Notes on Spiritual Gifts and Practices in Pentecostalism

Cessationism

• Definition: Belief that spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues were specific to the early church, particularly post-Jesus' crucifixion.
• Significance: Not seen as a permanent gift; God lifted it after a period intended for church growth.

The Gifts of the Spirit

• Example: Azusa Street Revival led by William Seymour in Los Angeles.
• Importance of tongues in the early church recorded in 1 Corinthians 14.
• Speaking in tongues is a message from God, meant to be understood - hence the necessity of a translator.

Apostle Paul's View on Tongues

• Paul supports speaking in tongues, stating he uses it more than anyone else.
• However, he emphasizes that prophecy is more important than tongues (1 Corinthians 14).

Brain Activity During Tongues

• Research shows decreased frontal lobe activity during ecstatic experiences of speaking in tongues, compared to other activities like singing.
• The frontal lobe is linked to rational thought, indicating a shift to a more emotional, ecstatic state during these experiences.

Social Behavior and Learning

• Speaking in tongues is considered a learned behavior, adopted within a community setting.
• Example: Observations from "Jesus Camp" show children learning tongues by listening and practicing, demonstrating a social learning process.

Other Gifts of the Spirit

• Holy Laughter / Spiritual Drunkenness:
• Definition: A gift involving uncontrolled laughter or joy, considered a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
• Derived from Acts 2, where people thought the disciples were drunk due to their ecstatic behavior.

Spiritual Healing and Practices

• The laying on of hands is a common practice associated with spiritual healing in Pentecostal churches.
• Example: Todd Bentley represents a new, edgy wave of Pentecostal figures advocating for more physical and visible demonstrations of faith.

Physical Manifestations of Spirit-Work:

• Being Slain in the Spirit: People may fall and enter an altered state during healing sessions, often requiring modesty measures for women during such instances.

Extreme Practices:

• Serpent Handling: Based on Mark 16; some believers demonstrate faith by handling venomous snakes, believing God protects them from harm.
• Example: The Coots family in Kentucky practices this and believes it to be a sign of divine protection.
• Criticism: Some argue this is a misunderstanding of scriptural intent, similar to cessationist perspectives that such practices were only for early believers.

Encounters with Poison:

• Drinking poison as a demonstration of faith, pursuing the same belief in divine protection as snake handling.

Paul's Letters and Advocacy

• Written to Philemon regarding his runaway slave Onesimus, advocating for Onesimus' acceptance back.
• Emphasizes the complexities of societal norms regarding slavery and Paul's self-positioning as an advocate despite the legal risks associated with runaway slaves.
• The letter to Philemon exemplifies early Christian concerns about moral and ethical treatment in societal structures, such as slavery.