Spirit is not the language of Scripture. As a matter of fact, the term baptism in the Holy Spirit never appears in Scripture.

Question
First, I was wondering about the filling of the Holy Spirit. I have been informed that the filling is evidenced by the speaking of tongues. This theology calls this the baptism in the Holy Ghost and I am confused. I believe that the filling is not the baptism. It is a filling. And to be filled you do not have to speak in tongues. Also I believe that the Book of Acts is not speaking of everyone’s baptism in the spirit as coming at a later date. Now I believe once we are saved you immediately receive that baptism. The Bible says you are baptized with water and of the spirit. To be filled do you always have to speak in tongues? I have always understood this as just a gift. And the least of all gifts at that.

Second, do tongues present themselves as Baptism in the Spirit? Is this the only evidence of Baptism? Or, is Baptism in the Spirit the salvation experience? Also do all people get all gifts? Why do people say everyone can speak in tongues when half the population of our churches can’t? Are tongues for a message from God? Or, are tongues something we can just use at will without the Spirit’s unction? I am so confused!!! I have been in Charismatic churches where this gift is exalted and is high and lifted up and seems to be an earmark of Christian supremacy and ultimate maturity.

Answer
The idea of being filled with the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues is a belief system developed at the beginning of the last century (1900s). It is the “cardinal” doctrine of such denominational bodies like the Assemblies of God. I have written about this in my Spiritual Gifts booklet called Spiritual Gifts for Boneheads.

The Gift of the Spirit is seen as the fulfillment of promise (Gal. 3.14). In the Old Testament, the prophets frequently referred to a day when the Spirit would be given (Isa. 44.3; Ezek. 36.26-27; 37.14; 39.29). Such prophecies in the Old Testament look forward to the salvation that the Messiah would bring. From an Old Testament perspective, the promise of the Spirit is a future (eschatological) promise, and is one of the blessings of the establishing of the Rule of God on earth. For Paul in the New Testament, this promise had occurred (Gal. 3.2-3; 4.6; 5.25). To Be Continued…

Question
Is smoking marijuana condoned in the Bible? I feel it is wrong, but I have a friend who smokes it, and says that God put it here, and if it were wrong, she would be led by the Holy Spirit to stop. She is truly seeking the Lord, and I feel this may hamper her quest. What is your input in this? I feel when I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour, he came to live in me, and I sure wouldn’t want to be getting him high. Since I also used to smoke this stuff, before accepting the Lord, I feel I have to tread carefully, for I do not want to come across as holier than thou. Do you have any input on this subject that may help me, to either stop worrying about it, or to help her, if it is wrong. I feel the Holy Spirit is working on her, that she has such a need to defend her actions.

Answer
It is interesting how we reason when we argue. This is a purely Western civilization act. We mix Western and Eastern ways of thought. “Being led by the Spirit” is purely subjective. “God put it here” is purely objective reasoning. So what if God put it here. What makes anyone believe that if God put it here, it is automatically for consumption by humankind?

One cannot win such an argument where the Bible is totally silent. One might ask if the person thought that Jesus would he have smoked marijuana during his life of if it had been offered to him at one of the parties that he attended. Of course, this in the final end only leads to more argumentation.

I would settle for asking God to give your friend a true Godly Power Encounter that would settle the issue for him or her.

Question
My question is: If I commit a sin consciously, knowing full well that I am going to commit that sin, and also know that I am committing that sin as means of obtaining some sort of reward, is there still forgiveness for me or am I forever damned?

Answer
This is a question of sin management. I think Dallas Willard provides the best answer that I have seen to this question in his book Divine Conspiracy (chapter 3). He speaks about having a Bar Code Faith. When we get “saved” we get a bar code. It doesn’t matter what is inside the package as long as the bar code is scanned. We say a prayer and give mental ascent to a set of doctrines and get our bar code so that when we die we can go to heaven. We have turned Christianity into a religion of death instead of life. We’ve made Christianity all about sin. Jesus never preached about sin. He preached about living under the rule of God. This does not mean that the question of sin is not important. It is. But our attitude about sin should become more aligned with Scripture and not some popular version of the Gospel of Sin Management. Take a look at Divine Conspiracy and see if it is helpful.

Question
When it comes to confessing sin, how many times should one say sorry to God as part of their confession? I say sorry lots of time, as I feel guilty. Can you advise?

Answer
Dallas Willard in his book Divine Conspiracy has a great chapter on the “Gospel of Sin Management.”

Our focus may be misplaced on the continual confession of sin. In management there is a saying, “Your system is perfectly designed to get your present result.” If one’s system is to focus on sin, the result will be sin and the confession of it. To be a Christian means to be related to Jesus. It does not mean that you have given a mental ascent to a group of doctrines and received a salvatic barcode that gets you to heaven. However, the gospel is the good news of the presence and availability of life in the Kingdom, now and forever.

It seems that one’s focus should be on a deepening relationship with God rather than on how to manage one’s sins by a continual pattern of sin and confession of sin.

I would encourage you to pick up Willard’s book and read Chapter 3 on the “Gospel of Sin Management.”