Overview of the Modern Church

What do you know about the structure, governance, and doctrines of modern churches? Hierarchical denominations such as the Baptists and Pentecostals often suppress the freedom of pastors through credentialing, financial control, and strict adherence to their doctrine.

Pastor John described his own experience of being censured by the Southern Baptist Convention for preaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Church doctrine on the areas of salvation, water baptism, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit varies. Salvation comes by grace through faith and cannot be lost through sin; it is not conditional as some believe.

Baptism by immersion was the early church practice; infant sprinkling is not valid. The legitimacy of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the associated nine gifts cannot be understated; it did not end with the apostles. Christians need to obey God rather than man-made traditions and you would do well to rely upon the Bible and the Holy Spirit.