Title: Professor
1Professors Notes
- Theology As A Movement
- Perspectives of Historical Pneumatology
- Dr. Hector Ortiz, D. Min.
2Theology as a Movement Perspectives of
Historical Pneumatology
- Three major categories that frame some
theological formation -
-
-
-
- Dr. Harold Hunters Categories, modified
(1) Apostolic Succession Roman Catholic
Eastern Orthodox Anglican/Episcopal
3Theology as a Movement Perspectives of
Historical Pneumatology
- Three major categories that frame some
theological formation -
- Dr. Harold Hunters Categories, modified
- (2)
- Apostolic Teaching
- Protestantism
- Lutheran
- Reform
- Evangelical
4Theology as a Movement Perspectives of
Historical Pneumatology
- Three major categories that frame some
theological formation -
- Dr. Harold Hunters Categories, modified
(3) Apostolic Restoration Radical Reformation
Baptistic PentecostalCharasmatic
5A.J. TomlinsonConcerning Restoration
- Although we have not reached the standard in
every respect we are nearer to it today than any
people have ever been since the apostasy that
commenced about the third century. While the
noble reformers of the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries failed to reform from creeds yet they
did recognize the need of government and
organization
6A.J. TomlinsonConcerning Restoration
- During the outpouring of the Spirit in the last
seven years people have been free to abandon
creeds in a great measure, but have largely
failed to recognize the importance of government.
But here sits a body of people upon whose
shoulders rest great responsibilities, that have
cut loose from creeds and at the same time
recognize the importance of government as well
7A.J. TomlinsonConcerning Restoration
- Before me is gathered a company of warriors who
do not expect to be satisfied with a partial
reformation. Nothing will satisfy this
convention, composed of brave, brawny,
self-sacrificing reformers, but a full
restoration of all graces, gifts, and glory,
power and government instituted and exhibited by
our Lord, Jesus Christ and His holy apostles.
8A.J. TomlinsonConcerning Restoration
- We are here in this great convention to
search out any point of Bible truth that may be
wanting, and having found it, hoist it to its
proper place that the base may thus be extended
and made more firm. This should be a time of
deep searching and real seriousness. Upon our
search, finding and decisions at this Assembly
hangs many thousands of precious souls
9A.J. TomlinsonConcerning Restoration
- A wrong move may hurl many into perdition. A
right move will be the salvation and eternal
happiness of millions. What awful
responsibilities are resting upon us! But we
must bear them and push on. - (A.J. Tomlinson, Historical Annual Addresses,
Vol. 1, 1970, pp. 28-29, 31)
10A Present Challenge Is to Discern Gods Eternal
Plan
- The Church of God of Prophecy is on a Journey of
Destiny. - In him we were also chosen, having been
predestined according to the plan of him who
works out everything in conformity with the
purpose of his will (Eph 111 NIV). - Plan Will Purpose Conformity
11 - A WATERSHED PRONOUNCEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE
CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY - September 10, 1984
- Question and Subjects Committee Report
12A WATERSHED PRONOUNCEMENT
- It is a subject which the Holy Ghost brought
very forcefully upon us in our first meeting of
this Assembly year held in January. Its need
finds expression in the second chapter of Joel
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call
a solemn assembly Gather the people, sanctify
the congregation, assemble the elders,
13A WATERSHED PRONOUNCEMENT
- gather the children, and those that suck the
breasts let the bridegroom go forth of his
chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let
the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
between the porch and the altar, and let them
say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine
heritage to reproach (vv. 15-17).
14A WATERSHED PRONOUNCEMENT
- This Committee knows of no greater need to
bring this Assemblys attention than the need for
repentancethe need to fall on our faces before
God, confessing that we have drifted in many ways
from a vital relationship with the Holy Ghost,
confessing a self-centeredness lacking in deep
compassion for a world of people who are living
now under the judgment of God to eternal
damnation,
15A WATERSHED PRONOUNCEMENT
- rededicating ourselves to being the Church of
God of the Bible. Gods message to the Church in
this Assembly has been a call to repent, and we
must not ignore His voice. We cannot afford to
continue the pursuit of our mission without
convincing evidence of His presence and approval.
There is no acceptable substitute for repentance
when that is what God is calling us to do.
16A WATERSHED PRONOUNCEMENT
- With the moderators permission, we suggest
that this portion of our report be accepted, not
by a motion and a second to the motion, but by
those present in this Assembly falling down
before the Lord, thus setting the pace for a
Church-wide repentance to follow when these
recommendations are ratified in our local church
conferences around the world, where every local
church at that time will likewise confess their
failure in sincere repentance. - (AM 1984 127)
17THE JOURNEY OF DESTINYThe Challenges
Opportunities of the Churchs Journey
- Restoration Journey
- The Church of God of Prophecy began with a
fervent vision and mission TO BE what the Holy
Scripture was revealing that the Ecclesia of God
should be! The COGOP, from its very beginning,
had a restoration spirit to fulfill the destiny
of the Bible church.
18The Journey Continues
- Biblical and theological knowledge is essential
in ascertaining the knowledge of the Holy One
(Proverbs 910) and to grow into the knowledge of
the Son of God (Ephesians 413).
19The Journey Continues
- The following captures a truism we would be wise
to observe - Some seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge
that is curiosity others seek knowledge that
they may themselves be known that is vanity but
there are still others who seek knowledge in
order to serve and edify others, and that is
charity. - -Bernard of Clairvaux
20The Journey Continues
- A looming and pressing question for the COGOP is
What type of church do we desire to BE? Also,
What type of leadership does the church desire to
develop? - These are ontological questions because they deal
with the very essence, substance, and nature of
the Bible Church and its leadership. Example I
I1 Thess. 11-10.
21The Journey Continues
- But Christ is faithful as a Son over Gods
house. And we are His house if we hold on to our
courage and the hope of which we boast (Heb.
36). - To be an authentic expression of the Bible Church
is a call to become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph.
413).
22The Journey Continues
- The stature of something is attested by the
measure it contains and judged by the determined
extent of the allotted measure. The Church, the
Body of Christ, has been allotted a full measure
that will extend until it fulfills its destiny.
Destiny is fulfilled when the space, volume,
height, and length has reached its intended
measure.
23The Journey Continues
- Challenges and opportunities require courage and
hope, which are words that describe circumstances
of difficulties, times of complex problems, and
the enigma of life. Courage conquers fear and
doubt hope pierces the veil of the future and
becomes grounded in what shall be and does not
fade into the past. It takes courage and hope to
stay the storms of life to fulfill destiny.
24DESTINY
- Our destiny offers not the cup of despair,
but the chalice of opportunity. So let us seize
it, not in fear, but in gladness let us go
forward, firm in our faith, steadfast in our
purpose, cautious of the dangers but sustained
by our confidence in the will of God - (W.E. Warner 1972 248)
25DESTINY
- For the Church to be the Church, her leader-ship
must rise to the call of destiny and apply the
instruction of Paul to Archippus, See to it that
you complete the work you have received in the
Lord (Col. 417). - Archippus means driver of horses.
26GOD, ALL IN ALL
- 1 Corinthians 1528
- The Triune God
- The Greater Than
- The Sum of All
- For God Is All in All
27- The Triune God Is
- God the Father
- God the Son
- God the Holy Spirit
- No Subordination
- No Confusion
- One Essence
- Intra - Penetration
- No Autonomy
- Eternal Will
- Eternal Plan
- Ephesians 111
28GOD IS ALL IN ALL
- Gods Absolute Free Will Produced His
- Eternal Will, Which Constructed His Eternal Plan
- In the Triune God There Is No Autonomy
- Humankind Has Being Given Relative Free Will
- Human Kind Can choose to Agree and Work With
- Gods Absolute Will and Plan or choose
- Not to Work with Gods Absolute Will or Plan.
- Discernment is needed to find Gods will and plan.
29- Examples Concerning Discernment
- 1. A Bad Idea with a Manifestation 1 Samuel
45, 11 - 2. Let Us Beware of What We Copy 1 Samuel 67
- 3. A Good Idea But A Wrong Application
- 1 Chronicles 134,7 I Chronicles 1513
- All the Above Connects with
- Mother Church
- And Her Desire to Be the Church
- Hebrews 36
30CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY
- Trans-generation Dynamics The COGOP will
experience its greatest trans-generational
leadership change in the next ten to twelve years
of its one hundred seven year history. - The metaphor of the city of refuge Deuteronomy
192-3.
31Challenge and Opportunity
- Deuteronomy 192-3 (NIV)
- Then set aside for yourselves three cities
centrally located in the land the Lord your God
is giving you to possess. Build roads to them
and divide into three parts the land the Lord
your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that
anyone who kills a man may flee there.
32Challenge and Opportunity
- The cities of refuge were an act of mercy and
justice to ensure life to those who, with no
intent or malice, accidentally killed someone
they provided a place to flee to save ones life.
This was one way of assisting one generation to
live to pass on its inheritance to the next.
33Challenge and Opportunity
- The main metaphor of accessibility was the
command to build roads to get to the cities of
refuge. In ancient times, roads were more like
paths often called highways. The Romans were
the first to make paved roads.
33
34Challenge and Opportunity
- The metaphor of build roads gives the nuance
that roads, like bridges, are conduits for
movement from one place to another they are
connectors that lead somewhere. Therefore, how
effective the surface of the road is will
determine whether it is an accessible channel or
an obstacle course with hurdles and hindrances.
34
35Challenge and Opportunity
- The challenge and opportunity for the present
leadership is to build accessible roads without
obstacles. One of the obstacles to emerging
leaders is that the present leadership has not
developed long term leadership development
strategies that can engage the realities of the
new world order. Absentee modeling of biblical
leadership development is a contradiction of the
highest order.
35
36CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
- The Pentecostal movement is being trans-formed
from its classical base of - Justification by faith
- Entire sanctification
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit as evidenced by
speaking in tongue - Divine healing provided by the atonement of
Christ - The imminent premillennial second coming of Christ
36
37Challenges and Opportunities
- The Pentecostal movement presently is a
convergence of restoration, renewal and Spirit
movements that is producing a new Pentecostal
mosaic. This new Pentecostal mosaic includes the
charismatic, third wave and independent
fellowships.
37
38Challenges and Opportunities
- This complex mosaic is infusing different streams
of spirit-led belief systems which are influenced
by migration, and includes the church within the
church and the faith/ prosperity gospel.
38
39Challenge and OpportunitiesImpact of Migration
Patterns
When people migrate they move with their
language, culture, cognitive world views,
religion and family/community connections.
Migration is having and will have greater impact
on the globalization process in the 21st century.
In the migration process people move or get moved
by the forces of economic crisis, political
conditions, and wars/refugee problems.
40Challenge and OpportunitiesImpact of Migration
Patterns
In many cases of migration, people cross borders
illegally. It may be illegal to cross borders
without proper papers, but is it legal to be
massacred, raped, or see your children dying of
malnutrition? These migratory conditions are not
going to go away in the globalization process.
41Challenge and OpportunitiesImpact of Migration
Patterns
In Islamic nations and states, the Sharia laws,
which contain anti-conversion aspects, mean that
for the COGOP to operate or exist and grow is to
function outside the law. The Sharia laws and
migratory patterns are already presenting
challenges and opportunities to develop
leader-ship programs in fulfilling the Great
Commission of winning individuals to Christ and
making disciples. A looming question for the
COGOP is how to balance Rom 131 and Acts 4.
42Challenge and OpportunitiesImpact of Migration
Patterns
Romans 131-3 (NIV) Everyone must submit
himself to the governing authorities, for there
is no authority except that which God has
established. The authorities that exist have been
established by God. Consequently, he who rebels
against the authority is rebelling against what
God has instituted, and those who do so will
bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no
terror for those who do right, but for those who
do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the
one in authority? Then do what is right and he
will commend you.
43Challenge and OpportunitiesImpact of Migration
Patterns
Acts 419-20 (NIV) But Peter and John replied,
"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in
God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we
cannot help speaking about what we have seen and
heard."
44Challenge and OpportunitiesImpact of Migration
Patterns
If we are not careful, we will mute Acts 419-20
to Romans 131-3 and forget that the Christian
movement was an illegal religion until 312 A.D.
and has been illegal through the centuries in
many places. Will the COGOP minister to souls
and members who find themselves in the grips of
migration or take the position of ministering
only where we can be legal. This matter deals
with two of our core values, Harvest and
Leadership Development.
45The Complex Web of Globalization of
Transnationalism in the New DiasporaThe
Prosperity Gospel
- Diaspora has the general connotation of a
particular ethnical people group who, for a
variety of circumstances, have left or been
displaced from their native homeland to live and
settle in another country. Historically,
transnationals are the very fiber of the diaspora
due to war and economic conditions. In the past,
the methods of migration were more difficult, and
those who migrated to foreign countries remained
for indefinite periods.
46The Complex Web of Globalization of
Transnationalism in the New DiasporaThe
Prosperity Gospel
- The present day phenomenon of the diaspora is a
free flowing diaspora due to better travel
methods and internet connections, which is
supported by greater economic conditions. The
new transnational diaspora is a construct of a
constant flow of persons, ideas and finances.
Thus, in a great measure, the present diaspora is
following the streams of prosperity which fuels
the prosperity gospel approach.
47THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL Biblical, Incarnational,
Hedonistic
- Biblical The Bible does teach that God will
prosper and bless his people spiritually and
physically as they obey the Word of God (Mal.
36-10 Matt. 633 Luke 638). Discerning
balance is needed in matters of prosperity. The
unbalanced stress that has been placed on
Scriptures such as 3 John 2 to produce the
prosperity gospel has to be questioned, as well
as the poverty gospel.
48Discerning Balance
- 3 John 2 has to be understood from an
Incarnational dynamic of Truly God, Truly Man
one side of the Incarnation does not truncate the
other. The overemphasis on prosperity in
proportion to ones spiritual status negates the
cruciform dimension of the Cross of Christ. - It negates that suffering, as well as lacking, is
part of the Incarnational life in following the
Savior.
49Discerning Balance
- It negates the Christo-centric message of phroneo
your attitude (phroneo) should be the same as
that of Christ Jesus (Phil. 25). -
- It negates I want to know Christ and the power
of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing
in His suffering, becoming like him in His death
(Phil. 310).
50Discerning Balance
- It negates Now I rejoice in what was suffered
for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still
lacking in regards to Christs afflictions, for
the sake of His body, which is the Church (Col.
124).
51Discerning Balance
- How do the millions of children of God who live
in war-torn countries and refugee camps or
mentally challenged individuals prosper as their
soul prospers? The Scripture is not glorifying
suffering, poverty, or prosperity the Scripture
is honoring a holistic gospel for a holistic
Christian experience with Christ, and in Christ.
We neither need a poverty gospel nor a prosperity
gospel we need a balanced Incarnational gospel.
52Discerning Balance
- The prosperity gospel strokes the flesh. Who
does not want better health, better jobs, better
housing, better opportunitiesa better life style
in every sense of the word? Prosperity is built
on the premise of pleasurewhat pleases
humankind. The excessive wave of the prosperity
gospel is moving into the entrapment of the
philosophical doctrine of hedonism where pleasure
is the chief good in life and such is the way
life should be lived.
53Discerning Balance
- The concept of the prosperity gospel is already
working its way into the mindset of some of our
ministers and laity. - For such a time as this, the COGOP needs to
emphasize the Christo-centric gospel that neither
glorifies poverty nor prosperity, but glorifies
the holistic gospel of the IncarnationTruly God,
Truly Man.
54THE DELIVERANCE GOSPEL Biblical, Fixation of
Dualism, and Messalians
- Biblical The Bible does teach the message of
deliverance and spiritual warfare against the
stronghold of Satan (Isa. 611 Luke 417-19
Luke 91-2 Mark 1615-18 Eph. 610-17).
55Discerning Balance
- The deliverance gospel blesses people in many
ways and is part of the power of God. The danger
in the deliverance gospel is when a drifting
begins where the children of God have need of
constant deliverance from an indefinite set of
problems and circumstances. This leads into the
basic tenet of Dualism that teaches that the body
is bad (evil), while the spiritual is good.
56Discerning Balance
- When Gods people develop a fixation that they
have to continually be delivered from something,
a dangerous tendency has developed. A
deliverance fixation is not a holistic work of
the Holy Spirit it leads to ever striving but
never obtaining deliverance. It is a drifting
into a state of affairs where wholeness is always
out of reach.
57Discerning Balance
- It leads to a fixation mindset concerning
deliverance in contrast to only let us live up
to what we have already attained (Phil. 316).
There is evidence that the deliverance fixation
with its ever reaching but never attaining is
gaining some in-roads into the ministry and laity
of the COGOP.
58Discerning Balance
- If discerning balance is not applied to the
deliverance message, there exists the possibility
of drifting into the old radical heresy of the
Messalians mi-seyl-yuh-n, who taught one could
have the Holy Spirit and still have demons
dwelling as well therefore, they were in need of
constant deliverance.
59Ecclesial Challenges and Opportunities
What type of Presiding Bishops do we want to
develop? There is global evidence that more and
more of our Presiding Bishops are becoming more
like administrators than Apostolic Bishops.
60Ecclesial Challenges and Opportunities
Has the COGOP arrived at the crossroads of Acts
63-4? Brothers, choose seven men from among you
who are known to be full of the Spirit and
wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to
them and will give our attention to prayer and
the ministry of the Word.
61Challenges and OpportunitiesThe Journey of
Destiny
- The COGOP as an ecclesial body of Pentecostal
believers is striving to be an authentic
expression of the Body of Christ. In its quest
to fulfill its destiny, its respective DNA will
assist in developing strategies for leadership
development. Destiny is beckoning, and I believe
this church will rise to the many challenges and
opportunities by obtaining a greater measure of
maturity.
62The Journey Continues
- The stature of something is attested by the
measure it contains and judged by the determined
extent of the allotted measure. The Church, the
Body of Christ, has been allotted a full measure
that will extend until it fulfills its destiny.
Destiny is fulfilled when the space, volume,
height, and length has reached its intended
measure.
63DESTINY
- Our destiny offers not the cup of despair, but
the chalice of opportunity. So let us seize it,
not in fear, but in gladnesslet us go forward,
firm in our faith, steadfast in our purpose,
cautious of the dangers but sustained by our
confidence in the will of God - (W.E. Warner 1972248)
64The Prayer (by David Foster)
- I pray you'll be our guide, and watch us where we
go.And help us to be wise in times when we don't
know.Let this be our prayer, when we lose our
way.Lead us to a place, guide us with Your
graceTo a place where we'll be safe.I pray we
'Il find your light and hold it in our
heartsWhen stars go out each night,Remind us
where You are.Let this be our prayer, where
shadows fill our days.Oh Lord, lead us to a
place. - Guide us with your grace give us faith so we'll
be safe.A world where pain and sorrow will be
ended.And every heart that's broken will be
mended.And we'll remember we are all God's
childrenreaching out to touch You, reaching to
the sky! Yes, let life be kind and
righteousness from above.We hope each soul will
find another soul to love.Let this be our
prayer - Just like every child needs to find a place.
- Guide us with your grace.Give us faith so we'll
be safe.
65We are working with a global vision.
End of Presentation