Author: Lois | Page 42 | Spiritual Abuse Blogs

Oneness Pentecostal Snake Handlers

I didn’t know about it until several years ago, but there is even a Oneness Pentecostal snake handling book. To my knowledge, it has only been Pentecostal type churches who have incorporated this practice.

The book is Handling Serpents by Jimmy Morrow and Ralph Hood, Jr. It is very poorly edited. Jimmy Morrow is a native Appalachian.

Questioning Teachings: Is There Any Biblical Precedence?

In unhealthy churches, people are often told things and given no biblical support to back them up. For instance, I recall being told by a United Pentecostal Church pastor about either having non-confessed sin in my life or a lack of faith as to the reason I hadn’t spoken in tongues while ‘tarrying’ during a visit to his church for a special service. He shared nothing from the Bible to support his claims.

Let’s lay aside the basic question of speaking in tongues and instead simply examine whether the Bible gives support to things many of us have seen or heard taught. The same could be applied to other church practices and teachings.

Do we read where Peter or Paul, or anyone else, admonishing people that they didn’t speak in tongues because they had non-confessed sin in their life or anything else which gets stated in Pentecostal/Apostolic churches? Do we see people ‘tarrying’ for God’s Spirit- day after day, week after week, month after month- like happens at some churches today?

Do we see other believers crowding around new believers, trying to ‘help’ them receive God’s Spirit? Do we see believers grabbing people’s mouths or chins, trying to shake their tongues loose? Do we see them telling people to “hang on” or “let go?” Do we see believers being forced to hold their hands up in the air for long periods of time? Do we see anyone being told to keep saying “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” or “Hallelujah?” The list could go on…

Here is where many do not stop to fully look into these matters. We didn’t check the practices we were introduced to with scripture, to see if we found them or anything similar there. Instead, we went by what we saw and were taught and thought it must be the way it should be. Many of us simply repeated what we witnessed others do in services because it was all new to us.

Take some time to really think about this. Why are people being taught and encouraged to do such things when we can find no similar practices in scripture?

Correction In The Church

There are those who feel a minister has the authority to confront and correct you about any and all aspects of your life, even things quite personal. Others feel they have no right to correct anyone about anything. Many of us have heard stories that we cannot correct those in leadership, particularly ministers, but must leave any correction to God. ‘Touch not mine anointed‘ is used to place fear in people regarding the latter.

There is also the aspect of how correction should be made. Are we to openly rebuke people in front of the church for any and all matters? Do you have a right to face your accusers? Should someone in leadership just accept the word of one person? Do we have any recourse if we feel the correction is unwarranted or carried out in an inappropriate manner?

The Bible does give believers some guidelines concerning this. But how does it compare to what we were taught and what we may have personally experienced in an unhealthy church? This article is shared not to be an in depth look at all the issues, but rather an overall look at leadership.

Many of us were on the receiving end or at least witnessed it. Let’s look at how the Bible describes how leadership is to conduct themselves and not allow ourselves to be put in that position again.

I recall my former pastor telling of an incident which happened in his church prior to my becoming a member. He felt there was division and he sat at the front of the church and had each member parade by him and say whether or not they’d been speaking negatively about him. (He based this on an Old Testament incident.)

I have it recorded on tape where he brought it up in a sermon (during my time there he mentioned this event several times). He ‘corrected’ the people in front of all. After this incident, the church experienced a split. I wonder why?

Ministers are not to police people. The Bible teaches against this. Remember when the disciples were discussing among themselves which of them would be the greatest? Jesus told them that the greatest must be the last of all, and a servant of all. (Mark 9:35)

In Matthew 20 it describes how the mother of John and James went to Jesus with a request that each of her sons sit at the side of Jesus in his kingdom. Of course, this didn’t sit well with the other 10 apostles. But Jesus called them together and explained in verses 25- 28 (emphasis mine):

…Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. BUT IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU: but whosoever will be great among you, LET HIM BE YOUR MINISTER. And whosoever will be chief among you, LET HIM BE YOUR SERVANT: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

If a pastor does not have the heart of a servant and a minister, then they should step down. I Peter 5:2-3 shows this: “FEED the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly: not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: NEITHER AS BEING LORDS over God’s heritage, but BEING ENSAMPLES to the flock.” (One of my KJV Bibles notes that ‘lords’ means ‘overruling’.)

Ministers should teach by example. Time and time again this is taught in the scriptures. Be an example, lead by example. Follow me as I follow Christ. They are to bring the things of God to our remembrance (I Timothy 4:6, II Timothy 2:14).

They are to:

..not strive, BUT BE GENTLE unto all men, apt to teach, PATIENT, IN MEEKNESS instructing those that oppose themselves…” II Timothy 2:24-25 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke (Note: as in Titus 2:15), exhort WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING and doctrine. II Timothy 4:2

These are just a handful of the verses which teach how someone in leadership in the church is to conduct themselves. Just from these, it is clear that actions such as many of us experienced are not biblically based. They were not acting out of love or with gentleness, nor were they long-suffering.

ANY correction, whether in front of all or one on one, should always be done in love. Without love, we are nothing, only a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal (I Cor. 13:1-2). All is to be done to edify, build up, strengthen, and encourage. Not to tear down.

Let’s compare what we have seen in unhealthy churches to how God corrects us for OUR benefit. It is always to build us up, to strengthen us, to help us, to edify us. It always is a positive thing. However, man’s correction is often not for our benefit, but THEIRS.

Look at Hebrews chapter 12. Verses 9-11 says:

Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave then reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily chastened us AFTER THEIR OWN PLEASURE; but he for OUR PROFIT, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Much of God’s correction of believers today is one on one (with God, that is). Correction from God is for OUR benefit and any correction that is not benefiting us, but rather tearing us down, is from man and not inspired by God.

United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 4

This is a continuation of the requirements for licensing in the United Pentecostal Church, taken from the 2017 Manual. It is the same as it appeared going back to at least the 2005 Manual, with the exception of three additions to number 2 under General License and number 2 under local license.

As you will see, a licensed minister in the organization is not required to have any formal training. In fact, the experience they need in delivering sermons is very little and requires no supervision. (For instance, much of mine was accomplished at a nursing home outreach I started and the pastor did not attend.)

Below are the specific requirements for each of the three levels of licensing. Once again, the only Bible colleges endorsed by the UPCI are their own.

[2023 Edit: All of the below appeared the same through the 2020 UPCI Manual. In 2021, revisions were made in how the rules were listed and worded and these have been added to bring readers up to date through 2023.]

Article VII, Section 3. Local License.

1. All applicants must be seventeen (17) years of age or over.

2. All applicants must have preached an average of one (1) sermon each week for a period of six (6) months or more before being examined by the District Board in relation to their call to the ministry. Exceptions to this requirement would be left to the discretion of the District Board. (It is understood that teaching a Sunday school class or leading services does not meet this requirement.)

[Note: in 2018 the wording of #2 changed to the following, which potentially lowers the number of sermons required. Teaching a Bible study, etc. doesn’t require the same skills and knowledge as preparing a sermon. “All applicants must have been involved on a consistent weekly basis in the evangelistic and ministerial efforts of their local church under the direction of their pastor for a period of six (6) months or more before being examined by the District Board in relation to their call to ministry. This involvement must primarily pursue actively preaching on a weekly basis, but may also include teaching home Bible studies, participating in structured soul winning activities and discipleship classes, as well as other evangelistic venues of the local church. Exceptions to this requirement would be left to the discretion of the District Board.”]

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants must have been involved on a consistent basis in the evangelistic and ministerial efforts of their local church under the direction of their pastor for at least six (6) months before being examined by the District Board relative to their qualifications for the ministry. This involvement must primarily be
actively preaching on a weekly basis, but may also include teaching home Bible studies and participating in structured soul winning activities, discipleship classes, and other ministries of the local church. Exceptions to this requirement are left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

3. All local licensed ministers are to labor in full cooperation with, and under the supervision of, their local United Pentecostal Church pastor until they enter into ministerial responsibilities severing them from their local assembly.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All local licensed UPCI ministers are to labor in cooperation with, and under the supervision of, their local UPCI pastor until they enter ministerial responsibilities that remove them from their local assembly.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

Section 4. General License.

1. All applicants must be nineteen (19) years of age or over.

2. All applicants must be presently engaged in the ministry as pastor, full-time evangelist, full-time teacher (added in 2012 Manual), assistant pastor, assistant to the pastor (added in 2011 Manual), elected or appointed official, full-time Bible school administrator, or instructor, except those qualifying under Paragraph 3. Exceptions to this requirement would be left to the discretion of the District Board. (added in 2011 Manual)

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants must be presently engaged in the ministry as pastor, full-time evangelist, full-time teacher, pastoral assistant, elected or appointed official, or full-time Bible/Christian college administrator or instructor, except those qualifying under Paragraph 3 immediately below. Exceptions to this requirement are left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

3. Theological students (majoring in religion) who complete three (3) years of Bible training in any Bible college endorsed by the United Pentecostal Church International, and who otherwise qualify, may be granted either a Local or General License at the discretion of the District Board of the district in which they establish their legal residence. These students shall request their respective colleges to send the Bible College Report form to the District Superintendent. In no event shall the students be granted a license from the district in which the Bible college is located unless they are actively engaged in the ministry in that district prior to and at the time of licensing.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “Ministerial students (majoring in religion, theology, ministerial studies, etc.) who graduate from any UPCI endorsed Bible/Christian college, and who otherwise qualify, may be granted either a Local or General License at the discretion of the applicant’s District Board. Students from UPCI endorsed colleges shall not be granted a license from the district in which the college is located unless they are either from that district or actively engaged in ministry in that district
prior to and at the time of licensing.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

4. All applicants who are not Bible college graduates must have held Local License for at least one (1) year. They must also have proven their ministry for a period of one (1) year or more. During said time, applicants must have preached an average of one (1) sermon each week. (It is understood that teaching a Sunday school class or leading services does not meet this requirement.) Exceptions may be made for applicants who are being accepted from another church organization. (See Section 5, Paragraph 4.)

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants who are not graduates of a UPCI endorsed Bible/Christian college must have held Local License for at least one (1) year during which they have proven their ministry. All applicants must have preached at least twenty-six (26) times during the time period of one (1) year prior to meeting the District Board for General License. (It is understood that teaching a Sunday school class or leading services does not meet this requirement except for teaching an Adult Sunday School class.) Exceptions may be made for applicants who are being accepted from another Oneness Pentecostal/Apostolic church organization. (See Section 5, Paragraph 4.)” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

Section 5. Certificate of Ordination.

1. All applicants must be twenty-one (21) years of age or over and must have held General License for at least two (2) years. Any exception to this would be left to the discretion of the District Board.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and have held General License for at least two (2) years. Any exception to this is left to the discretion of the applicant’s District Board.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

2. All applicants must have proven their ministry for two (2) consecutive years and must presently be an active pastor, full-time evangelist, assistant pastor, appointed or elected official, full-time Bible college administrator or instructor.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants must have proven their ministry for two (2) consecutive years and must presently be an active pastor, full-time evangelist, full-time teacher, pastoral assistant, or full-time Bible/Christian college administrator or instructor.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

3. All applicants for Ordination to Military Chaplaincy must fulfill all doctrinal and other qualifications except the specified time of active ministerial service and the need to hold General License prior to applying.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants for Ordination to Military Chaplaincy must fulfill all doctrinal and other qualifications except the specified time of active ministerial service.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

4. All applicants who have previously been ordained by another church organization shall appear before the District Board and be thoroughly examined to determine the merits of their ordination and their qualifications for the ministry. The District Board shall determine whether to accept their former ordination, recommend ordination by the United Pentecostal Church International, or grant Local or General License.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants who have previously been ordained by another Oneness Pentecostal/Apostolic church organization shall appear before the applicable District Board and be examined to determine the merits of their ordination and qualifications for ministry. Said District Board shall determine whether to accept the applicant’s former ordination, recommend ordination by the UPCI, or grant Local or General License.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

5. All applicants endorsed for ordination shall be notified by the District Secretary as to the next official meeting where they may be ordained.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “All applicants endorsed for ordination shall be notified by the District Secretary as to the next official meeting in which they may be ordained.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

6. An ordination may be held at any district meeting and must be presided over by a member of the Board of General Presbyters. A district meeting includes regular or special called District Conferences, conventions, or camp meetings to which all of the ministers of the district are invited. It does not include fellowship meetings, youth rallies, or other sectional gatherings.

[Starting in the 2021 Manual, this is now found in the same article and section. The wording has changed to: “An ordination service should be held at district meeting and must be presided over by a member of the Board of General Presbyters. A district meeting includes regular or special called district conferences, conventions, or camp meetings to which all ministers of the district are invited. It does not include fellowship meetings, youth rallies, or other sectional gatherings.” It appears the same through the 2023 Manual.]

To be continued.

United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 6
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 5
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 4
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 3
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 2
United Pentecostal Church Manual Part 1