Author: Daniel Tomberlin

BS, MDiv, DMin. Ordained bishop in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN); pastor for 37 years; Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Pentecostal Theological Seminary (Cleveland TN).
Posted on

The Pentecostal Bishop

The title of bishop is used to designate a person who is charged with oversight of a local congregation (pastor) and/or multiple congregations. The term “bishop” (episkopos) is used in the New Testament only six times. Five of these occurrences are Pauline and speak to oversight of the church (Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1ff; and Titus 1:7).  The fourth occurrence is Petrine and speaks to the ministry of Christ as he who is “Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).  In his farewell address to the church elders at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul exhorted, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 2:28). Here Paul offers a paradigm for understanding the ministry of bishop in the apostolic church.

Continue reading “The Pentecostal Bishop”

FacebooktwitterFacebooktwitter
Posted on

Magic Mike & Church Moms

I recently stumbled into a conversation about the acceptability of soft-core pornography by Christians. No, it wasn’t framed in those terms, but that’s what the conversation was about. Apparently, some “youth leaders” in a local church got upset when someone suggested that “Magic Mike,” a new movie about male strippers, was inappropriate for Christians. Of course the offended youth leaders countered with the usual dribble about their “accuser” being judgmental.

Continue reading “Magic Mike & Church Moms”

FacebooktwitterFacebooktwitter
Posted on

The Altar of Yahweh Elohim

The name “Elijah” means “Yahweh is my God.” Elijah prophesied in Israel during a time of dark apostasy. During the days of King Omri, many Israelites began to turn away from their ancestral God and turn to the god of the Canaanites, Baal. With the ascension of Ahab to the throne, the apostasy of Israel became complete. Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, was an enthusiastic patron of the Baal cult. Under her direction, the prophets of Yahweh were relentlessly persecuted. The prophets of Baal were welcomed at the royal court. Altars to Baal were constructed throughout the land.

Continue reading “The Altar of Yahweh Elohim”

FacebooktwitterFacebooktwitter
Posted on

Finding Joy in the Ghetto

This month I led a team to Bulgaria for a week of mission work with the Church of God in that country. Most of our work consisted of evangelism and care in remote villages of ethic Gypsies. I have traveled to Bulgaria several times am grateful for the opportunities to assist in the work of the Gospel. During the week I woke early each morning for my personal devotions that included reading Eric Metaxas’ biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and sections from the gospel of Matthew.

Continue reading “Finding Joy in the Ghetto”

FacebooktwitterFacebooktwitter
Posted on

“Tongues as of Fire”

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

The images of Pentecost are not unique to the Jerusalem Pentecost event. As I demonstrated in the previous post, the violent rushing wind reflect the ruach/pneuma of God – Spirit, breath, wind – throughout the Old Testament. Likewise, the “tongues as of fire” reflect various theophanic images in the Old Testament.

Continue reading ““Tongues as of Fire””

FacebooktwitterFacebooktwitter
Posted on

A Violent Rushing Wind

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

We don’t usually associate the word violent with Holy Spirit’s activity. We prefer peace and serenity. But Luke presents the Pentecost event as a wind-storm, or to be more precise – a Spirit-storm. The Hebrew word ruach, and the Greek word pneuma, are translated throughout the Scriptures as wind, breath, or spirit. This reflects movement, life, power, and mystery. It may also be that ruach and pneuma suggest a relationship between the Holy Spirit, the breath of life, and the power of nature.

Continue reading “A Violent Rushing Wind”

FacebooktwitterFacebooktwitter
Posted on

“With One Voice”

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).

A critic of one of my recent blogs remarked that I tend to speak of “the church” in terms of a singular, monolithic voice. The point is well taken. I recognize that the church often speaks with many voices, with positions that are conflicting. But I would suggest that the apostolic church spoke in a singular voice; and on certain core issues the Church continues to speak with one, authentic voice. With that said, not everyone who claims to speak in the name of Christ is an authentic voice (and that is true for those on the left and right!).

Continue reading ““With One Voice””

FacebooktwitterFacebooktwitter