I find it troubling that this has become a fairly mainstream view within Anglicanism in the UK via the “alpha course” that has a very manipulative (in my view) extended session on the Holy Spirit. The “Holy Spirit” day is conducted usually on a weekend (unlike the other more universal Christian topics which are done in evening groups after a shared meal). The day / weekend session goes for some pretty intense charismatic interpretations of Christian faith regarding the Holy Spirit followed by a very emotion driven worship session in which participants are taught how to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit and encouraged to speak in tongues. I always found it very cultish and manipulative even when I didn’t have the theological grounding to reject it.
I learned a new word. "Prelest". Is this luke when you are doing yogic meditation and it seems like God shoes up, but then a year later you are more suicidal than ever?
Interesting! What about the different times in acts (8 and 19) that seem to distinguish water baptism from receiving the Holy Spirit? How should we think about this?
When looking at Acts 8 and 19, it helps to view them through the lens of early Church history rather than seeing them as proof of a disconnected, two-tiered spiritual system. Historically, water baptism and the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit were viewed as two distinct but fully united halves of a single initiation process. In Acts 8, Philip (a deacon) could baptize with water, but the core apostolic leadership was required to complete the process and impart the Spirit. This ensured the new Samaritan believers were fully connected to the main apostolic body.
Acts 19 shows this same unified process happening all at once. The disciples in Ephesus had only received John the Baptist's preparatory baptism, so Paul gives them the complete package: water baptism in the name of Jesus followed immediately by the apostolic laying on of hands. For the earliest Christians, these events were a holistic welcoming into the Church, ensuring both a union with Christ in the water and a direct, apostolic sealing of the Spirit.
I find it troubling that this has become a fairly mainstream view within Anglicanism in the UK via the “alpha course” that has a very manipulative (in my view) extended session on the Holy Spirit. The “Holy Spirit” day is conducted usually on a weekend (unlike the other more universal Christian topics which are done in evening groups after a shared meal). The day / weekend session goes for some pretty intense charismatic interpretations of Christian faith regarding the Holy Spirit followed by a very emotion driven worship session in which participants are taught how to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit and encouraged to speak in tongues. I always found it very cultish and manipulative even when I didn’t have the theological grounding to reject it.
I learned a new word. "Prelest". Is this luke when you are doing yogic meditation and it seems like God shoes up, but then a year later you are more suicidal than ever?
Interesting! What about the different times in acts (8 and 19) that seem to distinguish water baptism from receiving the Holy Spirit? How should we think about this?
When looking at Acts 8 and 19, it helps to view them through the lens of early Church history rather than seeing them as proof of a disconnected, two-tiered spiritual system. Historically, water baptism and the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit were viewed as two distinct but fully united halves of a single initiation process. In Acts 8, Philip (a deacon) could baptize with water, but the core apostolic leadership was required to complete the process and impart the Spirit. This ensured the new Samaritan believers were fully connected to the main apostolic body.
Acts 19 shows this same unified process happening all at once. The disciples in Ephesus had only received John the Baptist's preparatory baptism, so Paul gives them the complete package: water baptism in the name of Jesus followed immediately by the apostolic laying on of hands. For the earliest Christians, these events were a holistic welcoming into the Church, ensuring both a union with Christ in the water and a direct, apostolic sealing of the Spirit.
Confirmation/Chrismation, I think.