behavior is considered disorderly. Yet, this is not the case at all Pentecostal
churches. For example, when visiting a Full Bible Baptist church, we observed
that actual running around the periphery of the sanctuary was considered
an orderly and accepted expression of the Holy Spirit, called “running in the
Spirit.” But, being unexpected in this church it is disorderly and being dis-
orderly it cannot be an authentic expression of the Spirit – the main evidence
of whose presence is considered to be the order of the service.
An Occasion of Inappropriate Tongues
On another occasion, a man who was praising in tongues inappropriately
was joined by two pastors who put their arms around him and motioned to
the music pastor on stage to increase the volume of the music. The man’s
expression of tongues was initially loud enough to be heard over the con-
gregation’s singing. This is too loud for expressions of the spirit that are not
produced in pauses designed for such expressions. Furthermore, his voice
was deep and anguished. Once the volume of the music was raised on the
instruction of the pastor, however, he could not be heard.
The man’s spoken tongues did not match either the timing or the tone of
the tongues that were accepted as legitimate in this church. Publicly spoken
tongues that were legitimated by the pastors were spoken over the voice of
others during pauses in singing designated for praise, in a melodic, implor-
ing, or joyful tone. By contrast, this man’s tongues were spoken loudly dur-
ing song, rather than in a pause. Appropriate tongues are supposed to have
an uplifting and loving tone. This man’s voice had an anguished tone. Once
his spiritual expression was discerned as inappropriate, the pastors worked
quickly to minimize its appearance without drawing attention to the man by
increasing the volume of the music. There was no interruption, either posi-
tive or negative, and the congregation continued to worship without pause.
An Inappropriate Prophecy, Accompanied by Dancing
and Shouting in the Spirit
When a woman delivered a prophecy that criticized the level of the congre-
gation’s praise, another woman joined her by both shouting and dancing in
the spirit. The congregation decreased their praise and appeared to be con-
fused. In response, the head pastor contradicted the prophetic message and
276 • Bonnie Wright and Anne Warfield Rawls