Excerpts from some Assemblies of God position papers

[struggle4progress]

These come from the following link: http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/index.cfm

They may be of interest due to Palin's candidacy

Abstinence from Alcohol

... We call upon every member and adherent in our Fellowship, including both the ministry and the laity, to teach by word and example a life-style that abstains totally from the consumption of alcoholic beverages ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4187_abstinence.cfm

A Biblical Perspective on Assisted Suicide

... We must hold elected officials accountable for voting records, support pro-life legislation, oppose referendums in favor of assisted suicide, challenge our physicians, and articulate our opinions in public forums ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4193_assisted_suicide.cfm

The Doctrine of Creation

... This Bible record of creation thus rules out the evolutionary philosophy which states that all forms of life have come into being by gradual, progressive evolution carried on by resident forces. It also rules out any evolutionary origin for the human race, since no theory of evolution, including theistic evolution, can explain the origin of the male before the female, nor can it explain how a man could evolve into a woman ... The account of creation is intended to be taken as factual and historical ... The first man Adam, for example, is recognized as a historical person ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4177_creation.cfm

Eternal Punishment

... There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in "the fiery lake of burning sulfur ... " ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4172_eternal_punishment.cfm

Homosexuality

... Not only do the Scriptures condemn more flagrant examples of homosexual violence and promiscuity, they also provide no support for the popular modern idea that loving and committed homosexual relationships between two long-term partners are morally acceptable ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4181_homosexuality.cfm

Sanctity of Human Life, Including Abortion and Euthanasia

... Current laws virtually permit abortion-on-demand, at least in the early trimesters of pregnancy and, in some places, provide for other practices, as assisted suicide, that destroy or endanger lives created in God’s image. The Assemblies of God strongly believes such laws are immoral and contravene the law of God. Every legal means should be employed to reverse the effects of these laws and dismantle the immoral industries they spawn ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4196_sanctity_human_life.cfm

The Inerrancy Of Scripture

We believe the Bible is .... infallible and without error. ... The Bible clearly claims for itself divine authority and full inspiration, and implicit therein is the doctrine of inerrancy ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4175_inerrancy.cfm

The Theology of Ministry

... A primary function of the Spirit is the provision of specific gifts for ministry ... There are the familiar nine gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 ; the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues ... These nine gifts may readily be recognized as supernatural ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4192_theology_min.cfm

The Rapture of the Church

... This clearly means His second coming will be literal, physical, and visible ... Although God's people may endure severe trials before the Lord comes, the Church will be raptured before the period called the Great Tribulation ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4182_rapture.cfm

Transcendental Meditation

... Biblically based experiences in the Holy Spirit provide the genuine of what TM is but a treacherous substitute ... By following God's original plan for the rejuvenation of man, the Christian has no need for the method of Transcendental Meditation ...

http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4173_transcendental.cfm

[David Zephyr]

1. How do they square their abstinence from alcohol with the McCain gigantic beer distributorship?

The answer: easily.

[mike_c]

3. good republian capitalists will ignore any moral principle...

...if there's a profit to be made. They'd happily sell their grandmothers as raw material for manufacturing soap if there was a particular demand for high-priced-but-cheat-to-produce grandmother soap.

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. How do they square their abstinence from alcohol with the inerrancy of Scripture?

Jesus turned water into wine, after all; not the other way around.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Scary, eh?

[ZombieHorde]

4. We believe the Bible is .... infallible and without error.

Except for the part where Jesus commands his followers to sell off all that they own and give the money to the poor.

[struggle4progress]

5. That last part really IS a challenge

[ZombieHorde]

6. It takes true faith in Jesus to do something like that.

[HamdenRice]

8. Pure insanity

No beer? Are they that insane???