Pentecostalism

Pentecostalism is a major movement within the evangelical wing of Protestant Christianity.

It is also known as mainline or classical Pentecostalism. The movement focuses on the direct personal experience of God. Followers seek this through what they call baptism with the Holy Spirit. This experience is intended to help believers live an empowered and Spirit-filled life. The name itself comes from the biblical event of Pentecost. This event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in Jerusalem.

This historical moment is described in the book of Acts in the Bible.

To understand how this belief works, one must look at its core tenets. Like other evangelical Protestants, Pentecostals believe in the inerrancy of the Bible. They also hold that being "born again" is necessary for salvation. This process involves repenting of sin and accepting Jesus Christ as a personal Lord and Savior. Pentecostalism is unique because it distinguishes between two types of baptism. There is baptism by water, which is a common Christian practice. There is also the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Many followers believe this second baptism provides spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, which serves as evidence of the Spirit's presence.

The movement is divided into different theological branches. One major division is between Holiness Pentecostals and Finished Work Pentecostals. Holiness Pentecostals affirm three definite works of grace. Finished Work Pentecostals are further divided into trinitarian and non-trinitarian branches. The non-trinitarian group is often called Oneness Pentecostalism. These divisions arose from early disputes over doctrines like the Holy Trinity and entire sanctification. Despite these differences, most denominations trace their spiritual origins back to the same historical roots.

The history of the movement began with radical evangelical revivalism in the late 19th century. Many early believers felt they were living in the end times. They expected a spiritual renewal of the Church before the Second Coming of Christ. In 1900, an American evangelist named Charles Parham began teaching new ideas in Kansas.

He founded the Bethel Bible School and taught that speaking in tongues was the biblical evidence of Spirit baptism. His student, Agnes Ozman, was the first to experience this at his school. Parham believed this experience was a third work of grace following conversion and sanctification.

A pivotal moment occurred with the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles.

This revival was led by William J. Seymour, a Wesleyan-Holiness preacher. The revival lasted for three years, starting in April 1906. Worship at the Azusa Street Mission was highly spontaneous and lacked a formal order of service. People preached, testified, and sang in tongues as they felt moved by the Spirit.

This revival was a catalyst for the global spread of Pentecostalism. Visitors traveled from the mission to their home countries, carrying the movement with them.

Socially, the early movement was quite revolutionary. During the period from 1906 to 1924, the Azusa Street Mission featured racially integrated worship. This defied the Jim Crow laws and segregation norms of the era. Many early denominations were interracial before social pressures forced them to divide. Women also played vital roles in the movement's growth. They believed the Holy Spirit empowered them to serve as pastors, missionaries, and teachers.

Some women even founded entire new denominations.

Today, Pentecostalism is a massive and highly decentralized global force. There are over 700 different denominations and many independent churches. Because there is no central authority, many groups join the Pentecostal World Fellowship instead. There are more than 279 million classical Pentecostals worldwide.

If you include the Charismatic movement, the total number of adherents exceeds 644 million. The movement is growing rapidly, especially in the Global South. It is often considered the fastest-growing religious movement in the world. While it originally attracted the lower classes, it is now gaining appeal among the middle classes as well.