The clearest difference between us at the Decker Prairie church of Christ and our Pentecostal neighbors is over the miraculous gifts. They expect tongues, prophecy, and miraculous healing to continue today, and they urge believers to seek them. Here, we believe those gifts finished their work when God’s revelation was complete, so we do not seek them now. Sit through one service here and that difference explains most of what you notice: the singing, the expectations, the use of the Bible.
Other differences follow: instrumental music, how a congregation is organized, and what a Christian should expect the Holy Spirit to do in him today. We hold our Pentecostal neighbors in real regard for their earnestness about God, and we would rather set the differences out generally than talk around them, passage by passage.
Miracles Were Used to Confirm The Word
In the first century, miraculous gifts confirmed that the preached message came from God, back when no one could pick up a finished New Testament and check. Paul wrote that the gifts had a limit built in: “As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away” ().
One way to understand “the perfect” is that it is about God’s finished revelation, the faith Jude described as “once for all delivered to the saints” (). A confirmed and complete message needed no more confirming, so the gifts closed out their assignment. Even if “the perfect” is viewed as being with God in eternity, it still remains that the purpose of miracles was to confirm the message taught. Paul’s point is that the saints in Corinth should pursue love more than miraculous gifts. Love will last forever and miraculous gifts will not. Speaking of God’s revelation the Hebrew writer says “It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (). We now have that message in full. Miracles were a testimony to the authority of Jesus himself and his revealed word. Even if someone could argue miracles had other purposes there are other obstacles to the idea that they are still happening today.
How the Gifts Were Passed On
Typically these gifts were passed on in the New Testament through the hands of the apostles () and through Paul himself (; ). No apostles remain, so neither does the only channel the gifts traveled through. The two exceptions to this exist. The first is that the Holy Spirit directly fell on the Apostles at Pentecost in Acts 2. The other is found in Acts 10 when the Holy Spirit fell on the first Gentile converts while Peter was speaking to them. Both were demonstrations of God’s acceptance of these groups. The imparting of the Spirit on these individuals was clear and unmistakable.
Worth adding: the tongues in Acts were understandable human languages, not unintelligible speech. What amazed the crowd was that “each one was hearing them speak in his own language” ().
Read What the Spirit Does in a Christian Now
Our answer is not “nothing,” and that caricature is wrong. We believe a Christian receives the gift of the Holy Spirit when he is baptized into Christ (). The Spirit assures us: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (). The Spirit also shapes a Christian’s character over a lifetime: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (). He answers prayer, and His providence still moves through ordinary days.
So the difference is not whether the Spirit is active. The question is whether that work shows up as visible miracles or not. Even in the first century when miracles were present not everyone worked miracles of some kind. It was not necessary to be in Christ. Paul says “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” (). These rhetorical questions expect the answer “no.” The reality is in the history of the world miracles worked by humans have only happened in very short spans of time. Primarily they were done by Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, and the Apostles. Prophets were clearly inspired to speak God’s word, but they rarely did the miraculous. In all of human history miracle working has happened in tight windows of time for specific purposes. God can do as he pleases and if he chooses and he can choose to do miracles today. If he does they will be obvious and clear just like they were in Scripture.
Look at How the New Testament Describes Worship
Pentecostal assemblies are usually expressive: a band, hands in the air, unplanned speaking or prayer, sometimes prophecy or a call for healing. Services vary widely, since those congregations differ from one another.
Worship here is different. We sing a cappella, meaning voices only, no instruments, following the New Testament’s own description of singing: “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (). We pray, give, hear preaching from the Scriptures, and take the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week (). While expressing emotion is welcome, our service will not be chaotic. It follows an order you can recognize, because Paul told the Corinthians “all things should be done decently and in order” ().
Then Look at Who Oversees a Congregation
Some Pentecostal churches are independent, though many answer to a denominational body with regional or national leadership.
We have nothing like that. Our congregation stands on its own, overseen by its own elders, men who meet the New Testament’s qualifications (; ), and Peter told elders to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (). There is no headquarters over us, no convention, no office above the local church, because Christ alone is the head of the church ().
We are also careful about the limits of our voice: with no governing body above us, we can only speak for the Decker Prairie church of Christ.
Settle It With an Open Bible
We invite people to make decisions based on the realities of the scriptural testimony. Decisions should not be made by which service moves someone the most. We believe emotions should proceed from the realities of truth, not be the means by which we decide truth. The question worth asking is one you can settle yourself: what did the first Christians actually do, and why? Read Acts and New Testament letters to see for yourself. We would welcome a discussion from scripture that would continue to help all of us be more like Jesus and follow his will more closely. You can be a part of that process at Decker Prairie with an open bible and open heart.
Keep Studying
Take it slowly. Hold every church you consider to the same standard, ours included. Read the passages in context, not one verse at a time. If questions remain, ask someone willing to show you chapter and verse instead of just an opinion.
Come Study These Passages With Us
Real purpose is not found in a feeling that fades by Monday. It is found in serving God, your family, and the people around you, and at the Decker Prairie church of Christ we would count it a joy to open the Scriptures with you and work through questions like these. No pretense here, just people glad you came.
Plan your visit, and you’ll be right at home.
Want to know what the Bible says about being saved? Start here.
When we meet:
- Sunday: Worship 10:00 am · Bible Class 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: Bible Class 7:30 pm
