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ecently, a religious movement called Pentecostalism has been gaining strength. It has been in existence for over a hundred years, and now approximately one hundred fifty million people consider themselves Pentecostal. What started in Topeka, Kansas in 1901 has grown into the third-largest segment of Christianity. Pentecostalism is the fastest growing movement in the world. Church growth experts figure that every year some nineteen million people join the movement, and there is no sign of its slowing down. It is no exaggeration to assume, then, that you have probably met at least one or more persons who say they follow this movement.
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A Matter of
Who are these Pentecostals? More importantly, what do they believe that makes them different from us? Here we must follow the exhortation to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God� (1 John 4:1 ESV). Only by a careful study of God’s Word compared to what the spirit of Pentecostalism teaches will we discover the truth. Pentecostalism can be easily defined by two doctrines: the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. Both are vital in understanding the whole movement. What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? It is the belief in Pentecostal circles that the Holy Spirit bestows a second Baptism upon a believer. All Pentecostal churches believe that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit is essential, that God wants everyone to have it, and that without it we cannot receive the full Gospel.This Baptism supposedly comes without means (without the Word of God) and only after much effort on the part of the believer. Speaking in tongues is related to this second Baptism. Speaking in tongues, according to
