One of the signature beliefs of the Spirit-empowered tradition is the idea that prophecy is for today. Not only did the day of Pentecost reimagine the people of God as the "prophethood of all believers," but it is also a continual reminder that the Spirit is still speaking in every generation. The 1 Corinthians 12 … Continue reading Scholarship as a Prophetic Gift
Assemblies of God
Interesting Facts about the AG’s Statement of Fundamental Truths
The Statement of Fundamental Truths has been the doctrinal standard for the Assemblies of God since 1916. The 16 Fundamental Truths lay out the AG's positions on its beliefs in short statements of biblical truths. Studying these truths has been an interest of mine for over a decade. Much of my dissertation research on eschatology … Continue reading Interesting Facts about the AG’s Statement of Fundamental Truths
A Response to Robert Menzies’s “Pentecostal Eschatology: Why Amillennialism is a Better Fit.”
Robert Menzies’s 2022 book The End of History has stirred up many conversations around eschatology in the Assemblies of God. Unfortunately, his arguments in favor of replacing AG positions of premillennialism with his interpretation of amillennialism put him in the precarious position of being in direct contradiction to AG bylaws. The result was his unfortunate … Continue reading A Response to Robert Menzies’s “Pentecostal Eschatology: Why Amillennialism is a Better Fit.”
The Year I Was Filled with the Holy Spirit
When giving testimonies of experiences with God, it is not uncommon for people to talk about "the day" something happened. People may say something like, "I remember the day I was saved" or "I remember the day God changed my life." These testimonies of immediate transformation are encouraging because it reinforces our conversion-centered orientation of … Continue reading The Year I Was Filled with the Holy Spirit
Five Surprising Facts About Assemblies of God Eschatology
During my doctoral research about the history of Assemblies of God beliefs about eschatology, I made several interesting discoveries. While most know Pentecostals have historically followed premillennial, dispensational, and pretribulational forms of eschatology, I have to admit that many of my assumptions about those beliefs were challenged and/or corrected by what I found articulated in … Continue reading Five Surprising Facts About Assemblies of God Eschatology
New Book: Imagining the Future.
I am excited that my dissertation on the history of Assemblies of God eschatology is now available from ORU Press. https://www.amazon.com/Imagining-Future-Development-Assemblies-Eschatology/dp/1950971082/ Since the Assemblies of God began in 1914, a great importance was placed on the belief in the second coming of Christ. However, in recent decades, a segment of AG ministers and educators have … Continue reading New Book: Imagining the Future.
Revising the Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths
The Assemblies of God General Council is meeting next month and the hot topic for this year is a proposed revision to the Statement of Fundamental Truths. This document, created in 1916, has served as the theological basis for the fellowship. Its central tenets define the AG's beliefs on doctrinal matters such as salvation, baptism … Continue reading Revising the Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths
Pentecostals, Earth Day, and the Legacy of Secretary James Watt
Did you know that Earth Day was started by a Pentecostal? That's right! Earth day is a day established to recognize humanity's obligation to care for the earth for future generations. Although concern for the environment is often thought of as a progressive issue, its origins actually came from a man with a rich Pentecostal … Continue reading Pentecostals, Earth Day, and the Legacy of Secretary James Watt
Aimee Semple McPherson and the Spanish Influenza In Tulsa
In conducting my earlier research on Pentecostals and the Spanish Flu in 1918-1919 (that has since gone viral around the world through Influence Magazine ), I had wondered if there was anything about the epidemic tied to Tulsa. At that point, my searches had come up empty. However, I decided to look back on some … Continue reading Aimee Semple McPherson and the Spanish Influenza In Tulsa
How Pentecostals Responded to the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic
(Note: This blog was also published in Influence Magazine and can be viewed on their website https://influencemagazine.com) Hear a podcast about this topic with Steve Strang of Charisma Magazine. Right now the whole world is feeling the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic. It seems like every institution in our society is closing down to protect … Continue reading How Pentecostals Responded to the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic