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3.1 Schisms in the Pentecostal Movement
Answer ONE of the following prompts in a paragraph.
- Consider the idea of Progressive Illumination. Howard Goss, one of the founders of ACOP, wrote “A Pentecostal preacher who did not dig up a new slant on some scripture, or get some new revelation to his heart every so often; one who did not propagate it, defend it, and let it be known that if necessary, he was prepared to lay down his life for it, was considered slow, dull and unspiritual." Is there some merit to the idea of Progressive Illumination? Do you discern any problems or challenges with it?
- Of the three issues in this video (Only Evidence, Finished Work, New Issue), which side of the theological divides do you find yourself on? Are there any of these issues that you think are of lesser importance than the others?
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20 Replies
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I think progressive illumination, has merit to it. The more we spend time in the scripture it reveals new insights and truth. Rest assured it must correspond with the word to be qualified as a progressive illumination.
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I believe it is important to be open to new slants on scripture as the reading of scripture is often altered based upon our existing beliefs, cultural world views, and personal identity. However, one must be careful not to be looking for new insight constantly as you may find yourself finding false new truths.
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It seems quite dangerous to me to expect a preacher to come up with a brand new perspective on a Biblical passage. After all, this is a book that's been studied for thousands of years, so while I believe God has never stopped speaking, the idea of pulling something out of a Bible verse that's never been seen before sounds very unlikely, and expecting preachers to do so sounds like a pathway to heresies
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- Answering prompt #1: I think that there is some merit to the idea of Progressive Illumination, but it is also an area to be very careful of. It is very easy for us as humans to mix up something God said or to hang on too tightly to an idea that may not be from God. I do believe that God is still speaking to Christians today, and does give people new ideas and thoughts. But, we also have to be careful that those thoughts are not out of line with what the Bible says or that we are holding certain people’s thoughts from God above the Bible.
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