Growing Up Pentecostal Not What It Used To Be

Last night I got a brief history lesson of what it was like being a Pentecostal Christian back in the 1920's and 30's in America. In our small groups at church my mom shared her experiences of growing up in a Pentecostal family in that era. Hearing her stories I was reminded just how 'leprous' it was to be a Pentecostal Christian in those days. She related how neighborhood children would be her friend until their parents found out that my mom's family were 'tongue talkers' and that would be the end of the friendship - leaving her to play alone most of her growing up years. My mom and grandparents even experienced the people who would literally sneak up to their church in order peer in the windows to see what was happening inside - then wait outside until after service so they could throw rotten tomato's and eggs at the believers coming out of the church. Pentecostal believers know a little bit about the ugliness of prejudice.

I've experienced a little "Pentecostal prejudice" myself - not nearly to the extent of my mom or grandparents endured - but I know what it feels like to be 'left off the list' because of who I am. I've been in various circles and felt the cold icy chill enter the room as I relayed that I was Pentecostal. I have plenty of friends and family who've shared stories of exclusion or wrong treatment by various "Non-denominational Christian" schools and organizations, merely because they found out that they were of the Pentecostal persuasion. It's honestly very easy for me to see why some people hate Christians - I've seen (and still see) that gross, superior, 'Eww, I'm better than you' attitude firsthand in 'Christian' circles.

I see it's ugly head popping up again lately (albeit mostly from secular sources) in the media when they found out that Governor Sarah Palin is a Pentecostal believer and were (are) eager to show that she is some sort of loon.

Meanwhile - there's no comparable Christian movement on the planet to the Pentecostal movement. There are a half a billion Pentecostal believers and growing - and by no accident the Pentecostal movement continues to be the fastest growing movement within Christianity. Some of the harshest critics of Pentecost such as the "speaking in tongues is of the devil" crowd - is dwindling away. (Some of them are Pentecostal believers who now attend my church!)

In spite of all of the prejudice and bitterness that we as Pentecostals have experienced - my heart as a Pentecostal believer and pastor is not to fight back, cop an attitude, or even debate the Holy Spirit Baptism as a doctrine. My desire is that all believers would come to enjoy the fullness of the Holy Spirit Baptism - to enjoy it as the blessing and empowerment from God that it is meant to be. I no longer waste time trying to convince the 'unconvince-able' with scripture or theology - I simply pray that God would reveal Himself to them in ways they've never experienced Him before.