One of the hallmarks of the Pentecostal movement was the teaching that Baptism in the Holy Spirit was an experience subsequent to regeneration and evidenced by the sign of speaking in unkown tongues. Yet within Pentecostalism there has been complexity and diversity in both theology and practice.
In 40 Questions about Pentecostalism, Jonathan Black writes:
“Still today, many European Pentecostal denominations do not hold to the doctrine of initial physical evidence. Two of the three British Pentecostal denominations that emerged from the early revival, the Apostolic Church UK and the Elim Pentecostal Church, believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit will be accompanied by “signs following.” Neither specifies tongues as necessary evidence.”
Yet even the Apostolic Church, with its more modified statement on signs of the baptism in practice tended to emphasise tongues as a sign. The following quotes show that there is often a difference in practice and creed. At times the official teaching of the church is stricter than the church’s official statement of faith (we see this where tongues is stressed as THE evidence. At other times the sign is described as simply ONE evidence. There is even at times conflicting statements to be found by the same teacher in the same article or sermon. Again this just goes to evidence that there were nuances within the dogma.
Extracts from historic Apostolic Church writings
The gift of the Spirit is to be received by all believers (Luke 11: 13) who fulfil the essential conditions of thirst, prayer, waiting upon God, and obedience to His Will, and may be received (as instanced in various Scriptures) either directly or during the laying on of hands upon the seeker for the baptism. (Acts 1: 14; 2: 1-4; Acts 5: 32 ; 10: 44, 46 ; Acts 8: 17; 19: 6.)
The coming of the Spirit to a person should be evidenced by the sign of speaking in tongues (Acts 2: 4, 7, 8; 10: 44-46), so that the person who receives the Spirit speaks in a language which to himself or herself is unknown and not understood. It is evident from what the Scriptures say, that it is necessary for both the person himself who receives the Spirit, and also other members of the Church, to know when that person has received the Spirit.
(Luke 24: 49; Acts 1: 4; 6: 3.) Peter confirms this in Acts 11 15, 15: The scriptural evidence of the Baptism is “speaking in tongues.” (Acts 2: 4; 10: 46; 19: 6.)
The receiving of the Spirit Himself by a person (so that the Spirit dwell in that person) is distinguished from any work done by the Spirit for or within that person. (John 14: 17.) So that to believe in Christ and be born of the Spirit, is not the same thing as to be baptised in the Spirit. The scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit as being “in” us (John 14: 17); and “upon” us (Acts 1: 8). Those baptized in the Spirit realize this.
Fundamentals (Official Catechism of Apostolic Church, Date Unkown)
“Of course, every seeker desires some Scriptural sign that they can be positive that they have received the promised Gift. We unhesitatingly say, on the basis of the Word of God, that there is only one answer.
The only definite initial sign, about which there can be no question, is the sign of speaking “with other tongues, as the Spirit (gives) .. utterance” (Acts 2 : 4).”
W.A.C Rowe ‘One Lord, One Faith’
While we do not assert that a person may not receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit without the initial sign of speaking with other tongues; yet we steadfastly maintain that no one can testify with Scriptural certainty that they have received the Spirit in this manner unless they can say they have spoken with “other tongues.” Of course we realise that there are other signs of the Spirit-filled life such as, say, the Fruit of the Spirit may be termed signs or indications of the Spirit’s abiding within. But there is but one positive, Scriptural, initial sign “speaking with other tongues” as the Spirit gives utterance.
W.A.C Rowe ‘One Lord, One Faith’
Undoubtedly it is true that there is a possibility for you to have real fullness of the Holy Ghost, and that fullness not rightly directed to the utterance of tongues … it has not come
out in tongues, but the fullness has come in … Our teaching is that they should expect speaking in tongues, but the Holy Ghost may work in another way.
Quoted by Jonathan Black in Apostolic Theology
“We believe that evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is that the Spirit speaks through us in an uknown tongue.”
Pastor Joshua McCabe, Australia Riches of Grace 1955.
We cannot fail to be impressed that at the day of Pentecost “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2: 4). Practically every recorded instance of the Holy Spirit Baptism in the New Testament is accompanied by this sign…The inevitable conclusion, therefore, is that practically every recorded instance of the Holy Ghost Baptism in the New Testament was accompanied by this sign. Christ declared in His Commission (Mark 16: 15-20), which embraces the whole Gospel dispensation, that one of the signs that would follow true faith would be.” they shall speak with new tongues “. (v. 17) Hence we are scriptural in contending that one of the evidences of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is ” speaking in an unknown tongue.”
Pastor W.H. Lewis, Riches of Grace 1955
THE SIGN OF RECEIVING THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
So tremendous on the day of Pentecost was the impact of the Spirit of God upon the spirit of man that even his speech was changed. Men spake as they never spoke before, for the simple reason that the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. Men found themselves with a power to speak with other and unknown tongues.
This is the Scriptural pattern for believers receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit for the whole Church age…. So when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit we shall also speak with tongues.”
T.N Turnbull, What God has Wrought
Rev John James 