Hundredfold Ministries, Int'l

In the prior chapter I listed several essential doctrines which I defined as those which are absolutely foundational to Christianity. Obviously, non-essential doctrines are those doctrines which are not absolutely foundational to Christianity. It is these non-essential doctrines on which reasonably minded Christians can and do differ.

To illustrate the difference between essential and non-essential doctrines, for example, I see the virgin birth as an essential doctrine foundational to Christianity while deliverance is a non-essential doctrine and it is not foundational to Christianity. Both are valid, Bible-based doctrines but they are not equally important. That is not to say that all non-essential doctrines are unimportant. Quite the contrary, some doctrines discussed in this chapter are very important.

Remember in chapter 35 on essential doctrines we said that true Christianity encompasses all the essential doctrines as truth. Common belief in these essential doctrines is the basis of our Christian fellowship throughout the universal church. However, differing beliefs on non-essential doctrines should not divide the church. Whenever believers are so divided that they do not fellowship with one another based on differing views of these non-essential doctrines, that is wrong! So long as we Christians are in agreement on the essential doctrines of our faith, we should be in right relationship and fellowship with one another.

1. Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The Pentecostals (for want of a better term), believe that salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit are two distinct experiences which may or may not occur simultaneously. (See chapter 38 for a more extensive discussion.) The Evangelical church world believes that a person receives the Holy Spirit, which is synonymous with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, at the moment of salvation or rebirth. No further action need be done to the believer. They believe that the spiritual maturing of the believer, his discernment, wisdom, etc., are all manifestations of the Holy Spirit present within.

2. Tongues

Non-Pentecostal churches generally reject the idea that Christians may speak in tongues today. (See Acts, 2 and 1 Cor, 12 and 14.) They say that the use of this gift ceased after the first century.

Pentecostals practice speaking in tongues and generally believe that whatever occurred in the first century church is still for every believer today. (Unfortunately some Pentecostals believe that one cannot be saved unless he or she speaks in tongues. This belief is not supported by Scripture and is, in my opinion, erroneous.)

3. Demonism

We have generally defined demonism as anything that has to do with the satanic/demonic realm. Much of Jesus' ministry involved demons, or evil spirits. Demonism should be commonly understood by all church leaders but often it is not. I believe the reason for this is that many leaders are, 1) uninformed, 2) fearful, and/or 3) intimidated by the demonic world. Others tend to downplay demonism because they believe there is a danger that some will become too focused on demons thereby losing their Christian balance. Of course the opposite trap is to think that demons and Satan really don't exist today and thus aren't a threat at all. To me the biggest problem in today's church is that the whole realm of demonic spirits is often just ignored.

4. Deliverance

I define deliverance as the process of freeing a person from demonic influence and/or control. Anyone who understands the Scriptures about demons knows that very often non-believers need deliverance. The differing views on deliverance seem to come with the question of whether or not a Christian can have a demon, thus needing deliverance.

I believe it is the right and privilege of a believer to be set free from demonic power. For full understanding and teaching on the subject of deliverance see our book, How to Defeat Demons: An International Manual.

5. Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Paul lists the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians, 12. Some in today's church hold that those gifts are not for today while others again argue that everything that took place in the first century church is also for today's church. (See chapter 17 for a fuller explanation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.)

6. Healing

Since Scripture lists healing as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (above) the same two arguments exist concerning healing. Some saying it is not for today while others believe it is. (See chapter 43 for an explanation of the gifts of healing.)

7. Ministry Calls

Scripture lists five ministries or offices in the first century church, apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, and evangelist. (Eph 4:11) Some believe that all five of these offices exist and operate in the church today. Other denominations recognize only two offices today, pastors and evangelists. Those who recognize only these two offices generally just ignore the office of teacher or always combine it with the pastor's office.

8. Prophecy

Non-Pentecostal churches do not recognize modern day prophecy as it existed in the first century church or the Old Testament. They usually define preaching as today's prophecy. Pentecostal churches believe that the Holy Spirit moves on an individual to bring a specific, verbal message that they call prophecy. (See chapter 8 for teaching on the gift of prophecy. Also, for a fuller explanation on prophets and prophecy, see our book entitled Prophets and Prophecy in Today's Church.)

9. Prophets

As in Ministry Calls above, some in today's church believe that there have been no prophets since the first century church. Others believe that prophets, as one of the five offices described in Scripture, exist and operate in the church today. Even among those who do believe there are prophets today, there are differing views as to whom is a prophet and what he or she does. (See our book entitled Prophets and Prophecy in Today's Church.)

10. Calvinism

John Calvin (1509-1564) was a leader in the Reformation of the church in the 16th century and was a contemporary of Martin Luther. He was a very prolific writer and wrote a multi-volume commentary on the Bible that is still, even today, one of the best selling Bible commentaries.

When Calvin focused his studies on the sovereignty of God, he concluded that God has chosen from all people certain ones which Calvin called "the elect." These people are the recipients of the "irresistible grace of God" and God will save them. For Calvin, if someone is not a member of the elect, he is eternally lost.

We know this doctrinally as the Five Points of Calvinism.

1. The total depravity of man.

2. Unconditional election.

3. Limited atonement.

4. Irresistible grace.

5. Perseverance of the saints.

The ultimate conclusion of Calvinism is that since it is God who is choosing those to be saved, they can never become unsaved, or lost, once they are saved or born again.

11. Arminianism

Arminianism is a teaching of Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) that evolved during the late 16th century as a reaction to the teachings of John Calvin. Arminius taught that man chooses to accept God's salvation by an act of his will, and that he can, likewise, choose to reject that salvation. He further taught that man, once saved, can become lost, or unsaved, through sin thereby rejecting the salvation he once had.

All major denominations today hold the teachings of either Calvinism or Arminianism as a tenet of faith. European churches have historically tended to be Calvinistic while American churches tend to be Arminianistic. By their nature Arminianists are more evangelistic than Calvinists since Arminianists believe man's salvation comes by his or her own choice. Calvinists are less evangelistic since they believe God is the principal agent in salvation thus making evangelism less important.

12. Church Discipline

Church discipline is the doctrine which holds that the church has the authority and responsibility to discipline its members for sinful conduct. Most churches today practice some sort of church discipline. Unfortunately, although Scripture mandates that church leaders deal with sin among its members, again, I believe that many churches today are not nearly as diligent as they should be in this aspect of community. (See chapter 15 for a more detailed teaching of church discipline.)

13. Communion

The Bible gives specific instructions about communion. It is one of the two ordinances of the church (along with water baptism). There are many ways to experience communion, some use wine, some use juice, and so on. (See Chapter 41 for a fuller teaching on communion.)

14. Divorce and Remarriage

Today different countries have different laws dealing with divorce. In America about 50% of all current marriages will end in divorce. In the Philippines, divorce is illegal so people there don't divorce. But they do separate and many eventually find another partner. They begin living together with that new partner often having children. These different laws, as well as the changing moral standards of the world today, can cause serious problems for today's church.

Divorce was permitted in the Old Testament. Jesus told us that Moses permitted divorce because of hardness of heart. (Mat 19:8) Jesus also said that marital unfaithfulness was a reason for divorce. (Mat 5:32)

The issue of divorce has plagued the church for centuries. Historically the church has been very strict on divorced people, forbidding them to hold church office usually citing, "A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well." (1 Tim 3:12 NIV)

There are two possible interpretations of Paul's words in this verse, 1) divorce and remarriage, and 2) polygamy. I personally believe that polygamy was what Paul was referring to here since it was common in the pagan world in which he ministered.

We also encounter the problem of, "Did this person divorce and remarry before becoming a Christian?" If the answer is yes, then are we to say that the blood of Jesus is inadequate to cleanse this sin?

Each church must make its own judgment on this matter. Let me just say that I believe we are closer to the heart of Jesus when we come down on the side of mercy rather than judgment. In my pastorates I have never forbidden a divorced and remarried person who is living a godly life from holding church office.

15. Fasting

Fasting is going without (or with reduced) food and drink to deny the physical being in order to focus on spiritual matters. We usually associate fasting with a time of intense prayer. Jesus fasted during the time the devil tempted Him in the wilderness. Jesus told John the Baptists' disciples that his followers would fast after He left them. (Mat 9:14-15) I believe fasting is one of those areas that much of the church just ignores. If we don't teach our people to fast, most won't thereby missing the enormous blessings associated with fasting. It is a mighty spiritual tool which many believers never experience.

16. Sanctification

The object of sanctification is holiness. The general doctrinal belief is that sanctification is a process through which we are made holy. The Holy Spirit is the worker, faith, the word of God, and the blood of Jesus, are the vessels He uses. It starts the moment Jesus saves us and continues until He calls us home. Every choice in life we make that pleases God is part of the process. Every act of turning away sin and sinful thoughts is part of the process.

The other doctrinal belief is that we are fully sanctified the moment we are born again. If the new believer goes out and sins again, then he was not really born again, or he was born again, but became lost through his sin. Thus he needs to be born again. This belief can result in someone being born again, then lost, then born again, then lost, over and over. I do not think this belief is as strong as it was years ago. I think more and more churches are embracing the idea that sanctification is a life long process which is the view I embrace.

17. Water Baptism

Water baptism (as is communion) is an ordnance of the church. Both Jesus and the apostles taught baptism. Again, like communion, there are many ways to water baptize someone. (For a full explanation of water baptism, see chapter 39.)

18. Women in Ministry

Some churches forbid women to serve in positions of ministry. In fact, there has been a strong resistance to women serving in places of ministry for centuries. Other churches believe that it is Jesus who calls someone to ministry and it is up to the Lord to choose whomever He decides to call. I personally believe that both men and women are called to preach the gospel in every form to accomplish the great commission. I do not want to put myself in a position of challenging the Lord on whom He anoints as His servant.

19. Worship

There are many different styles of worship. Worshiping the Lord differently offends some Christians because they are set in their particular style of worship. I am comfortable with the Western style of worship. But some of the most beautiful worship services I have ever experienced have been in Africa with drums, handmade instruments and dancing! I think Jesus loves all kinds of worship if the heart of the worshiper is pure. We need to be tolerant of the worship styles of other believers. Customs, Traditions, and Historical Problems for the Church

I will now address some of the customs and traditions which have caused problems within the church, sometimes for centuries. I do not regard the areas listed below as biblical doctrines because, to my mind, they don't rise to the level of doctrines. The reader may differ with me on this distinction which is fine with me. Let me just say again that whatever your position may be on the following, do not allow them to bring division between you and other Christians. The problem is that sometimes Christians don't make a distinction between customs and traditions and what the Bible teaches. We need to be careful not to place too much importance on our customs and traditions so we allow the Holy Spirit's free reign in our churches, our services, and our people.

1. Bible Versions

Today there are many versions of Scripture in many different languages. In the English language alone I'm sure there are at least a dozen or more differing translations. Some people become very dogmatic about a particular translation, usually the King James Version.

We must understand that all current versions of the Bible are at best translations. Those who speak more than one language readily tell us that there are times when it is impossible to translate accurately what has been spoken in one language into another language. So it is with Scripture.

I find that there are certain verses translated in one version that I like while other verses I like better in another version. When it comes to various translations, only two factors are important.

One, who were the translators? Were they born-again or were they merely language scholars who set out to do a task? And, two, which ancient manuscript[s] did they use? While we are certain we have near original Old Testament manuscripts, New Testament manuscripts are another matter. The oldest complete New Testament manuscripts date to the sixth century. A younger manuscript, called the Textus Receptus, appears to be slightly edited, or enhanced. This is the manuscript from which King James' scholars translated the Bible. This is also the reason some Bible scholars dismiss the King James Bible as less than perfect. They reason the older the manuscript, the more accurate the translation. One translation that is deliberately contaminated by man is

the Bible produced by Jehovah's Witnesses. In English they call it The New World Translation. Christians should not use any Bible or literature from Jehovah's Witnesses since it is cultic.

2. Church Government

Church government is the method and structure by which we govern a church. There are three principal scriptural methods, 1) democratic, 2) presbyterian, and 3) episcopal. (See chapter 15 for a full explanation of these three types of government.)

3. Alcohol Use

Historically churches have frowned on the use of alcohol by its members. Overall, this is a good policy since the possibility of alcohol abuse is ever present. However, Scripture does not teach against alcohol use, but it does condemn drunkenness. Jesus Himself made wine at the wedding feast in John, 2. We know Jesus drank wine from His teaching on communion and the comments made about Him by the Jews.

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." (Lk 7:33-34 NIV)

Scripture declares that Jesus was without sin. Therefore we must conclude that drinking wine is not sin, but drunkenness is a sin. Should a denomination or church declare that it is against all alcohol use, that is a directive of the church board or leadership and it is a good policy, but it is not Scripture.

4. Dancing

Some Christians believe that dancing is a sin while others do not. The basis for prohibiting dancing is that it can create or heighten lust in the dancers. But this assumes that everyone who dances is lusting! Scripture is quite clear on the fact that David danced before the Lord. (2 Sam 6:14) I myself have witnessed many people, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, dancing before the Lord. Their dance is a beautiful expression of worship. Some churches I have been in have dancers dancing during the worship services.

Some churches and denominations have dances as part of their community fellowship time. If these dances are conducted with modesty and good taste, I do not think they are prohibited by Scripture.

5. Dress

I believe we should all wear appropriate clothing when we come together to worship the Lord. But what is appropriate to me may differ from someone else's opinion. Historically, many have tried to settle this matter by requiring certain clothing for worship services. However, this can become a religious bondage. And what about the person who wishes to come to church but does not have the required clothing. Often they stay away. I believe that the only clothing restriction for both men and women found in Scripture is a ban on immodest clothing.

6. Womens Jewelry

Peter commented that women's beauty should not be from jewelry. (1 Pet 3:3) Some have taken that to mean that women should not wear any jewelry. But Peter went on to say that their beauty should be rather from the inner self and the unfading beauty of a quiet spirit. (v 4) Thus it is only in the most narrow reading of this Scripture can we justify the custom that women are to wear no jewelry at all.

7. Womens Hair

Historically some churches have prohibited women from cutting their hair based on Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 11. Such churches may also insist that women wear a covering, or a hat of some sort in church. This teaching is based on the belief that if a woman does not wear a covering, or have long hair, she is dishonoring Jesus. But, as with the jewelry, that isn't what Paul taught. He said that the woman dishonored her spiritual head, that is, her husband. This was obviously cultural, for few men today feel personally dishonored when their wives cut their hair or they don't wear a hat in church!

8. Falling Down

In many altar ministry services today it is quite common to see people fall down, presumably under the power of the Lord. The practice is so common in some churches that "catchers" stand behind each person as the minister prays for them.

I believe that being unable to stand in the presence of the Lord is valid and biblical. We see in Ezekiel that he "fell facedown" before the Lord's glory several times. (See as examples, Ez 1:28, and 3:23.) John "fell" at the Lord's feet as though dead. (Rev 1:17) When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus they all fell backwards to the ground. (Jn 18:6)

The only problem I have with people falling down is when some ministers actually push them. This is wrong. If the power of God is present, let Him do as He wills. Whether people stand or fall is not important.

9. Laughter

Recently in many churches all over the world, there has been "holy laughter" in worship services. Many disapprove of this practice as carnal, distracting to others, or say it is of the devil.

A careful study of revivals of the past two centuries reveals that this laughter was quite common as the revivals spread. The most logical explanation is that deeply felt joy in the Lord gives birth to such laughter.

I have witnessed this laughter many times and fully believe it to be a byproduct of the presence of the Lord. I personally know people who have experienced this holy laughter and testify that it was a life-changing experience for them.

10. Music

Today's church encompasses a wide variety of music ranging from the quiet, traditional hymns all the way to loud, Christian rock. The hymns turn off some people while the Christian rock deeply offends others. Usually it is the older Christians who like the traditional music and it is the younger people who like the more lively contemporary music.

I have traveled over much of the world and have been in hundreds of church services of many varieties. I have learned to worship the Lord despite the style, or volume, of music. Remember, we all believe that Jesus' favorite music is the same as our own!

11. Musical Instruments

A small minority of Christians today believe that since the New Testament does not mention musical instruments in worship, there should be no musical instruments in our churches. They believe that only the voices of people are true worship.

For others, the use of certain instruments such as guitars and saxophones in worship services is offensive. I don't believe the Bible restricts any musical instrument from being used in worship to the Lord. A reading of Psalm 150 lays out a call to worship that must have been loud and with many different instruments!

12. Polygamy

In some parts of the world polygamy is still practiced, that is, a man having more than one wife as part of his household. In my travels I have been asked by pastors what I think a church should do when a polygamist becomes a Christian. I believe when a person comes to Christ and he (presently) has more than one wife, you are to receive him as an equal brother in the Lord. You are to look upon his wives and children as equal brothers and sisters in the Church. Their status in the church is that of a church member (assuming each has been born-again) with all rights and privileges that church membership offers. They may partake of the communion and baptism.

However, he cannot take any more wives after he becomes a Christian. Nor can any member of the family hold any office in the church. (1 Tim 3:2,12, Tit 1:6) But, this does not prevent them from serving in other areas, such as music, or a Sunday school teacher.

The blood of Jesus cleanses all sins/wrongs a man commits before he becomes a Christian. Often there are deep social consequences of past acts that cannot be easily corrected. Polygamy is one such case. Billy Graham states it wisely, "You can't unscramble eggs!"

I know that in the past missionaries have insisted that a man with multiple wives put away all but his first wife. This is wrong! Who is going to care for the rejected wife? Who is going to house and feed her and her children? What will the unbelieving world think of our Jesus when they see the church as destroying a man's household?

13. Worship Day

The traditional Christian worship day is the day Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week, or Sunday. However, some believe that the Bible teaches Sabbath day worship which is on Saturday. Both positions have a valid biblical basis. Neither group should look down on the other since we are brothers in Christ.

I trust that this analysis of essential doctrines and non-essential doctrines has been helpful. It is so critical to the great commission that all believers side by side in love and fellowship in the harvest fields. And I am absolutely sure that this is what most pleases the heart of God.