The goal of this book is to highlight problem areas and provide tools so that miscommunication can be overcome between Spirit-filled Christians and Latter-day Saints. When we all can recognize and overcome the language and cultural barriers between these two groups, true Christ-honoring communication can occur. Only then can the pure love of Christ (“agape” love) and sweet fellowship in Christ prevail.
Another goal of this Guide is to let the pure truth of the Gospel shine forth so that all can partake of it. Therefore, we feel it is necessary to shine the spotlight on those aspects of our religious expressions and traditions that are more cultural than pure Gospel. We will refer to these as “sacred cows.” This is a cultural term widely used in Spirit-filled Christian religious circles. Our intention here is not to offend others. There’s nothing inherently wrong with having a “cow.” But whenever any group takes their “favorite cow”, and elevates it to a level equal to the Gospel, problems occur. First, there’s always the problem of idolatry. Second, “sacred cows” consume spiritual food that should have been available for hungry people. Those who are starving are then unable to partake and be nourished by God’s word. And third, “sacred cows” trample the ground, making it hardened, inhibiting harvests for future generations. Ignoring “sacred cows” does more harm than good. Therefore, we have made a calculated choice to shine the light on these “sacred cows,” which are cultural traditions that may cause others to stumble. If something is a “sacred cow,” it should be recognized as such, and dealt with. If it is truly an integral part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it will give life, and is therefore not a “sacred cow.”
Throughout this Guide, to help clarify LDS beliefs, we will refer to the LDS Bible Dictionary and True to the Faith; a Gospel Reference. These are both considered by LDS to be authoritative sources. True to the Faith is “designed as a companion to your study of the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets.” The Bible Dictionary is included with the LDS scriptures. Both are published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
May the Holy Spirit guide and unfold revelation to each person who reads these pages, we pray, in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Chapter One: What’s a Spirit-filled Christian?What’s a Latter-day Saint?
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Who Are These People?
Latter-day Saints (as they prefer to be called) are more commonly known as “Mormons.” When a Latter-day Saint authorized priesthood holder baptizes and confirms someone as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that person is considered to be a Latter-day Saint. Even if inactive, one is always considered a member of the Church. At the end of December 2010, there were over 14 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
‘Spirit-filled Christians,’ on the other hand, is the term we have chosen to use in this book to describe born again, Pentecostal / Charismatic / Renewalist / Third Wave Christians. “Church historian Vinson Synan (states) the charismatic expression of Christianity, which dates back to 1905, now can claim 640 million adherents worldwide, making the charismatic-Pentecostal expression of the Christian faith the fastest-growing in the world” (Charisma magazine, May 2010 pg 40). “They (Pentecostal/ charismatics) are growing by more than 19 million a year, some 54,000 per day” (Charisma, November 2011, pg. 39).
In this Guide, the term “Spirit-filled Christian” describes this fast-growing group within Christendom. Spirit-filled Christians attend many types of churches, including Protestant, Catholic, Greek Orthodox and non-denominational. These are believers who have made a personal decision to repent of their sins and place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Spirit-filled Christians have experienced an infilling of the Holy Spirit, and are actively engaged in trying to fulfill the Great Commission to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Oral Roberts University President Mark Rutland has stated that many young Christians are welcoming of the move of the Holy Spirit but don’t identify with a particular label; “They see themselves as Spirit-filled Christians” (Charisma, March 2010 pg. 25). “Researchers predict by 2025 there will be more than 1 billion Pentecostals and charismatics (i.e. renewalists/Spirit-filled Christians) in the world, most located in Asia, Africa and Latin America” (Charisma, November 2011 pg. 39). Across the world, the term “renewalist” is also used to describe these Spirit-filled Christians. “According to the World Christian Database, there are almost 80 million ‘renewalists’ in the United States, which would include Pentecostals, charismatics and neo-charismatics, often referred to the Third Wavers” (Charisma, November 2011 pg. 30). “Several Christian demographics experts have estimated that 25 percent of the world’s Christians are renewalist” (Hannah Elliott, Associated Baptist Press, October 9, 2006). Researcher and missiologist David Barrett has said that Pentecostalism is the preferred religious expression of a quarter of the world’s 2 billion Christians, and is the most successful social movement of the past century (Charisma, November 2011, pg. 66).
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life completed a ten nation study released October 5, 2006 which highlighted the growth and influence of Charismatic/ Pentecostal/ Renewalist Christians within the United States, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, India, the Philippines and South Korea. In every nation surveyed except for India, at least 10% of the population is renewalist. Five percent of India’s population is renewalist. Close to 50% of the population in Brazil, Guatemala and Kenya is renewalist. In Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Kenya and the Philippines, more than two-thirds of Protestants are either Pentecostal or charismatic (a.k.a. renewalist). The survey noted that growing numbers of Roman Catholics and Protestants in non-Pentecostal denominations define their faith in renewalist terms. Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum stated, “It’s not an overstatement to suggest that renewalist movements are reshaping Christianity throughout the world” (Charisma, March 2010).
“The wave (of renewal) started in 1906 with the Azuza Street revival, continued throughout the first half of the 20th century and expanded beyond non-Pentecostal groups with Episcopal priest Dennis Bennett’s announcement on Passion Sunday in 1960 that he’d received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Fifteen years later … the height of this newfound movement was impacting every denomination and part of the body of Christ” (Charisma, August 2010 pg. 60). Research has shown that these Spirit-filled Christians “come from 9,000 ethnolinguistic cultures and speak more than 8,000 languages” (Charisma, November 2011, pg. 64).
Researchers and expert historians have still not yet agreed upon a universal term to describe this group of born again Spirit-filled Christians. They often interchange the terms used to describe these believers, using the words: Pentecostal / Charismatic / Renewalist / Third Wave / and the River.
Throughout this Guide, in an effort to simplify, “LDS” will be used to refer to Latter-day Saints. “SFC” will be used to refer to these born again Spirit-filled Christians. “SFC” is a term invented by the authors for ease of use in defining this large group of Christian believers who attend many different