Religious Fundamentalism

Full Reports on the Bible & Theology Course - 2004

Pentecostal Churches

Introduction

Pentecostalism is a charismatic religious movement that gave rise to a number of Protestant churches in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. It had its main roots in the Holiness Movement, a Puritan reaction against the growing institutionalism and ritualism of the mainline American Churches. The main characteristic of Pentecostalism is the belief that all Christians should seek a "second conversion" or the "baptism in the Holy Spirit". The "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is accompanied by the same sign as on the day of Pentecost, namely the gift of glossolalia, or speaking in tongues. Pentecostals also hold that a believer who is baptized in the Spirit may receive also the gift of prophecy, or of healing.

Historical Origin

The modern Pentecostal movements began in various parts of the United States around the turn of the 20th century. It originated with Agnes Ozman, one of the students of a small religious school called Bethel Bible College in Kansas, USA. The director was Charles Fox Parham, who used to instruct his students to pray, fast, study the Scriptures, and await an endowment of Pentecostal blessings. On January 1, 1901, Agnes Ozman, in a prayer meeting, began to speak in tongues as she received the "baptism in the Spirit". Henceforth, most Pentecostal usually declared that glossolalia was the "initial evidence" that one had been truly baptized in the Spirit. The Charismatic Movement started at first as a regional one. But it soon took on a national and international nature as a consequence of the revival movement in the Negro Holiness Church in Los Angeles in 1906 (also known as the "Azusa Street revival") with its leader, William Seymour, a one-eyed black former Holiness preacher. From 1906 onwards, various groups of Pentecostal believers sprang up all over the world.

Various Pentecostal Churches

Prominent Pentecostal churches today include: The Assemblies of God, The Church of God, The Church of God in Christ, The New Testament Church of God, The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, etc.

After World War II, a number of new "independent" Pentecostal groups has appeared, such as: The New Order of the Latter Rain, The World Church, The Gospel Assemblies, United Pentecostal Church, Calvary Pentecostal Church, Emmanuel Holiness Church, The United Pentecostal Church International, The Oneness Pentecostals (or, Jesus-Only Pentecostals), etc. This last mentioned sect administers Baptism in the name of Jesus only, quoting Acts 2:38. This sect does not consider the Holy Spirit to be a third Person of the Trinity, but as the spirit and power of God and Christ.

Pentecostalism in India

Pentecostalism came to India as early as 1905 through American and European missionaries with its first centre in Maharashtra at Pandita Ramabai's Mukti Mission. Over the last two decades, Pentecostal movement has experienced significant growth in India. Statistics show that more than half of the Pentecostals in India joined the movement over the last ten years. Majority of the Pentecostal population in India were previously affiliated to mainline Christian Churches. Besides, a good number of Hindus have also joined the Pentecostal movement in India.

Some of the Pentecostal churches in India are: Indian Pentecostal Church, Church of God in India, Ceylon Pentecostal Church, India Full Gospel Church, Sharon Fellowship, Assemblies of God, New India Bible Church, etc.

The total number of Pentecostals worldwide is more than 400 million. The movement has grown fourfold in number over the last 20 years. The explosive growth of indigenous Pentecostal churches in South America and South Africa has caused some to predict that the future centre of Christianity will be in the southern hemisphere. In the 1960s, the Pentecostal movement was no more seen as a phenomenon of the "classical" Pentecostal churches. It soon took deep roots in the mainline Christian denominations, including Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran Churches. The Pentecostal Movement among the mainline churches is known as "Neo-Pentecostalism" or "Charismatic Renewal Movement".

The Appeal of Pentecostalism

One of the appeals of Pentecostalism is that it took special care to minister to all levels of society, especially to the economically and culturally neglected and socially isolated. Pentecostalism was originally a "religion of the poor". Another attraction of Pentecostalism is the emphasis placed on the doctrine of healing. From the very beginning of the Pentecostal revival, its leaders have taught that deliverance from sickness was provided for in Christ's atonement and is, therefore, the privilege of all who have the requisite faith. This effort to minister to the physical needs of people most likely has been responsible for winning many followers to Pentecostalism. Other aspects of Pentecostalism that attracted its adherents are "God-experience, centrality of the Bible, spontaneous and participatory worship, and the spirit of fellowship that exists in their churches".

Introduction   Biblical Fundamentalism   Challenges Today
Book of Revelation & Fundamentalism   Jehovah's Witnesses   Teachings of JWs
Pentecostal Churches   Characteristics of Pentecostals

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