Pentecostalism is a twentieth-century movement that takes its name from the Holy Spirit’s working on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Proponents of the movement believe the phenomena depicted in Acts—that is, a baptism of the Holy Spirit accompanied by the gift of speaking in tongues—should be normative in the church today.
The Pentecostal movement has its roots in the Holiness movement, which emphasized the “second blessing,” or “second work of grace,” called entire sanctification. In this theology, people first get saved—that is, they are justified and born again. Following this, they experience a period of growth in which they progressively become holier in daily living. This ultimately culminates in a “second work of grace” whereby the Holy Spirit cleanses their heart of original sin, literally eradicating all inbred sin, and then imparts His indwelling presence to them, empowering them to live the Christian life in perfection. This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It happens instantaneously as believers present themselves as living sacrifices to God with an attitude of full consecration. Pentecostals took this doctrine of the “second blessing” or “second work of grace” and related it to empowerment by the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues.
Modern Pentecostalism began in Topeka, Kansas, in 1901. In January of that year, a young woman named Agnes Ozman—a student at Bethel Bible College—spoke in tongues while at the church of Holiness minister and evangelist Charles Fox Parham (1873–1929). Three days later, Parham himself spoke in tongues.
The movement soon spread from Kansas to Houston, Texas, where Parham opened a Pentecostal school. An African-American Holiness minister named William J. Seymour (1870–1922) attended the school and, after studying the apostle Paul’s epistles, became convinced that Parham’s views were correct. Parham and Seymour agreed on three basic works of grace in the life of the believer: (1) salvation, (2) sanctification, and (3) empowerment. This empowerment is from the Holy Spirit and is evidenced by supernatural manifestations such as speaking in tongues. Seymour insisted that the gift of tongues was the true test of being filled with the Spirit.
Seymour then went to California, where the famous Azusa Street revival broke out in Los Angeles from 1906 to 1909. This revival, led by Seymour, received some unexpected publicity. Seymour had warned the people that if they did not repent and turn to God, God would judge them. One week later, a powerful earthquake hit San Francisco, and suddenly Pentecostalism was big-time news. Thousands of people from around the United States traveled to Azusa Street and then carried the Pentecostal message back to their communities.
Out of the Azusa Street revival emerged a number of different Pentecostal churches and groups, including the Pentecostal Holiness Church, the Church of God in Christ, the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), the Apostolic Faith (Portland, Oregon), the Assemblies of God, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, and the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship. One of the reasons various new denominations emerged was that those who spoke in tongues were no longer welcome in many traditional (non-Pentecostal) churches.
In the 1960s and 1970s, however, the Pentecostal experience started to penetrate some mainline churches and crossed denominational lines. Such churches experienced what became known as the charismatic renewal movement. A case in point is the Pentecostal outbreak that took place at (Roman Catholic) Duquesne University. A course had been offered that focused on how to restore spirituality. Required textbooks included The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson and They Speak with Other Tongues by John L. Sherrill—both of which are Pentecostal. Soon, people on campus were speaking in tongues. Since then, the movement has grown phenomenally in the Catholic Church. In 1973, some 30,000 Catholic Pentecostals attended a conference at Notre Dame University (a Catholic university) entitled, “How to Speak in Tongues.” By 1980, Pentecostalism had penetrated Catholic churches in more than 100 countries around the world.
In what follows, I will narrow my attention to some of the more prominent Protestant Pentecostal denominations that have emerged on American soil.
Distinctive Ideas in Pentecostal Churches
• Some Pentecostal leaders are viewed as anointed prophets. Their messages are considered authoritative but must still be tested against Scripture.
• The baptism in the Holy spirit is viewed as a second work of grace in the life of the believer.
• Speaking in tongues is viewed as the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
• The three great works of grace in the life of the believer are salvation, sanctification, and empowerment.
Founded: 1914
Members: More than 2,860,000
Congregations: 12,360
Beginnings
As noted above, many who experienced the Pentecostal phenomenon of speaking in tongues were not welcomed into fellowship by many established churches. Soon, participants in the Pentecostal movement found themselves without an existing religious body with which to affiliate. This led to the emergence of hundreds of distinctly Pentecostal congregations around the country.
In time, the need developed for formal recognition of ministers, the approval and support of missionaries, the production of gospel literature in keeping with Pentecostal beliefs, proper Bible training, and the like. Concerned leaders in the Pentecostal movement decided that to protect and preserve the precious revival of the Spirit that so many had experienced, they should unite into a cooperative fellowship. In 1914, some 300 preachers and laypeople from 20 states met in Hot Springs, Arkansas. A cooperative fellowship emerged out of that meeting and was incorporated as the General Council of the Assemblies of God. Most of the leaders at the meeting had no interest in forming a new denomination, so they purposefully structured the fellowship to provide unity but allow local churches to be self-governing and self-supporting. This small meeting of 300 people eventually mushroomed into more than 2.8 million people in the United States and more than 48 million people overseas.
The Bible. The Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God. It is the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
God. The one true God is the Creator and Redeemer of humankind. In the perfect unity of the one God are three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is the Begetter, the Son is the Begotten, and the Holy Spirit is the one proceeding from the Father and the Son.
Jesus Christ. Jesus is fully divine. He is the eternal Son of God. In the Incarnation, He was fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life and performed many miracles, thereby attesting to His identity. He died a substitutionary death on the cross, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where He is now exalted at the right hand of the Father.
The Holy Spirit. All believers are entitled to and should seek the promise of the Father—the baptism of the Holy Spirit. With this baptism comes the endowment of power for life and service, an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, a deepened reverence for God, an intensified consecration to God, and a more active love for Christ. This baptism is witnessed by the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
Sin and salvation. By voluntary transgression, man fell and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death. Humanity’s only hope of redemption is through the blood of Jesus, shed at the cross. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The two evidences of salvation are the inward direct witness of the Holy Spirit and the outward evidence of a life of righteousness.
The church. The church is the body of Christ and the habitation of God through the Spirit. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the church. The church is called to be an agency of God for evangelizing the world, a corporate body in which human beings may worship God, and a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.
Church government is congregational at the local level and presbyterial at the national level. The General Council has centralized control over missionary, educational, and ministerial concerns. Women are welcome to participate in all levels of ministry, including ordination to ministry.
The sacraments. All who repent and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. By this ordinance, believers declare to the world that they have died with Christ and have been raised to newness of life. The Lord’s Supper is a symbol of the believer’s sharing the divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial of His suffering and death on the cross, and a prophecy of His soon second coming.
The end times. Christ will come one day to rapture His saints. This will be followed by the visible return of Christ, at which time Christ will set up His millennial kingdom and rule for 1000 years. There will be a final judgment. The wicked will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, while believers look forward to a new heavens and a new earth.
Distinctives. Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided in the atonement.
Website
Founded: 1965
Members: More than 500,000
Congregations: More than 1000
Beginnings
Calvary Chapel is unique in that it prefers to be known as an association of churches rather than a formal denomination. Churches that affiliate with Calvary Chapel can use the term Calvary Chapel in their name, but they are not required to do so.
The Calvary Chapel fellowship of churches emerged in 1965 with Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Smith (1927–2013) had earlier been affiliated with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in Santa Ana, California. However, he felt strongly led of the Lord to leave and found a new church. His goal was to meet the everyday needs of church attendees. Within just a few years, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa grew from 25 people to thousands. The church continued to mushroom in attendance, and much larger facilities had to be built. This church soon became the heart and center of the Calvary Chapel fellowship of churches. The fellowship has now grown to include more than 1000 churches.
Calvary Chapel churches are well known for expository preaching—that is, preaching through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book. Doctrinally, the churches affiliated with the fellowship are evangelical, Arminian, charismatic, and pretribulational.
One unique aspect of Smith’s Calvary Chapel is its outreach to the counterculture movement of the 1960s—including “hippies” and “druggies.” Smith was a driving force behind the Jesus Freak movement of the ’60s, encouraging people on the fringe to turn from drugs to Jesus.
In reaching the popular culture, Smith placed a heavy emphasis on contemporary Christian music, including Christian rock music. He established Maranatha! Music, which became well known for its numerous praise and worship albums. (Smith later sold the label to his nephew Chuck Fromm.)
Beliefs
Bible. Both the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, both being fully inspired and inerrant. The Scriptures are an infallible rule of faith and practice. The Bible is the foundation upon which the church operates. The Bible supersedes any earthly laws that are contrary to its teachings. All doctrines must be rooted in the pages of Scripture.
God. There is one living and true God. He exists eternally in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory. The triune God created all things, upholds all things, and governs over all things. The first person of the Trinity, the Father, is an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit who is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of human beings. He hears and answers prayer. He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He engaged in many miracles that revealed His identity and glory. He provided a substitutionary atonement in His death at the cross. He bodily rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and today lives to make intercession for His people. He will one day visibly return to earth.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ. He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. All of the gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12–14 are for today. Like other charismatic groups, this movement believes that the baptism of the Holy Spirit does not take place at conversion, but rather is a second experience.
Sin and salvation. All human beings are sinners by nature and are therefore under just condemnation. God saves and regenerates human beings who repent of their sins, place faith in Christ as enabled by the Holy Spirit, and confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
The church. The universal church is the living spiritual body of Christ, of which Christ is the head. All who are born again are a part of the body of Christ. Calvary Chapel local churches operate under a senior pastor–led system of church government. Women cannot be ordained as pastors. Church services are somewhat casual, with even the pastors dressing in casual clothing. Services generally feature contemporary Christian music and expository preaching. Calvary Chapels are independent and self-governing.
The sacraments. The Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church—water baptism by full immersion, and the Lord’s Supper. The Lord Jesus Christ also validated the ordinance of marriage (see Matthew 19:4-5; John 2:1-11).
The end times. There will be a pretribulational rapture of the church wherein all believers will meet the Lord in the air and be taken out of this world prior to the tribulation period. After the tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return to earth in His resurrection body and establish His millennial kingdom. This kingdom will be followed by the final judgment, the eternal blessing of the righteous, and the endless separation of the wicked. There is a literal heaven and a literal hell. All those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord. Those who reject Jesus’s free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord.
Distinctives. This association of churches maintains a radio network where listeners can tune in to hear sermons and teachings of many Calvary Chapel pastors and teachers.
Website
the Case for Contemporary Music in Church
It’s accessible.
Most unchurched people have never sung hymns and can more easily relate to contemporary worship music.
Luther’s example.
Martin Luther put Christian words to popular secular songs of his day.
Hymns are included.
Some of today’s contemporary artists are writing hymns, so there should be no objection to using them in worship.
It’s familiar.
Many churchgoers listen to Christian radio and are already familiar with contemporary worship songs.
It’s designed for worship.
Some of today’s praise choruses have been specifically designed to be conducive to worship.
CHURCH OF GOD (CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE)
Founded: 1886
Members: More than 1,000,000
Congregations: 6650
Beginnings
The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) had a humble beginning in 1886 when eight Christians, under the leadership of Baptist minister R.G. Spurling (1810–1891), gathered at the Barney Creek Meeting House on the Tennessee–North Carolina border. They were not satisfied with formalism and spiritual indifference and had a deep desire for a closer relationship with Christ. They were not convinced that the churches they attended could be reformed, so they established a new church with the objective of restoring sound scriptural doctrines, encouraging deeper consecration, and promoting evangelism and Christian service. Originally known as Christian Union (1886), then the Holiness Church (1902), the movement eventually took the name Church of God (1907). The movement grew from the initial eight Christians in 1886 to one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world today.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is verbally inspired, inerrant, and infallible.
God. The one God eternally exists in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. Jesus is absolute Deity and is the Son of God. In the Incarnation, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. At the cross He gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. He was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He now makes intercession for us.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit ministers among the people of God. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is subsequent to regeneration and a clean heart, and its initial evidence is speaking in tongues.
Sin and salvation. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Repentance is commanded by God for all and is necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus. Sanctification is subsequent to the new birth and takes place through faith in the blood of Jesus, through the Word of God, and by the Holy Spirit. Holiness is God’s standard for all His people.
The church. The government of the church is centralized. Authority is vested in the General Assembly, which meets every two years and is made up jointly of ministers and laity. The benefits of centralized government include the uniformity of doctrine and practice, mutual accountability, cooperative decision making, and a united effort in world missions and evangelism. Women can be ordained in the ministry.
The sacraments. Water baptism must be by immersion. It is for all who repent and are committed to following Christ (no infants). It should be performed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is open to all believers. Foot washing is also practiced.
The end times. Jesus will come again in bodily form. His followers will be caught up to meet Him in the air. Christ will later set up His millennial kingdom and reign for 1000 years. All people will be resurrected from the dead—the righteous to eternal life and the wicked to everlasting punishment. Heaven is the final destiny of the righteous. Hell is the final destiny of the wicked.
Website
Founded: 1907
Members: 5,500,000
Congregations: 15,400
Beginnings
Charles Harrison Mason was born September 8, 1866, on the Prior Farm near Memphis, Tennessee. His father and mother, Jerry and Eliza Mason, were converted during the days of American slavery and were members of a Missionary Baptist Church.
Charles converted in November of 1878, and in 1893 began work in Christian ministry in a Baptist church in Preston, Arkansas. As he and some of his associates conducted revivals, he found Baptist doors closing because some of the things happening at his revivals seemed extreme (including “theophanic manifestations”).
In 1907, Mason decided to visit Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California, where a famous Pentecostal revival had broken out. While there, he had his first experience of speaking in tongues.
There came a wave of Glory into me and all of my being was filled with the Glory of the Lord…There came a light which enveloped my entire being above the brightness of the sun. When I opened my mouth to say Glory, a flame touched my tongue which ran down me. My language changed and no word could I speak in my own tongue. Oh! I was filled with the Glory of the Lord. My soul was then satisfied.1
That same year Mason called for a meeting in Memphis, Tennessee, of ministers who were enthusiastic about Pentecostal theology. At that meeting he organized a general assembly of the Church of God in Christ. He was named the general overseer of the assembly and retained this position until his death in 1961. The denomination is the largest African-American Pentecostal organization in the United States.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is the Word of God. It is fully inspired and is infallible. It is the only authority in religious matters.
God. The one true God is the Creator of all things in the universe. Within the unity of the Godhead are three persons who are equal in eternity and power—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God. He is of the same substance as the Father. In the Incarnation, He took on a human nature and was born of a virgin. He was a suffering servant who provided redemption and reconciliation to God by His death on the cross. He then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son. He is of the same substance, equal in power and glory, as the Father and the Son. He equips and empowers believers for service. He teaches and guides believers into the truth.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to conversion and sanctification. In the early church, tongue-speaking was the consequence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The same experience should be mandatory for all today.
Sin and salvation. Adam’s sin has brought a depraved human nature to all his descendants. Humans are sinful by nature. Being born in sin, humans now need to be born again, sanctified, and cleansed from all sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. Human beings become saved by confessing and forsaking sins and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation requires repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. One is then born again and adopted into the family of God. The Christian should then go on to claim the inheritance of the sons of God, namely, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The church. The church forms a spiritual unity of which Christ is the divine head. The church is animated by the Spirit of Christ and is God’s agency for communicating spiritual blessings to believers. This body of believers professes one faith, clings to one hope, and serves one King.
Church government is basically episcopal. An ascending hierarchy includes overseer (pastor), state overseer, and general overseer. The General Assembly is the highest legislative body.
The sacraments. There are three ordinances. Baptism is an outward demonstration that one has already had a conversion experience and has accepted Christ as Savior. Immersion is the preferred mode, for it corresponds to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. It also symbolizes regeneration and purification more than any other mode.
The Lord’s Supper symbolizes the Lord’s death and suffering for the benefit of His people and in their place. It represents not just the death of Christ but also its effect—giving life, strength, and joy to the soul.
Foot washing is an ordinance showing how humility characterizes greatness in the kingdom of God. The ceremony should be subsequent to the Lord’s Supper.
The end times. Jesus will one day come again personally, visibly, and bodily. Church members hold to premillennial theology.
Distinctives. Divine healing is provided in the atonement.
Website
CONGREGATIONAL HOLINESS CHURCH
Founded: 1921
Members: More than 18,000
Congregations: 250
Beginnings
The Congregational Holiness Church was organized in 1921 as a result of a controversy in Georgia the previous year over the issue of healing in the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Some in the church who believed in divine healing felt that Christians should never need to go to a doctor. Another faction in the church believed in divine healing but felt that medicinal science may be a provision of God that can bring about healing. The controversy escalated, and the leaders of the pro-medicine faction—Watson Sorrow and Hugh Bowling—were removed from the ministerial roll. They promptly withdrew and on January 29, 1921, organized the Congregational Holiness Church. Just 12 churches were represented at the founding meeting. Today some 250 congregations are affiliated with the denomination.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is the inspired Word of God.
God. The one true and living God is the Creator of the universe. The one Godhead includes three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God. In the Incarnation, He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He accomplished a substitutionary atonement at the cross, died, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. He is exalted at the Father’s right hand.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is involved in various ministries in the church. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. There are nine gifts of the Spirit that can be manifested in believers’ lives.
Sin and salvation. Human beings are fallen in sin. Those who repent of sins and believe in Jesus are justified. Those who are faithful to the end will receive eternal redemption. The denomination does not believe in “once in grace always in grace” regardless of conduct.
The church. The bride of Christ is composed of the entire spiritual church. Since this is true, local churches should cooperate—even when they are from different denominations. Women are permitted to be ordained in the ministry.
Church government is congregational. Local churches are grouped into geographical districts, each having a presbytery. The General Conference is the highest ruling body.
The sacraments. There are three sacraments—baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and foot washing. Baptism should be performed by an ordained minister, using the mode of immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper and foot washing should be celebrated by all Christians.
The end times. The rapture of the church is imminent. There will be a personal and premillennial second coming of Jesus. The saved will share Christ’s glory forever in heaven. The unsaved will be punished eternally.
Distinctives. Sanctification is a definite work of grace that is subsequent to salvation.
Website
the Speaking in Tongues Debate
Founded: 1933
Members: More than 20,000
Congregations: 190
Beginnings
The Elim Fellowship began in 1933 as an informal fellowship of churches, ministers, and missionaries. It developed from the efforts of individuals who had trained at Elim Bible Institute, a school founded by the Reverend and Mrs. Ivan Spencer in 1924 to train students for full-time revival ministry. From the beginning, the fellowship has been “Pentecostal in conviction and charismatic in orientation.”
Today Elim Fellowship is a worldwide revival fellowship that serves pastors, churches, missionaries, and other Christian ministers. It seeks to provide various forms of assistance to those in ministry and missions, including counseling individuals in ministry, credentialing ministers, establishing new churches, providing mutual accountability, and providing ministry resources. The fellowship also sponsors leadership seminars in the United States and abroad.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
God. The one God eternally exists in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. The fellowship affirms Jesus’s full Deity, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious death and atonement at the cross, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, and present priestly ministry.
The Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by charismatic gifts and ministries. (As it was on the day of Pentecost, so it should be today.) The Holy Spirit is involved in producing spiritual fruit in believers’ lives.
Sin and salvation. Humanity is sinful and lost. Salvation is provided in Jesus Christ, who atoned for sins at the cross. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. Security of salvation is rooted in the keeping power of God.
The church. The church is the bride of Christ. God’s design for the church is sanctification, holiness, and the overcoming life. Each local church is autonomous in making decisions. An annual assembly meets in Lima, New York. Women can be credentialed in the Elim Fellowship, though there is diversity of opinion among affiliate churches on the role of women.
The sacraments. Baptism is for believers only and is to be done by immersion. It bears witness to the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and points to the new life we have in Him. The Lord’s Supper, when shared by believers, witnesses to the saving power of the gospel and looks forward to Christ’s victorious return.
The end times. The second coming of Christ is imminent. The saved will be resurrected to eternal life, and the lost will be resurrected to everlasting punishment. Christ will establish everlasting dominion.
Distinctives. The Elim Fellowship statement of faith specifically stipulates the need for sexual purity among God’s people. Divine healing is obtained on the basis of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Website
marital sex
God created sex, and “everything God created is good” (1 Timothy 4:4). However, it is good only within the confines of the (male-female) marriage relationship (1 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 5:31; Hebrews 13:4).
fornication
Christians are commanded to abstain from fornication (Acts 15:20). Paul affirmed that the body is not for fornication and that a man should flee it (1 Corinthians 6:13,18).
temples of the Holy Spirit
The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore there should never be sexual sin.
adultery
• God commands, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).
• Jesus pronounced adultery wrong even in its basic motives (Matthew 5:27-28).
• Paul called adultery an evil work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19).
• John envisioned in the lake of fire some of those who practiced it (Revelation 21:8).
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLIES
Founded: 1922
Members: Unknown
Congregations: More than 125
Beginnings
The Fellowship of Christian Assemblies is a family of autonomous Evangelical churches with historical roots in the modern Pentecostal movement. In 1922, some 25 ministers who were affiliated with three Scandinavian-oriented Christian groups decided to come together under a common, informal banner, calling their new fellowship the Independent Assemblies of God. By 1935, 54 pastors and evangelists and 21 foreign missionaries affiliated with the fellowship. The group’s first national convention was held in 1936 at Brooklyn, New York.
During the 1940s, turmoil erupted within the group’s ranks due to the latter rain movement, which advocated the restoration of the prime role of apostles and prophets today. Some of the churches affiliated with their new fellowship defected to this movement, and this motivated the remaining body of churches to more clearly define their identity and bring about a more cohesive practical cooperation. In 1973, the group adopted a new name—the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
God. The one God eternally exists in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. The fellowship affirms Jesus’s full Deity, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious and atoning death on the cross, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father.
The Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience distinct from regeneration. The Holy Spirit indwells Christians, enabling them to live godly lives. He supernaturally gifts and empowers the church for its work, life, and worship.
Sin and salvation. Human beings are sinful and lost. Justification by faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are absolutely essential for salvation.
The church. The prime agency for the work of God’s kingdom is the local church functioning under the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus. Local churches in the fellowship are autonomous.
The sacraments. The two ordinances are believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
The end times. Jesus will return in power and glory to consummate His kingdom. At the resurrection of all human beings, the saved will be raised to eternal life and the lost to damnation.
Website
INDEPENDENT ASSEMBLIES OF GOD INTERNATIONAL
Founded: 1914
Members: Unknown
Congregations: Unknown
Beginnings
The Assemblies of God denomination (see above) was organized in 1914. Among the congregations that did not merge into this Pentecostal body were those consisting of Scandinavian immigrants. A few years later, in 1918, a new organization was founded called the Scandinavian Assemblies of God in the United States of America, Canada and Foreign Lands, and the organization continued under this name from 1918 to 1935. At that time, the organization merged with the Independent Pentecostal churches, and the new merger was called the Independent Assemblies of God International.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God.
God. The one true God is eternally existent in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. Jesus was born of a virgin. He suffered a vicarious and atoning death at the cross, was bodily resurrected, and ascended into heaven.
The Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is subsequent to regeneration and is evidenced by speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit enables believers to live holy lives.
Sin and salvation. Man is fallen in sin. Salvation is through the blood of Christ. People who fall into sin and turn away from God can lose salvation.
The church. Local churches are autonomous and sovereign over their own affairs, but they can voluntarily work together on common ministries. Women are permitted to be ordained in the ministry.
The sacraments. Baptism is by immersion and follows one’s conversion to Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s death on our behalf.
The end times. The second coming of Jesus is imminent. Believers who are alive at Christ’s coming will be translated into their bodies of glory, and believers who have fallen asleep (died) will be resurrected. Those who have not accepted Jesus as Savior will experience final judgment. They will suffer for all eternity in the lake of fire.
Distinctives. Divine healing is available through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
Website
INTERNATIONAL CHURCH OF THE FOURSQUARE GOSPEL
Founded: 1927
Members: More than 350,000
Congregations: 1875
Beginnings
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel was founded by Aimee Semple McPherson (1890–1944). Her mother had been a member of the Salvation Army, and she dedicated Aimee to the ministry. When Aimee was 17, she heard the gospel, was converted, and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. She soon married evangelist Robert Semple, but he died of malaria soon after they went to China in 1910 as missionaries. Once back in the United States, she eventually married Harold McPherson, and they began holding Pentecostal evangelistic meetings. After her divorce from McPherson, she continued in the work of evangelism.
Aimee settled in Los Angeles, California, and in 1923, with help from her supporters and many fund-raising efforts, she built and dedicated Angelus Temple, which seats 5300 people. At this temple she used unconventional means to communicate the gospel, including dramas, oratorios, and illustrated sermons. A woman of obvious oratory skill, Aimee was soon drawing huge crowds. She often preached the “Foursquare gospel” to the masses: Christ as Savior, Christ as Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Christ as the Healer, and Christ as the soon-coming King.
In 1927, four years after the dedication ceremony of the temple, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel was incorporated in California. It has since grown to embrace nearly 2000 congregations in the United States.
The Foursquare Gospel: Jesus Christ Is…
Savior of the world
Isaiah 53:5
baptizer with the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:5,8
healer
Matthew 8:17
soon-coming King
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
The Bible. The Bible is God-inspired. It is true, immutable, steadfast, and as unchangeable as its author, the Lord Jehovah.
God. The one true God is eternally manifest in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. Jesus is full Deity. In the Incarnation, He was fully God and fully man, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He bore our sins at the cross by shedding His blood and purchased redemption for all who would believe on Him. Jesus is the Savior, the baptizer with the Holy Spirit, the Healer, and the soon-coming King.
The Holy Spirit. God desires the Christian to walk in dependence on the Holy Spirit daily. Spiritual fruit is an evidence of a Spirit-filled life. The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to endue the believer with power to be a witness to the uttermost parts of the earth. The evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.
Sin and salvation. Humanity is fallen in sin. While we were yet sinners, however, Christ died for us, and God pardons all who believe on Him. Upon sincere repentance and a wholehearted acceptance of Jesus Christ, we are justified before God. God’s will is that Christians be sanctified daily and grow in the faith from the moment of conversion. Believers are secure in their salvation as long as they maintain their trust in the Savior. If they apostatize and do not repent, they can fall away from salvation. Yet God’s mercy is always available to any who repent and return to God.
The church. Each local church is a subordinate unit of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. The pastor is appointed by a board of directors and is responsible for the spiritual welfare of the church. Soul-winning is the most important responsibility of the church. Women are (obviously) welcomed to be licensed and ordained in ministry. Presently 30 percent of ordained clergy are women.
The church is governed by the Board of Directors, the Foursquare Cabinet, and the Executive Council. The highest authority is the Annual Foursquare Convention.
The sacraments. Baptism is by immersion, for believers only, and is an outward sign of an inward work. It points to the Lord’s death on the cross and our own death to sin. The Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated as a commemoration using bread and juice. It serves to remind the participant of the broken body and blood of Christ, shed on the cross. It should be preceded by a time of self-examination.
The end times. The second coming of Christ will be personal and is imminent. All will stand before God’s judgment and receive either eternal life or death. Heaven is the indescribably glorious and joyful eternal home of born-again believers. Hell is the place of eternal torment and deep sorrow for all who reject Jesus as the Savior.
Distinctives. The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel emphasizes that the experience and daily walk of the believer should never lead him into extremes of fanaticism.
Website
INTERNATIONAL PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH
Founded: 1911
Members: More than 255,000
Congregations: More than 2000
Beginnings
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church emerged from a series of mergers of religious bodies that had been influenced by the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, California, in 1906–1907. More specifically, the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church (Iowa) merged with the Pentecostal Holiness Church (Goldsboro, North Carolina) to form the Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1911. Then, in 1915, the Tabernacle Pentecostal Church was added in Canon, Georgia. The church adopted its present name in 1975.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is the Word of God and is a full and complete revelation of the plan and history of redemption. It is verbally and entirely inspired.
God. The one true and living God is of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Within the unity of the Godhead are three persons of one substance and eternal being—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God. He is of one substance with the Father. He took man’s nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and so two whole and perfect natures—perfect Deity and perfect humanity—were joined together in one person, never to be divided. He was crucified for human sin, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and Son, and is very and eternal God. The Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Spirit is obtainable by a definite act of faith on the part of the fully cleansed believer. The initial evidence of this experience is speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
Sin and salvation. Man is fallen in sin. Jesus shed His blood for the complete cleansing of the justified believer from all indwelling sin and from its pollution. Justification is by faith alone. Salvation is secure unless one willfully rejects the grace of God.
The church. The church is the body of Christ. A primary goal of the church is to carry out the Great Commission. Church government is episcopal. A general board of administration, which includes a bishop and other officers, oversees the affairs of the denomination. Women can be licensed and ordained in the ministry.
The sacraments. Those who repent and unite with a local church upon their profession of faith shall further confess Christ by receiving water baptism. It is to be administered in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, preferably by immersion. The Lord’s Supper commemorates our redemption by Christ’s blood. It is to be administered to all Christians at least once a year. Foot washing is not viewed as an ordinance, so church members are free to follow their own conscience regarding whether they wish to observe the practice.
The end times. Believers await an imminent, personal, and premillennial second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal life with God in heaven is the destiny of all the finally righteous. Everlasting banishment from God and unending torture in hell comprise the destiny of the persistently wicked.
Distinctives. Sanctification is initiated in regeneration (when one is born again) and is consummated in glorification (when one goes to heaven). However, a definite and instantaneous work of grace in sanctification is achieved by faith and occurs subsequent to regeneration. It delivers the believer from the power and dominion of sin. It is then followed by a lifelong growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Website
Founded: 1935
Members: More than 45,000
Congregations: 350
Beginnings
The Open Bible Standard Churches originated from two revival movements: the Bible Standard Conference, founded in 1919 in Eugene, Oregon, and the Open Bible Evangelistic Association, founded in 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa. These two groups were similar in doctrine and structure, and they amalgamated in 1935 as the Open Bible Standard Churches. Roots of both parent groups go back to the Azusa Street revival that broke out in Los Angeles, California, in 1906.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is the only infallible guide and rule of faith and practice.
God. The one true God is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present, and unchangeable. He is the Creator of all things. In the unity of the Godhead are three persons who are equal in every divine perfection and attribute—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They fulfill distinct but complementary roles in the great work of redemption.
Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God. In the Incarnation, He took upon Himself human form, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He died on the cross for human sin, reconciling the human race to God. He rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where He makes intercession for us.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, leads believers into all truth, and empowers and equips the church to carry out Christ’s work on earth. He indwells every believer at the moment of salvation. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is distinct from salvation and releases the power of the Holy Spirit through faith. Believers should anticipate that the Spirit baptism will be accompanied by speaking in tongues.
Sin and salvation. Humankind is fallen from its original, created goodness because of the sin of Adam and Eve. However, Jesus shed His blood on the cross to make provision for human salvation. Because humans are not able to save themselves, salvation is by God’s grace alone. It is received by faith with repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
The church. Christians should assemble regularly for edification, worship, fellowship, and the proclamation of the gospel. All believers should be involved in the work of ministry in the local church according to their spiritual gifts and should seek the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Churches are congregationally governed. They are grouped into districts, governed by district superintendents. These districts are grouped into regions, governed by regional superintendents. The highest governing body is the General Convention, which meets biennially.
The sacraments. Baptism should be by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an outward sign of an inward work. The Lord’s Supper involves partaking of bread and the cup in remembrance of the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection. Open communion is celebrated—meaning it is for all believers, regardless of church affiliation.
The end times. The second coming of Christ will be personal, visible, and triumphant. There will be a final judgment for all unbelievers. Hell is the final destiny of unbelievers and will entail suffering, bitter sorrow, and remorse. Heaven is the final destiny of the saved and is a place of happiness and security.
Distinctives. Healing is provided for in Christ’s atonement.
Website
VINEYARD CHURCHES INTERNATIONAL
Founded: 1983
Members: More than 155,000
Congregations: 530
Beginnings
The Vineyard Churches International is a group of churches that have collaborated together to advance God’s kingdom by communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1983, the movement’s most influential leader in theology and practice was John Wimber (1934–1997). Wimber had earlier been influenced by theologian George Eldon Ladd (1911–1982), especially in regard to his writings on the kingdom of God. The concept of God’s kingdom is at the very heart of Vineyard theology.
Beliefs
The Bible. The Bible is inspired and is without error in the original manuscripts. It is our final, absolute authority. It is our only infallible rule of faith and practice.
God. The one true God is our eternal King. He is infinite, unchangeable, Spirit, perfect in holiness, wise, good, just, powerful, and loving. From all eternity He exists as the one living God in three persons of equal substance—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God’s kingdom is everlasting. Contrary to God’s kingdom is Satan, who has sought to usurp God’s rule and establish a counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth.
Jesus Christ. God honored His covenants with Israel by sending His Son Jesus into the world. In the Incarnation, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He inaugurated God’s kingdom reign on earth. He overpowered Satan’s counter-reign by resisting temptation, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, and preaching the good news of God’s kingdom. His sinless life met the demands of God’s law. His atoning death took God’s judgment for sin. He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now rules at the right hand of the Father.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is equal in substance to the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin. He was poured out on believers on the day of Pentecost, releasing spiritual gifts to them. All the gifts of the Spirit should be active in the church today, useful for ministry and driving back the kingdom of Satan. The Holy Spirit brings the permanent indwelling presence of God to us. He builds up the church. He is our Helper, Teacher, and Guide.
Sin and salvation. God created human beings in His image, not only to engage in a relationship with Him but also to govern on earth. Under Satan’s temptation, Adam and Eve fell from grace, thereby bringing sin, death, and judgment to the earth. Humans are now born in sin and are captive to Satan’s kingdom of darkness. They are under just condemnation from God.
God, however, did not abandon His rule over the earth. He maintained His rule through various covenants made with people throughout biblical history, including Abraham and David. The Davidic covenant, in particular, promised that one of David’s heirs would restore God’s kingdom reign over His people as Messiah forever. This was fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.
Through the preaching of the good news of Jesus and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, those who repent and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior are regenerated, justified, adopted into God’s family, and sanctified. They are thus released from Satan’s domain and brought into God’s kingdom reign.
The church. There is one, holy, universal church. All who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and form the living body of Christ, of which He is the head. The church is an instrument of God’s kingdom on earth.
The sacraments. The two ordinances are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
The end times. One day God’s kingdom will be consummated in the glorious, visible, and triumphant second coming of Christ. At His return, He will definitively defeat Satan and his minions. At the resurrection from the dead, the wicked will experience eternal conscious torment, and the righteous will experience eternal blessing. God’s rule and reign—His kingdom—will be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth.
Website