Introduction
Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that formed in the 19th century. Charismatic Christianity bases its foundation on the work of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian faith. Charismatic movements developed from Pentecostalism, and as a result, they are now present in two distinct but interrelated denominations within the Christian Church.
The following paper will further refer to both Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, as these traditions were developed as part of Pentecostal doctrine. The Pentecostal church is now the fastest-growing Christian tradition in the world. The origins of the doctrine are laid in the Methodist tradition and the principles of the Holiness movement.
Biblical Defenders
The experience of the Apostles when the Holy Spirit descended upon them in Jerusalem, while they were celebrating the Feast of Weeks, is further described in the Acts of the Apostles. Just before the risen Jesus was carried up into heaven in Acts chapter 1, he informed the disciples of the Father’s promised gift of the Holy Spirit. He advised them to remain in Jerusalem until they were given the Holy Spirit, who would then enable them to spread his message by being his witnesses.
A few days later, on the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were all there when they heard the sound of a strong wind rushing down from heaven and saw tongues of fire settling on the believers. The crowds heard them speaking in many languages as they watched this spectacle. They were astounded and believed the disciples were intoxicated by alcohol.
The events witnessed by the Jerusalem audience, according to the apostle Peter, have fulfilled the prophecy made by the prophet Joel. Three thousand people accepted the message of Christ after hearing the Good News of the Kingdom. They were baptized and welcomed into God’s family on the same day. One of the core doctrines of Pentecostalism and the essential biblical basis of the movement is the universal bestowal of the Spirit upon all flesh without distinction of race, gender, or caste, and exercised at the end of the world.
The supernatural experience described in the New Testament is considered the defining feature of all the major Pentecostal churches worldwide. The Pentecostals treasured this outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a divine gift, marked by an intense and invigorating ministry of the Holy Spirit, to carry out the miraculous. In contrast, the majority of other Christians considered it exceedingly rare. All Christians should pursue the post-conversion religious experience known as baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to Pentecostal churches, who also maintain the distinguishing view that a Spirit-baptized believer may experience one or more of the miraculous gifts that were acknowledged in the early church, including instantaneous sanctification, the capacity for prophecy, the use speaking in tongues or being able to understand tongues, seeing visions, being able to identify spirits, speaking in words of wisdom, and receiving divine healing.
Historical Contributions
Methodist traditions are the historical roots of Pentecostal spirituality. According to Synan, John Wesley is regarded as a founding father of the contemporary Pentecostal movement. The practices of Methodism got their name because Wesley and his brothers were devoted to meticulous Bible studies to achieve holiness through them.
Wesley’s theories on sanctification were eventually heavily used as the basis for Pentecostal doctrine. According to Bruner, the emergence of the 20th-century Pentecostal tradition was most significantly influenced by Methodism in the 18th century. Therefore, the Pentecostal tradition is a relatively new Christian denomination that has been developing throughout the past three centuries.
The American Revival movement made a significant additional contribution. Charles Finney established the evangelistic principles that helped a particular branch of the Pentecostal movement flourish. Finney was convinced that “God has found it necessary to take advantage of the excitability there is in mankind to produce powerful excitements among them before he can lead them to obey.” Although Finney altered the movement’s outward appearance and lent it a distinctive emotional appeal, he did not alter any of the movement’s core beliefs.
The national Holiness movement later emerged as a result of Methodism and Finney’s evangelistic strategy. Bruner emphasizes that it developed as a result of the American Civil War. The movement was based on the principles of “Scripture holiness, sanctification, or, as it was often called, perfect love.” The Pentecostal tradition can be considered as a direct consequence of the holiness movement, as they share similar attributes. The movement itself was born in 1867 as part of the Methodist tradition with such influential leaders as Robert Smith, Hannah Smith, and William Boardman.
The early Pentecostal tradition, which derived from the holiness movement, had several distinct spiritual habits. First, the movement highlights a spiritual crisis that often follows an initial conversion. Second, the identification of such experience is possible through baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Third, the Pentecostal tradition promotes speaking in tongues. Those spiritual habits are also attributed to the modern Pentecostal movement and constitute a distinct spiritual experience for its followers. The foundation of the tradition was laid in the late 18th century and continued to evolve into a distinct movement until the 20th century. Today, the Pentecostal tradition has its own distinct doctrine, which emphasizes the spiritual experiences of its followers.
Contemporary Influencers
The classic Pentecostalism is based on Wesley’s Methodological views, but there are now different influencers. One of the major contributors is the contemporary teaching of Finished Work, promoted by William H. Durham, which originated in 1910. Durham rejected the Wesleyan notion of sanctification, stating that Christians experience only two spiritual crises: Spirit baptism and conversion. The teaching proposes that a person is sanctified at the moment of conversion and then experiences a lifelong process of progressive sanctification.
The Assemblies of God, which is the Finished Work Pentecostal denomination, is the largest in the world. It boasts over 67 million followers worldwide. Therefore, classical Pentecostalism is not the most widespread contemporary Christian religious denomination. The largest church of classical Pentecostalism is the Apostolic Church, which comprises less than 15 million people worldwide and is the most popular in Nigeria. The focus of the tradition is on the role of the Apostles in the governance and practices of the church.
There are also contemporary denominations that follow the Holiness doctrine and Evangelical fundamentalism. The church comprises over 7 million people and is based in Cleveland. The church practices the tradition of Holiness and the Pentecostal doctrine of sanctification.
Another major contemporary influencer is The Foursquare Church, which practices Evangelical Pentecostal Christianity. The church also bases its theology on the doctrine of the Finished Work. The church has approximately 9 million members worldwide and is predominantly established in the US.
Nowadays, Pentecostal doctrines are not influenced by any major leaders. Therefore, the traditions were established in the early 20th century and have remained essentially unchanged since then. The tradition is widespread in the US and on the African continent, while it is less prevalent in other parts of the world.
Conclusion
The Pentecostal and Charismatic movements originated from Methodism, founded on the principles developed by Wesley. The followers of this tradition believe in the sanctification of the Holy Spirit and view the faith as an experience of God through the Holy Spirit. Contemporary denominations tend to adhere to a classic doctrine with minor variations on the nature and process of sanctification. Methodism still plays a significant role in Pentecostal tradition as the majority of churches follow Wesleyan doctrines.
The tradition is widespread in the US and Africa and is currently one of the fastest-growing Christian denominations in the world. The distinct features of the movement are the belief in the experience of the Holy Spirit as a foundation of Christian faith, sanctification through baptism in the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues. Although the Pentecostal tradition is marginalized within the Christian Church, it attracts millions of followers worldwide.
Bibliography
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