Tag Archives: Baptism of the Holy Spirit

This is part II in a series on the Holy Spirit

Last week I asked, “Why is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit so divisive when the Bible is crystal clear on the need for the Spirit’s power?” There is a critical need for “balance”. Many churches tend to embrace one extreme, or the other. We identified the two extremes as resembling circuses or cemeteries.

In the circus environment, anything goes. Bizarre acts are excused by thinking “the Spirit is moving.” Often, the Spirit is not moving; human emotions, and fleshly impulses are. I Corinthians 14:33 and 40 remind us, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace,” and to “let all things be done decently and in order.” God works through brokenness, humility, and full surrender, not chaos and confusion. If you have ever been to a major league game, you may have noticed that fans (all who are clearly devoted to the players) come in all shapes and sizes, and with a spectrum of personalities. They all express themselves differently. I want to be careful not to discredit this. Continue reading →