Pentecostalism today

Being a fifth generation pentecostal I'm deeply saddened at the route the pentecostal movement is taking. The pentecostal movement has a nature that allows unbiblical doctrines to creep in very easily. Today there's a lot of emphasis on emotionalism, extremism and even fanticism. The pentecostal movement in its early days was seen as a return to the first century church principles but unfortunately I think we are drifting further away.

To be honest with you, a little research would let you know that not wearing jewels is not a pentecostal doctrine at all. It was copied in from the Bretheren. It was they who started the "dont wear jewels" doctrine. Not only is it unbiblical it is quite dangerous too. Most people who dont wear jewels think that they are so spiritual when in reality they may not be so. Not wearing jewels thus gives a sense of false security. You might have seen pentecostals who dont wear jewels owning posh houses, glamorous cars, etc. So what is the point in not wearing jewels? None.

Next some pentecostals teach something called as "divine healing" which is actually "absistence from chemical medicine". But is it biblical? Unfortunately no. What is wrong in taking medicine? None. Again its a false security. People who dont take medicine think that they far more spiritually superior to those who do take medicine. Certain churches consider taking medicine as sin. People who took medicine or were hospitalized are refused the Holy Communion / Lord's Supper. But now the attitude has changed a bit but not completely. Pastors in certain churches have two options if they get sick - not to take medicine or leave the church. What deception!

Next the overwhelming emphasis on emotionalism. Many pentecostal preachers seem to say if you dont get emotional enough you havent felt God. If you dont jump, quake, shake or kick about the person sitting next to you, you havent felt God. I dont know which version of the Bible these preachers follow. The Bible tells us how to know God is present. Its too simple. Where two are three people are gathered in My (Jesus) name, I (Jesus) will be among them. Matt 18:20 We can know for sure God is there if we have gathered in His name. The Bible never tells us to look for emotionalized overtures to confirm His prescence. The Bible never tells you should speak in a lot of tongues to know God is there or feel Him. Now I dont say talking in tongues is wrong but we should know that it can be easily counterfeited by the devil. How can a man so full of the Holy Spirit go about battering his wife and kids? Doesnt it appear obnoxious? The Bible tells us how to know that the Holy Spirit is working in us. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness faith, meekness and temperance Galatians 5:22,23. This is the best scale to measure your life in the Spirit. The devil can easily counterfeit the gifts but he can never counterfeit the fruit. The devil has been counterfeiting miracles since Moses' time (Remember the Egyptian magicians?) but he can never counterfeit the fruit, because it simply is not his nature. So I think its time for us Pentecostals to look for fruits instead of gifts.

What is most horrifying is the rising popularity of the so called Prosperity doctrine. The say-it-have-it doctrine as some people call it, is utter deception. It is also known as word of faith. You believe you'll become a millionaire and you confess it, you'd become one. Thankfully it hasnt infected all pentecostal churches, but certainly a lot of them. I feel our early church fathers didnt know it. Perhaps thats why they lived in poverty. Jesus never said that if we believed in Him we'd become millionaires, neither did He die on the cross for that. Rather, Jesus said that in this world we will suffer. God knows which Jesus these prosperity teachers preach.
There are still a few more unbiblical practices in certain pentecostal churches:
i. Many churches emphasize dress restrictions that are clearly unbiblical
ii. Many preach blind obedience to whatever they say. The Bible says we have to validate doctrines based on the Scriptures. Gal 1:8,9

Where are we going? What are we doing?
Only time can tell...