Does The Foursquare Church believe in women ministers and pastors?
The Foursquare Church has always licensed women as ministers and has always had women pastors. In 1988 the board of directors passed a declaration in regard to women in ministry leadership: “The present and historical position of The Foursquare Church affirms the biblical truth that women are called of God to roles of leadership and public ministry. We hereby reaffirm and encourage the ministry of women throughout the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.”
Since that time, additional publications have explained and defended Foursquare’s belief that women are qualified to be ministers in positions of leadership. More information about this issue, including explanations of Bible passages, is available by downloading our Women in Leadership resource.
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Who is Jesus? Does He really make a difference?
Have you ever wondered who Jesus Christ is? Why is He so important? What is it about Him that has had such a profound effect on the world?
The birth of Jesus Christ is considered by most historians to be the central point in history, at least as far as contemporary calendars are concerned. His life was short—just 30-something years—but in that brief amount of time, He challenged the status quo among religious and political leaders with His teaching of God’s love for all people.
When Jesus walked the earth, He fleshed out what Old Testament prophets had predicted hundreds of years before; but it was in a way many people of His day didn’t expect.
They expected a Messiah who would overthrow corrupt government officials; instead, Jesus had lunch with a tax collector. They were waiting for a strong political ruler who would restore their wounded nation to power; instead, Jesus taught that people should be submissive to the laws of the land.
He welcomed outcasts, prostitutes, the sick, and others who had been discarded by society, and He upset the religious leaders by healing people on their “holy” days. When one of His followers sliced off the ear of a soldier who intended to take Jesus to His death, Jesus healed the soldier’s ear instantly. When He was crucified, His cross stood between two convicted thieves—one acknowledged Him as the Son of God and received His forgiveness; the other mocked Him and rejected the eternal life Jesus offered.
As in Jesus’ day, religious leaders today often focus on the institution of religion rather than on the person and character of Jesus Christ. One popular myth is that God can be found through multiple sources of salvation and spiritual discovery. But Jesus said He is the exclusive way to find God the Father, and the only way to heaven.
The New Testament records an important conversation between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). It was during this conversation that Jesus first used the phrase “born again” to describe what happens when a person devotes his or her life to follow Christ.
Some people may be surprised to find that contemporary Christianity did not invent the term “born again” or the equally familiar words found in John 3:16 that have become associated with present-day evangelicalism: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (NKJV).
Jesus went on to say to Nicodemus: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). Jesus knew that people have an innate need to be saved, that is, to be forgiven for their sins. Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus focused on how simple it is to experience this forgiveness and to enjoy meaningful life now—as well as the security of knowing one will enter heaven after this life is over.
The discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus also models another important principle: Receiving Jesus as Savior and following Him begins with a simple conversation. He stands ready to help, to forgive, to strengthen and to empower His followers; but we must ask Him and begin the conversation just as Nicodemus did.
When people confess their sins and asks Jesus to be their Savior, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (see 1 John 1:9). An entirely new life begins.
Then, as we spiritually embrace Jesus Christ, we discover new life for our earthly existence. When we realize that God knows us better than we know ourselves, we also discover a more fulfilling destiny than we could ever create on our own. As we confess our need of someone to release us from our sin, we discover life free of guilt and full of hope. Receiving Jesus is easy and life-changing.
Jesus Christ makes all the difference in the world.
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What is The Foursquare Church’s position on divorce and remarriage?
The Foursquare Church believes that marriage is a biblical, God-instituted covenant relationship between a man and a woman. Therefore, we encourage strong marriage relationships, and we discourage divorce. We believe that God is able to restore marriages and help men and women find fulfillment and contentment within the marriage relationship. However, we realize that extreme cases exist, and divorce may become a last-resort reality.
Within local Foursquare churches, people who have been divorced and remarried are accepted in love and grace as members, as long as they satisfy the membership requirements. We believe God is the judge; we do not make it our responsibility to judge other Christians in regard to this issues.
The Foursquare Church does set high standards for ministers. The church’s bylaws cover the subject of divorce and remarriage relating to ministers. Ethics committees are established to consider individual cases.
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Does The Foursquare Church believe that people can “lose” their salvation?
In reference to the doctrine of salvation, The Foursquare Church is Arminian. That means that (unlike Calvinists) we believe it is possible for Christians to apostatize and be lost. This is different from “once saved, always saved,” a term that is often used to describe a Calvinistic view of salvation.
However, although we do believe that it is possible for people to lose their salvation, we do not believe that it is easy. We strongly believe in the security of believers—as long as people want to remain in Christ, they will be kept safe through the blood of Jesus. Further, we believe that people who have been born again should give evidence of a changed character and lifestyle. There should be a clear difference in they way they live, and they should continually become more Christ-like.
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Does The Foursquare Church believe in and practice speaking in tongues?
The Foursquare Church does believe in and practice speaking in tongues. We believe that it is the initial physical evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit.
According to Acts 2:4, all of those gathered in the upper room began to speak in other tongues (glossolalia) as they were enabled by the Holy Spirit. Those who were in Jerusalem from all parts of the world began to hear unlearned Galileans speaking in languages that they could not possibly have learned; they were speaking in the languages of those who were visiting Jerusalem.
Acts 10:45, 46 records the fact that Gentiles (the household of Cornelius) received the Holy Spirit, and they also spoke in tongues. When the disciples in Ephesus received the Holy Spirit, they also spoke in tongues (Acts 19:6). The Foursquare Church believes that the evidence of Holy Spirit baptism is the same today.
In addition to believing that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, we believe that there are two other types of tongues: speaking in tongues privately (as in devotion and prayer times); and speaking in tongues in a gathering of believers (which would need to be interpreted).
Certainly, not all believers are gifted to speak in tongues in public gatherings. We do encourage believers to speak in tongues as part of their private devotional lives—this is a source of spiritual strength for believers.
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