The Pentecostal church is a denomination of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit and the direct experience of the presence of God by the believer. The name comes from the Christian holiday of Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.
Pentecostals trace their origins to the Holiness movement of the 19th century, which emphasized “sanctification,” or the second work of grace in a believer’s life to cleanse them from sin. Out of this movement, Christians in Topeka, Kansas, and Los Angeles, California began to speak in tongues and prophesy, citing these as evidence of having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, an experience they believed was promised to all believers.
Pentecostal theology is centered around the belief that all Christians should seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This experience empowers the believer for Christian service through the gifts of the Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing, and discernment of spirits. Pentecostals believe this experience is distinct from and subsequent to salvation.
In addition to emphasizing the direct work of the Holy Spirit, Pentecostals affirm the divine inspiration of the Bible. They have a high regard for biblical authority and emphasize the importance of Bible study. Pentecostals affirm the core doctrines of evangelical Christianity, including the deity of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the atoning death of Christ on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith in Christ.
Key Beliefs of Pentecostals
Here are some of the key beliefs that Pentecostals affirm:
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit – As mentioned above, Pentecostals believe that all Christians should seek a post-conversion experience called the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This experience empowers believers for service through spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues.
- Speaking in Tongues – Pentecostals believe speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Not all Pentecostals emphasize tongues to the same degree, however.
- Divine Healing – Pentecostals believe that God has the power to supernaturally heal people today through the power of the Holy Spirit. Faith and prayer are essential to receiving healing from God.
- The Priesthood of All Believers – Derived from the doctrine of the Protestant Reformation, Pentecostals believe that all Christians have access to God through Christ and can minister in Christ’s name. Leadership roles in Pentecostal churches depend more on proven spiritual leadership rather than rigid hierarchical structures.
- The Second Coming – Most Pentecostals are premillennialists. They believe that Christ will physically return to earth to set up His millennial kingdom before the final judgment. The imminent return of Christ motivates Pentecostals to fulfill the mission of the church before His return.
Pentecostal Worship
Pentecostal worship services are lively, Spirit-filled gatherings focused on believers encountering God’s presence. Worship often includes:
- Exuberant praise and worship
- Congregational participation
- Spontaneous prayers
- Prophetic utterances
- Dancing, clapping, shouting, and other expressions of joy and praise
- Testimonies of what God has done
- Altar calls and prayer for the sick
- Ministry times focused on the work of the Spirit
For Pentecostals, worship is about connecting with God’s manifest presence. The freedom and spontaneity of the services allow the Holy Spirit to move and work in powerful ways.
Pentecostal Ministry Practices
In addition to their lively worship, Pentecostals actively practice the spiritual gifts and ministries they believe the Holy Spirit has restored to the modern church. This includes:
- Prophecy – The spiritual gift whereby believers speak under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to edify and exhort the church. Prophecy must align with Scripture.
- Faith Healing – Pentecostals engage in healing prayer, anointing with oil, and laying on of hands for the sick, believing God for miraculous healings.
- Deliverance Ministry – Casting out demons and spiritual warfare against demonic spirits that afflict people.
- Words of Knowledge and Wisdom – Divinely-inspired communication to build up believers and provide guidance.
These practices originate from Pentecostal beliefs about the ongoing, active work of the Holy Spirit among believers today.
Pentecostal Worship Services and Practices
Pentecostal worship services are lively and spirit-led. Here are some common features and practices:
- Music – Exuberant singing, clapping, dancing, and use of instruments like drums and electric guitars.
- Prayer – Spontaneous, spirited prayer out loud all at once by the congregation.
- Sermons – Passionate preaching inspired by the Holy Spirit.
- Altar calls – Times to come forward for prayer, healing, baptism in the Spirit.
- Speaking in tongues – Praying and singing in tongues, seen as inspired by the Spirit.
- Prophecy – Messages believers give inspired by the Holy Spirit to build up the church.
- Healing – Praying and anointing the sick to be healed by God’s power.
- Offering – Giving tithes and offerings to the church.
- Baptism – Full immersion water baptism, both for salvation and as a symbol of the baptism of the Spirit.
These practices flow from Pentecostal beliefs about the work of the Spirit and their desire to fully experience the Spirit’s presence and power. Pentecostal services provide room for the Holy Spirit to move, often in demonstrations of spiritual gifts.
Speaking in Tongues
Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, occupies a central place in Pentecostal practice and theology. Pentecostals teach that speaking in tongues has three purposes:
- As the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
- As a private prayer language for personal edification (1 Corinthians 14:4).
- As a public gift when interpreted to edify the church (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
When exercising the gift publicly, Pentecostals believe speaking in tongues must always be accompanied by the supernatural interpretation of the tongues so the church can be edified (1 Corinthians 14:26-28).
Because they believe speaking in tongues is directly inspired by the Holy Spirit, Pentecostals encourage believers to yield themselves to the Spirit in faith and speak in tongues freely both privately and publicly according to the guidelines in 1 Corinthians 14.
Divine Healing
Pentecostals believe God desires to heal people today. They cite healing stories in the gospels as well as verses like James 5:14-15 as evidence that Christians should pray for the sick:
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. (James 5:14-15)
Therefore, Pentecostals engage in practices like laying hands on the sick and anointing with oil, trusting God to heal. Many remarkable healings have been reported in Pentecostal churches and meetings.
However, Pentecostals recognize that God is sovereign and does not always heal immediately or completely. Yet they continue to pray persistently, believing God is able to heal.
Pentecostal Gifts of the Spirit
Pentecostals believe that spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing are available to contemporary Christians. These gifts, often called “sign gifts,” empower believers to minister to one another and be witnesses for Christ.
In addition to the sign gifts, Pentecostals recognize gifts like teaching, leadership, encouragement, giving, and mercy. They appoint leaders according to the spiritual gifting identified within a person’s life.
All the gifts must be exercised in love for the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 13). Pentecostals believe the gifts are given for building up the church, not self-promotion or personal glory.
Pentecostal Churches and Denominations
There are many denominations and organizations within the Pentecostal movement. Some of the largest include:
- Assemblies of God – The largest Pentecostal denomination in the world with over 68 million adherents.
- Church of God in Christ – The largest African American Pentecostal denomination in the U.S., with over 5 million members.
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel – Pentecostal denomination founded by female evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson with over 8 million members worldwide.
- Vineyard Churches – Association of over 1,500 churches that blend charismatic practice with contemporary worship.
- Hillsong Church – Globally influential church known for its contemporary worship music.
In addition to these denominations, there are many independent, non-denominational Pentecostal churches and networks all over the world.
There is diversity within global Pentecostalism. Some churches are more demonstrative than others. Ethnicity, culture, and locality also affect Pentecostal practice and expression. Yet Pentecostals share core beliefs in the Spirit’s work and power.
The Pentecostal Mission
Flowing from their emphasis on the Spirit’s empowerment, Pentecostals actively participate in evangelism and missions work. Pentecostalism has become a major force in global Christianity through evangelism efforts.
Pentecostals believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses for Christ (Acts 1:8). Signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts like tongues prepare the way for the gospel. This reliance on the Spirit fuels Pentecostal evangelism.
Pentecostals also believe in the imminent return of Christ. This gives them an urgency to fulfill the Great Commission and preach the gospel to the ends of the earth before Christ’s return.
Both their pneumatology (doctrine of the Spirit) and eschatology (doctrine of last things) provide motivation for ongoing evangelism and missions.
Notable Pentecostals Throughout History
Here are a few noteworthy Pentecostal ministers and leaders:
- William J. Seymour – Leader of the Azusa Street Revival in 1906, which helped spread Pentecostalism.
- Charles Parham – Bible teacher instrumental in the early Pentecostal movement.
- Aimee Semple McPherson – Founder of the Foursquare Church and pioneer female preacher.
- William Branham – Influential healing evangelist of the mid-20th century.
- Kathryn Kuhlman – Prominent female healing evangelist.
- David Yonggi Cho – Founder of the world’s largest church, Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea.
- Reinhard Bonnke – German evangelist known for large open-air crusades throughout Africa.
Modern Pentecostal leaders include influential pastors like Brian Houston, Jimmy Swaggart, Paula White, and influential worship leaders like Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman who all came out of the Pentecostal church.
Criticisms of Pentecostalism
Critics of Pentecostalism raise concerns in the following areas:
- Unbiblical teachings – Some Pentecostal doctrines like guaranteed healing are said to promise more than Scripture does.
- Disorderly worship – The freedom and spontaneity of Pentecostal services are viewed by some as chaotic.
- Overemphasis on experience – Critics believe Pentecostals allow experience to supersede Scripture.
- Authoritarian leadership – Some Pentecostal churches have controlling, authoritarian leaders.
- Missions concerns – Aggressive evangelism and lack of cultural sensitivity have caused problems.
In response, Pentecostals argue that Scripture supports their pneumatology and that the Spirit must be given freedom to move. They state that abuses by some should not negate the biblical foundations of Pentecostal theology and practice.
Conclusion
Pentecostalism arose from Wesleyan holiness roots in the late 19th century, was largely codified in the early 20th century through the Azusa Street Revival, and has since grown into a global movement emphasizing the work of the Holy Spirit.
Key beliefs include Spirit baptism with speaking in tongues, divine healing, spiritual gifts for today, and the importance of evangelism before Christ’s second coming. Worship and ministry are characterized by freedom, passion, and openness to the Spirit’s leading.
The Pentecostal message has resonated strongly with many Christians across denominational lines, leading to the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements touching all branches of the church today.