Bapticostal movement

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. [cite web
last =Cloud
first =David
authorlink =
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title = "Charismatic Southern Baptists"
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date =2006-12-04
url =http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/charismaticsouthern.htm
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accessdate = 2007-03-01 ]

outhern 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, Missouri for the church teaching and exhibition of speaking in tongues and church members being slain in the Spirit. [cite web
last =Palmer
first =Tim
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title = "Association expels Missouri church over charismatic worship practices"
work = Baptist Press News
publisher = [http://www.baptistpress.com www.baptistpress.com]
date =1999-01-07
url =http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/charismaticsouthern.htm
format =News agency
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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" [cite web
last =Hall
first =Will
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = "ANALYSIS: 2006 news in review"
work = Baptist Press News
publisher = [http://www.baptistpress.com www.baptistpress.com]
date =2007-01-04
url =http://www.baptistpress.com/bpnews.asp?ID=24710
format =News agency
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accessdate = 2007-03-01 ] .

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, :"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." [ cite web
last =Foust
first =Michael
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = "Southwestern trustee's sermon on tongues prompts response"
work = Baptist Press News
publisher = [http://www.baptistpress.com www.baptistpress.com]
date =2006-08-30
url =http://www.baptistpress.com/bpnews.asp?ID=23882
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accessdate = 2007-03-01 ]

However, shortly after his election as president of the Convention, Rev. Frank Page expanded on his "big tent" 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." [ cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
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title = "BP debuts Frank Page column"
work = Baptist Press News
publisher = [http://www.baptistpress.com www.baptistpress.com]
date =2006-07-06
url =http://www.baptistpress.com/bpnews.asp?ID=23582
format =News agency
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accessdate = 2007-03-01 ]

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." [Mike Huckabee. [http://www.newsweek.com/id/40211?bcpid=1243727405&bclid=1334432247&bctid=1334422788 "Gov. Huckabee in the Pulpit"] "Newsweek" Video. December 17 2007. Retrieved January 6 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.charismamag.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=80&sid=f4b0cdd5788974e09bfc4ec0ebe9e058 "Fire in My Bones: Confessions of a Bapticostal"] in "Charisma" Magazine