Propagating private prayer language will open 'Pandora's Box'

I am saddened that some in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) are attempting to make the "SBC Tent" large enough to contain Pentecostalism. Their first step to "SBC Pentecostalism" is the public propagating of Private Prayer Language (PPL).

Recent quotes by some of the PPL proponents reveal its "Pentecostal" nature: "(Wade) Burleson said he prefers to use the term "Spirit-spilled" instead of "Spirit-filled." And while all Christians are filled with the Spirit, some Baptists simply have not learned to "just let the Spirit move," he said. (Dwight) McKissic says he's "too Pentecostal to be Baptist and too Baptist to be Pentecostal." Bob Cleveland labeled himself as a "Pentecostal-Calvinist-Southern Baptist."

Their statements reveal that they are more "in sync" with the Pentecostal Free-Will Baptist and Sovereign Grace (Charismatic) Ministries denominations rather than the SBC. My questions to the PPL proponents are: How far will we widen the "SBC Tent?" Where will we draw the line? Propagating PPL will open "Pandora's Box" for "other" Pentecostal practices such as "public speaking in tongues" and "being slain in the spirit," which are PPL's "sisters." Paige Patterson wisely said, "One of the interesting things about private tongues is that they never stay private. They always become public so it's a misnomer to begin with. And, it also becomes divisive invariably, as Paul warned that it would."

Mark it down, propagating PPL is the "inroads" of "other" Pentecostal practices in the SBC. May we, as Southern Baptists, nip Pentecostalism in the bud, and make our "voting language" "known" and "public," not "unknown" and "private," in San Antonio!

Chadwick Ivester

Kershaw, S.C.