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2.2 How Canadian Pentecostals Form a Ministerial Organization
Reflect on the following quote from the early conciliatory statement of the PAOC:
“be it resolved that we disapprove… of all such issues that divide and confuse God’s people to no profit, and that aggressive evangelism be our motto.”
What do you think of the PAOC’s decision to allow a breadth of belief on some aspects of their doctrinal statement? Who should decide whether a matter is of secondary or primary importance, whether an issue is divisive and confusing, or clear and unifying? What do you think of the PAOC’s focus on evangelism over doctrine? Respond in a paragraph.
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24 Replies
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I think it’s great to focus on reaching the lost for Christ and not spend so much time fighting other believers over their doctrinal beliefs
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Yes, in principle it is best to focus on reaching the lost not on doctrinal differences. Why do you think it can be so hard for people to do this?
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I think that the PAOC’s stance was actually quite wise, especially in taking the focus off of a particular theological issue and focusing on the mission instead. I think that the church leadership as a whole should be discussing these issues while asking if they are really CORE issues (do they significantly impact how we follow Jesus) and remembering that Jesus and the early Church were clear on their call to follow him but quite broad in other areas (such as what proper worship should look like).
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@Zondervan great answer. This reminds me of the article mentioned in ACOP’s narratival expansion of the statement of faith about Theological Triage. Have you read it?
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I’m disappointed that Frank Small couldn’t agree to the statement by the PAOC, even after they gave him the freedom to pastor in his own convictions. We can all get stuck in in the ditches of our own particular focuses. Just because God has given us passion to study an area of the faith doesn’t mean we should abandon others that feel differently. What a great reminder of the PAOC to disapprove of all issues that divide and confuse people to no profit. I understand that it’s messy- Who decides when it crosses a line and becomes a topic of salvation?- but since Jesus left the details of evangelising quite broad, I think we also need to keep it that way.
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@Jenn it is hard not to feel disappointed about the division that was created, but in some ways, it is interesting to reflect on how multiple denominations created more churches than there might have been otherwise. Sometimes people reflect on Paul’s division with Barnabas in a similar way, suggesting that their separation actually doubled the amount of ministry taking place. I don’t know if the positive weighs more on the scales than the division, but I do know that God can work all things for good in spite of our impatience and division.
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At this point of the Pentecostal movement it was wise for PAOC to allow for some breadth of belief. The matter of decision of what is of primary or secondary importance, etc. I believe should be opened to continued discussion among believers and always be subject to the authority of scripture. We saw this in Acts, as the early church adjusted to the new gentile believers and in the epistles as the writers addressed doctrinal questions brought up by the church.
Evangelism can not be neglected or put on hold because of doctrinal disputes. The Gospel must be shared. At the same time, doctrine still needs to be engaged with as it impacts how we walk out discipleship.
Side Note: It would have been really interesting to have had a conversation with Franklin Small on his reasoning as to why he could not minister from his convictions under the umbrella of PAOC’s statement.
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@smythc1 I love the idea of having a conversation with historical figures! I wonder if we would quickly be more caught up in the resolve of Small’s character and principles than we would the content of his argument? I think that someone willing to separate from other Christians over something like this would be a strong and charismatic leader.
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