Frequently Asked Questions

You can find all of our faith documents under the IPHC Home:Our Beliefs and IPHC Home:Our History items on the menu at the left of any page. You can browse those documents to learn more about our church, its history and beliefs.

The questions on this FAQ page have been submitted by visitors to our website. Many of the questions are very similiar. To save our visitors time, answers to the more common questions are posted here.

If you don't find the answer to your question in this FAQ list, click the Submit Question button below. We are happy to answer any question you might have about our Church and our beliefs.

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Church Doctrine/Belief

What is the relationship of IPHC to the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.

I am currently a member of an Assemblies of God church and so far find the doctrine to be very, very close to IHPC. Could you highlight any major doctrinal variations?

Does the official statement of faith of the IPHC embrace the "gap theory" or do you hold to a literal Genesis, 6 day creation week about 6 thousand years ago?

Do you believe that one can "lose" their salvation or do you believe "once saved, always saved"?

I am a practicing Roman Catholic. Does the Charismatic church recognize Sacraments? What are the main Theological differences between the two churches? Does the church have a hierarchy? What Protestant denomination is the Charismatic church closest to?

Church Polity (Structure)

What kind of government do you use in your church, and how is it biblical? Do you vote?

Some members of my church want to incorporate; others don't. Are there any good reasons for a local church to incorporate?

What are some of the differences between the IPHC and the Roman Catholic Church?

What rules do you have to follow to join your church? I just want to know more about how your people worship in their services. Is this a charismatic group? What happens in the worship of the saints?

Can you tell me the eligibilities for the office of Deacon?

Does the IPHC allow men who have been divorced to be a deacon and or pastor? When was this doctrine changed within IPHC?

Church Practices

What does your church teach about forgiveness? Given you excommunicate when the your code of conduct is violated, how does this put Jesus' teaching about forgiveness into practice?

What does IPHC teach about the Eucharist? Give that the Bible is the guide and final authority, do you practice eating of the flesh and drinking of the blood as does the Catholic Church?

How do you explain that Jesus drank wine and yet a pentecostal cannot? He also created wine at a wedding. Does this not teach us that drinking alcohol as a celebration is okay as long as one does not get drunk?

What is your stance on tithing? I know it was a command under the old law but now I've interpreted it as an act of love not a commandment. I still feel that it is important to give your 10% as a tithe to the church.

While teaching this class at our church a question was raised concerning the IPHC's view on the supposed "Lost Books of the Bible," such as the Book of Philip, Book of Mary, etc. (basically Books supposedly written by the other disciples and prophets) and teaching which utilized these books as valid God-inspired resources.  What is our view? 

I am a member of a Pentecostal Holiness Church and I've always thought it was a sin to play the lotteries. Is it a sin to play the lottery according to the Pentecostal Holiness Church?

What is the stand the IPHC has on bankruptcy and can a person become a minister after filing for bankruptcy?

I was just wondering your stance on what the Bible says about having children. Being the first commandment issued by God, do you believe in the use of birth control or sterilization as the rest of the world does?

What do you, as a church and as a pastor, believe about homosexuals? Please be more specific than "love the sinner, hate the sin." Do you allow practicing homosexuals to operate as members and or leaders in the church?

Do you teach that the act of swallowing alchohol is a sin?

Does your association believe in ordaining women preachers?

I have been attending your church for the past few weeks. I was raised Seventh Day Adventist. My question is why do you have church on Sunday rather than Saturday?

Why has the Pentecostal Holliness Church stopped using the term Holy Ghost and moved to the term Holy Spirit?

I am a Bible student. Can you give the chapter and verse you use to validate a prayer language that is supposed to belong to the Holy Spirit, and please not Romans 8:26.

Isn't it disrespectful of the Word of God to use OT to refer to the Old Testament?

One of my friends just lost her best friend to suicide. I have never had anything like that happen in my life, so I'm not sure how I can minister to her. She doesn't understand how God could allow such a thing to happen.

A Muslim friend says I can't trust English translations of the Bible. What should I think?

Do you practice the "casting out of demons?"