The doctrine of initial evidence, a dogma oft associated with the early theological approaches to Spirit Baptism by Charles Parham, is a doctrine that has historically met with a diverse range of reactions and concerns (positive and negative) over the past century. This diverse range of reactions toward the doctrine is likely—partly due to the epistemological nature of the concept of evidence, where one event (speaking in other tongues) proves to be the grounds for which another event (Spirit Baptism) is confirmed.
Reactions toward tongue-talking, let alone initial evidence, remain hotly contested among many evangelical leaders today. John MacArthur, a prominent reformed protestant whose writings often grace the library shelves of many among us, goes as far as to label tongue-talkers as counterfeit worshippers who have reinvented the Holy Spirit.[i] While these charges may accurately portray many charismatic communities that have swept the world over the last several decades, vitriolic disdain is reserved for all who participate in any such ecstatic experience.
Unfortunately—and for varied reasons—Pentecostalism has been semi-absent on the literary front, and a vacuum of resources on subjects like the doctrine of initial evidence remains glaringly problematic. As it would with any dogmatic belief, this vacuum has played into the ever-increasing ambiguity many express when challenged with doctrines like initial evidence. In Norming the Abnormal by Aaron T. Friesen, an effort to fill that void is attempted.
Review
As a practicing minister credentialed with the Foursquare church and a faculty member at New Hope Christian College in Eugene, OR, Friesen does an admirable job of documenting the developments and nuances of the initial evidence doctrine within what he often calls “classical Pentecostalism.” [ii] Utilizing a methodology that is qualitative and quantitative, Friesen deals with three groups of Pentecostals (Assemblies of God (AG), Open Bible Church (OBC), and International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (ICFG)) who hold [iii] or have held doctrinal positions regarding the initial evidence doctrine.
His objectivity is evident in the fact that he acknowledges some of his research’s limitations. First, he recognizes that the racial demographic of his study is limited, and from this, the astute reader can recognize that his statistical results may differ should his sampling incorporate a broader scope. Second, Friesen tries his best to avoid injecting personal bias into the study, which is admirable. It should be noted that some of his chapter conclusions reveal subtle biases though they do little to undermine the objectivity of his research.
While Friesen briefly mentions Oneness groups within a historical context, he obviously—and not surprisingly—does not view such groups as being within a traditionally Pentecostal orthodoxy. Again, citing his efforts at objectivity, the aim of his study does not deviate from the topic at hand, the doctrine of initial evidence.
Friesen clearly shows the universal lack of consensus that drove early dialogues surrounding the doctrine of initial evidence and while some facets of the doctrine may be mispresented due to the author’s understanding of the subject, it is a fascinating journey that brings one through documented statements and viewpoints of Charles Parham, William Seymour, Alexander Boddy, William Durham, Aimee Semple-McPherson—among others—regarding the doctrine of initial evidence.
His statistical observations in chapter 6 obtained from surveyed samples also provide essential insights that confirm what many defenders of the initial evidence doctrine have believed; that the manifestation of Glossolalic experiences showed a steep decline among those who become ambiguous in their belief statements regarding the doctrine of initial evidence. [iv] Another important observation Friesen discusses is the correlation between college education and the diminishing belief in the doctrine of initial evidence.[v]
Conclusion
Norming the Abnormal, by Aaron T. Friesen is an important work for the Pentecostal community. It is well-developed, easy to read, and provides a robust history regarding the distinctive developments and challenges of the doctrine of initial evidence. While the statistical sample data is limited, the book provides insightful evidence to the suspicions many of us have discussed anecdotally such as, the correlation between education and a decline in Glossolaliac experiences and a decline in charismatic activity among those whose classically Pentecostal positions become more ambiguous and pluralistic.
Furthermore, the work presents a challenge to the modern-day advocates of the doctrine of initial evidence in that a rigorous effort should be made to clearly articulate, define, and defend our positions at the lay-level and at scholarly levels. Pentecostalism, with the rise of postmodernism that has thrust us into a post-Christian era, must recognize the crisis of identity that is sweeping across the Pentecostal landscape and we must vigorously attend to matters that are fundamental to our Apostolic-Pentecostal faith.
[i] MacArthur, John F. (2013) Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy spirit with Counterfeit Worship. United States: Thomas Nelson
[ii] Friesen, Aaron T. (2013) Norming the Abnormal: The Development and Function of the Doctrine of Initial Evidence in Classical Pentecostalism. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications
[iii] Unbeknownst to many, the Assemblies of God still maintain the doctrine of initial evidence as one of their non-negotiable statements of fundamental truths. Assemblies of God, Statements of Fundamental Truths, #8, https://ag.org/beliefs/statement-of-fundamental-truths#8.
[iv] The OBC reported 48.6% of surveyed ministers had not heard a public utterance in tongues in their congregation in the prior three months and 35.4% of the ICFG reported the same whereas the AG, whose doctrinal statement still affirms the doctrine of initial evidence, only 18.1% reported not having experienced public utterance of tongues in their congregations. Almost none of the three groups reported having experienced public interpretation of tongues within the last three months of being surveyed. Friesen, Norming the Abnormal, 211, Table 6.10.
[v] Friesen observes that ministers whose educational pursuits go beyond a two-year college degree are more likely to find the doctrine of initial evidence less. Friesen, Norming the Abnormal, 236-237.