Bapticostal movement
Encyclopedia
The Bapticostal movement is a movement in some Baptist
churches towards adopting certain elements of the charismatic movement
. The word Bapticostal is a portmanteau of Baptist and Pentecostal
. The term has been used in a limited manner to describe a worship style of high-tempo Contemporary Christian music
accompanied with spontaneous shouts, clapping and hand raising. But it also describes those churches where members profess to have and exhibit the charismatic gifts
that are practiced in Pentecostalism such as speaking in tongues
, being slain in the Spirit
, or being granted a word of knowledge
. The prevalence of such beliefs within Baptist churches worldwide is unknown. In some unions or conventions it hardly exists (e.g. Eastern Europe) but in others (Australia, New Zealand) it is common. In the United States
, it has been estimated that among Southern Baptist churches
, 5% of the churches could be classified as Bapticostal, and the numbers are growing. According to a study in 1989, 69% of Baptist churches belonging to the Baptist Union of New Zealand
, the main Baptist association in New Zealand, identified positively with the charismatic movement.
for the church teaching and exhibition of speaking in tongues and church members being slain in the Spirit
.
More recently, in 2006 the International Mission Board passed standards for missionaries which would disqualify those who espoused opposition to traditional Southern Baptist doctrines of eternal security and a rejection of a salvific view of baptism
, and also engaged in speaking in tongues or had a "private prayer language".
Following the new qualification of missionary appointments, the Rev. Dwight McKissic
gave a sermon during a chapel service to students attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
and announced that he speaks in tongues and uses a private prayer language and emphasized not taking a cessationist
view of the charismatic gifts. Southwestern quickly distanced itself from McKissic's comments saying,
However, shortly after his election as president of the Convention, Rev. Frank Page expanded on his "big tent
" view of Southern Baptists by saying,
Mike Huckabee
in describing his home church said in a sermon on December 2, 2007, "we tend to be a little Bapticostal where I go."
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches towards adopting certain elements of the charismatic movement
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
. The word Bapticostal is a portmanteau of Baptist and Pentecostal
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
. The term has been used in a limited manner to describe a worship style of high-tempo Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
accompanied with spontaneous shouts, clapping and hand raising. But it also describes those churches where members profess to have and exhibit the charismatic gifts
Charism
In Christian theology, a charism in general denotes any good gift that flows from God's love to man. The word can also mean any of the spiritual graces and qualifications granted to every Christian to perform his or her task in the Church...
that are practiced in Pentecostalism such as speaking in tongues
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
, being slain in the Spirit
Slain in the Spirit
Being "slain in the Spirit" is a term used within charismatic Christianity. It describes a religious behaviour in which an individual falls to the floor...
, or being granted a word of knowledge
Word of Knowledge
In Christianity, the word of knowledge is a spiritual gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8. Among Pentecostal and charismatic Christians, it is regarded as a supernatural revelation of knowledge through the power of the Holy Spirit...
. The prevalence of such beliefs within Baptist churches worldwide is unknown. In some unions or conventions it hardly exists (e.g. Eastern Europe) but in others (Australia, New Zealand) it is common. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it has been estimated that among Southern Baptist churches
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
, 5% of the churches could be classified as Bapticostal, and the numbers are growing. According to a study in 1989, 69% of Baptist churches belonging to the Baptist Union of New Zealand
Baptist Union of New Zealand
The Baptist Union of New Zealand is an association of Baptist churches in the country of New Zealand.Several Baptists settled in New Zealand in the 1840s, but the first Baptist minister, Decimus Dolamore from Yorkshire, England, did not arrive until May 1851...
, the main Baptist association in New Zealand, identified positively with the charismatic movement.
Southern Baptist Response
While the Bapticostal movement may be gaining support with individual churches in the convention, the movement has been met with official opposition. In 1999, a regional Southern Baptist association of churches expelled the Calvary Baptist Church in Marshfield, MissouriMarshfield, Missouri
Marshfield is a city in Webster County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,633 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat and part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
for the church teaching and exhibition of speaking in tongues and church members being slain in the Spirit
Slain in the Spirit
Being "slain in the Spirit" is a term used within charismatic Christianity. It describes a religious behaviour in which an individual falls to the floor...
.
More recently, in 2006 the International Mission Board passed standards for missionaries which would disqualify those who espoused opposition to traditional Southern Baptist doctrines of eternal security and a rejection of a salvific view of baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, and also engaged in speaking in tongues or had a "private prayer language".
Following the new qualification of missionary appointments, the Rev. Dwight McKissic
Dwight McKissic
William Dwight McKissic, Sr. or Dwight McKissic is a prominent African-American Southern Baptist minister from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He is the current senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. McKissic is a controversial leader of the Bapticostal movement, marked by a...
gave a sermon during a chapel service to students attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a private, non-profit institution of higher education, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
and announced that he speaks in tongues and uses a private prayer language and emphasized not taking a cessationist
Cessationism
In Christian theology, Cessationism is the view that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues, prophecy and healing, ceased being practiced early on in Church history. The opposite of Cessationism is Continuationism...
view of the charismatic gifts. Southwestern quickly distanced itself from McKissic's comments saying,
- "Rev. McKissic’s interpretation of tongues as 'ecstatic utterance' is not a position that we suspect would be advocated by most faculty or trustees. In keeping with Baptist convictions regarding religious liberty, we affirm Rev. McKissic’s right to believe and advocate his position. Equally in keeping with our emphasis of religious liberty we reserve the right not to disseminate openly views which we fear may be harmful to the churches."
However, shortly after his election as president of the Convention, Rev. Frank Page expanded on his "big tent
Big tent
In politics, a big tent party or catch-all party is a political party seeking to attract people with diverse viewpoints. The party does not require adherence to some ideology as a criterion for membership...
" view of Southern Baptists by saying,
- "Churches must deal with charismatic issues and theology as a part of their own autonomous structure. I think that many charismatics function well within traditional Southern Baptist churches. In fact, we have several in our church. Some are more vocal and sometimes disruptive. Churches must deal with those kinds of attitudes on a case by case basis. Trustee bodies must do the same."
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
in describing his home church said in a sermon on December 2, 2007, "we tend to be a little Bapticostal where I go."
External links
- "Fire in My Bones: Confessions of a Bapticostal" in Charisma MagazineCharisma (magazine)Charisma is a monthly Christian magazine based in Lake Mary, Florida, aimed at Pentecostals and charismatics...