Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity

the Good News to unbelievers (Acts 2:11). Despite the many debates and confusion over the interpretation of this gift throughout church history, the purpose of this gift remains the same today (1 Cor 14:6; 22-25). The believers on the day of Pentecost “were both baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit” as Jesus had promised them (Acts 1:5). John the Baptist testified that God told him that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33), and Paul says, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” Ephesians 4:3-5 gives further proof saying, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”. There is no biblical proof that the Holy Spirit comes in stages or partially as the statement of some Pentecostals or Charismatics. Another statement of the Pentecostals or Charismatics is that speaking in tongues is a necessary sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Even though speaking in tongues happened to some at Pentecost after receiving the Holy Spirit, the is no Scripture that tells us this is necessary or will happen to every believer. Yet there is proof to the contrary, that speaking in tongues will not always manifest at conversion as evidenced in Acts 2:41; 4:4; 6:7; 8:14-36; 9:1-42; and 17:32-34. In addition, Paul makes the point that not all in the church will have the same gift (speaking in tongues) in 1 Corinthians 12:30. By far, the most divisionary question is, is speaking in tongues valid today. The answer rests on the interpretation of the word “perfect” in…

Christianity is transforming from the inside out. The charismatic movement, with its global numerical growth, is the most rapidly growing element within Christianity today. With its growth in Asia, Africa, and South America, what started as a fringe movement in Kansas and California at the turn of the 20th century has turned into a global movement that has had a profound impact on mainstream Protestantism. As Robert Owens writes, “What began at this Azusa Apostolic Faith Mission in April of…

. The Spirit Movements of the Twentieth Century The Overview section of our course relates that: “Demographers of Christian Churches such as D.B. Barrett tell us in publications such as World Christian Encyclopedia (2001) that the P/C movements number something like 600 million members today. This is a truly phenomenal growth. In one century, this movement has outstripped all the rest of Protestantism together, and the Reformation dates back four centuries!” TM online) According to the…

Conservative and Charismatic Slavic Pentecostals This essay will compare and contrast the differences between the two types of Slavic Pentecosts. The Slavic Pentecostals are the same as any Pentecostals, Christians with a Protestant fundamental stressing direct inspiration by the Holy Spirit (“Pentecostal”), who speak a Slavic language. There are thousands and thousands of Slavic Pentecostal churches throughout America and every church varies as far as how religious it is which depends on its…

of nineteen, Dr. Ken Archer accepted the Pentecostal way of life, it is evident that God has a plan like no other on his life and has used him in many glorious ways. His in-laws, Revd Norman and Nancy Beetler, introduced him to Pentecost and have been part of his spiritual foundation and have sacrificed financially to enable his wife, Melissa and him to fulfill the call of God upon their lives. “Dad Beetler has been and still is my primary theological dialogue partner even…

freedom, and equality. However, as stated in the aforementioned scripture, the suffering endured by African-Americans will not compare to the magnificence that will be brought out in us. In the same vein, the development of the Black Church has not been without difficulties and challenges. But thanks be to God, He kept making a way. A way that would lead to African-Americans finding a voice in Christianity that would be lifted to heaven on wings of angels, and ultimately find the joy…

Introduction Guatemala has become the leading place for conducting researches on religions in Latin America. The predominant religions in Guatemala are Catholicism, Christianity and Mayan spirituality. However, during the colonial era, Catholicism was the main religion. There has been a tremendous growth in the Protestants community. According to the The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “Pentecostals represent the most rapidly growing sector of Latin American Protestantism”. The other…

Black and I’m proud movement. The ethnic temperature of that period remained extremely hot in the nation while growing up in North Philadelphia. My parents were exceptionally energetic during the civil rights movement in the city of Philadelphia, therefore my parents had a varied twist on religion. They were tremendously sweet people who had a background in faith embedded by their parents. However they were always ready to defend their rights as human beings within the laws laid before them. My…

molecular biophysics at Oxford University. During the years 1975-1978, he carried out scientific research while studying for the Oxford University Final Honour School of Theology. In December 1977, he was awarded an Oxford D.Phil. for his research in the natural sciences, and he gained first class honors in Theology in June 1978. He is currently Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education at King’s college, London. Brief Summary The author sets out to tell the story of the emergence of…

that the worship practices of the black church tradition sparked a revival in the midst of a nation in social and religious turmoil. In order to illustrate Robeck’s argument we must first dissect the cultural setting of American prior to the revival, explain the black church aspects that sparked the revival, and finally review Robeck’s thoughts on what ended the revival. Robeck explains that the Azusa Street Revival had strong ties to American slavery and the bondage of blacks in our country. …