Customer Reviews

How to Be Pentecostal Without Speaking in Tongues

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Unlike either of the other two reviewers, I did read the book. I grew up in a de facto cessationalist church, meaning that we did not practice the more obviously supernatural gifts, but we never were taught anything for or against such practice. When I went to college, I started going to a Vineyard church, leading me to become curious about the practice of the charismatic gifts.

In this book, Campolo seems to have a very particular audience: he is writing to the churchgoer who is suspicious about but not dead-set against charismatic practices. In my position, having read both extremes of position (i.e. MacArthur's _Charismatic Chaos_ and MacNutt's _Healing_), this book did feel like it backtracked quite a bit from where I stood.

If you're considering a more open understanding of Pentecostal/charismatic churches than a total cessationalist/dispensationalist viewpoint, then this might be a good place to start.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we can't do without them. The book begins rather slowly with a long introductory series about the first third of the book. Then it transforms into enlightenment, has a short period of denseness, and finishes well. Overall one feels better spiritually after reading the book. This is about the Holy Spirit approached in practical and necessary terms. It is of particular value to those whose background may be overly accademic and/or legalistic, such as, Christians -- evangelical and litergical -- people from other religions and atheists who seek to understand how Christians should be. It will also be of value to Pentecostals who are uncomfortable watching the tail wag the dog sometimes. The book is not dogmatic it is enlightening and refreshing.

Tony's a delightful preacher and writes in the same manner. He is not only a scholar; but, an absolute joy to read. His examples are from life and make solid contact with the reader. A very timely book in view of the rapid growth today of Pentecostal, Evangelical and non-denominational churches.

The title of this book makes absolutely no sense at all. Believers DID speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost, so why shouldn't we?? Only a person who doesn't understand Scripture would refuse the benefits of praying/speaking in tongues. Trying to receive the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues is like trying to buy a pair of shoes without the tongues. It simply makes no sense at all.

I bought this book when I was attending a Pentecostal church that was very unbalanced and unscriptural about their view of and use of tongues (way overboard actually). It was no help. It is very rare for me to not finish a book, but this is one I did not finish. The author's tone was very self important. The first part of the book was more about finger pointing at misguided people, like a traveling preacher whose wife mingled with the crowd and radiod information to his ear piece so he could look spirit filled. This information is worthless for someone trying to find out more about spiritual gifts, especially tongues. Far better would be to get a concordance and just study the Bible yourself than to wade through this blah book looking for the missing insight.

This is a poor exegetical work by Tony. He doesn't do his best. There are far better works to consider.