What Is An Assembly of God Church?
The
Assemblies of God is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world. By
Pentecostal, we mean the belief that Christians can receive the same experience
as the early believers did on the day of Pentecost, the baptism in the Holy
Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues. We also
believe that the spiritual gifts as described in 1 Corinthians 12 are still
in operation today.
The Assemblies of God church is essentially a "back to basics" church. We believe that the Bible is God's Word for all generations. The five purposes of the church are worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and service. It is our mission to evangelize the world.
We emphasize praise and are enthusiastic in our worship.
We observe only two ordinances: Baptism, or immersion in water, and Holy Communion.
Baptism: We baptize new believers upon their profession of faith in Christ. This brief dipping symbolizes their union with Christ in death to evil, burial to old ways, and spiritual resurrection to a new life.
Holy Communion: Jesus instituted Holy Communion during the Passover, which was the last meal before the crucifixion. This ordinance is also called the "Lord's Supper." With bread to symbolize His sacrificed body and grape juice to symbolize His shed blood, it is a memorial of His death. Communion is to be followed regularly until Christ returns.
In essential beliefs - we have unity.
"There is one body and one Spirit...one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all..." (Ephesians 4:4-6).
In non-essential beliefs - we have liberty.
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters...Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls...So then each of us will give an account of himself to God...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God" (Romans 14:1,4,12,22).
In all our beliefs - we show charity.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-2)