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Considered one of the fastest-growing and largest groups in Christianity, the modern Pentecostal denomination is a renewal movement born at the turn of the 20th Century, marked by historical revivals.
Although its start is usually attributed to the 1906 Azusa Street Revival (1906), some Church historians report it beginning even earlier at two Holiness meetings, one in Topeka, Kansas (1901), and even earlier in a 1896 gathering in Cherokee County, North Carolina.
Regardless, this denomination’s beginning is based on the Pentecost event recorded in Acts 2:1-4, considering it as its biblical and spiritual beginning, where the early Christians received the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Pentecostals' Biblical Beginning
Taking place 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus, the first Pentecost marks the start of the Church’s outreach to spread the Gospel around the world, fulfilling a prophecy by John the Baptist that foretold of believers receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
When asked if he was the Christ, “John answered them all, 'I baptize you with water. ' " But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire’” (Luke 3:16).
#1 Truth: Pentecostal Includes a Range of Groups
There is a wide spectrum of denominations under the Pentecostal heading, with denominations originating in the early 1900s often referred to as the “first wave” of the move of the Holy Spirit upon the Church, forming the Pentecostal Holiness denominations, also known as Classical Pentecostals.
First Wave
Classical Pentecostals’ foundation is based on speaking in tongues as the first evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Divine healing is also prevalent. Well-known leaders in this first wave include Smith Wigglesworth and William J. Seymour, both of whom are associated with the Azusa Street revival.
As well, Aimee Semple McPherson founded the Foursquare Church Denominations associated with this “first wave,” including the Assemblies of God (1914) and Church of God (Cleveland, TN).
Second Wave
During the 1960s, the Charismatic Denominations emerged, often referred to as the “second wave.” Whereas speaking in tongues, along with the other gifts of the Spirit, is encouraged, many do not hold to its Pentecostal roots, viewing it as the first evidence of being a Spirit-filled believer.
Leaders associated with the “second wave” include Kathryn Kuhlman, known for holding faith-healing meetings; Kenneth E. Hagin, a pioneer of Word of Faith teaching; Oral Roberts, known for his divine-healing tent meetings; and faith healer and deliverance minister A.A. Allen.
Interestingly, in 1967, the Catholic Church became part of the worldwide Charismatic movement when two Catholics from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attended a Protestant worship service and experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Soon, the Charismatic influence spread within the Catholic Church, with Francis MacNutt, a former American Roman Catholic priest, at its forefront.
Third Wave
More recently, churches like the Vineyard Churches have risen, sometimes referred to as Neo-Pentecostals or “the third wave." John Wimber, who, although starting as an ordained Quaker pastor, went on to begin the Vineyard Churches, where teaching “Signs and Wonders” and ”Power Evangelism” became its trademarks
As well, leaders emerged like C. Peter Wagner, Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, Mike Bickle, Mahesh Chavda, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, and Joyce Meyer.
(Critics of the “third wave” assert the movement is based more on personal experiences than sound biblical doctrine.)
#2 Truth: Pentecostals Believe in Speaking in Tongues
One of the most controversial beliefs challenged by other denominations outside the Pentecostal realm is the group’s emphasis on speaking in tongues. The founding movement believed it was the first evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
There are two types of speaking in tongues that are generally recognized. One is seen as a personal prayer language, personally benefiting and building up the one speaking. It’s also the one most highly criticized by those outside Pentecostal circles, considered “babbling” by some.
The second type is speaking a known language for the benefit of the Church, which many biblical scholars believe is the speaking in tongues described in Acts 2.
From the very beginning, as described in Acts 2:5-6, tongues have been a controversial topic. “Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.”
The Apostle Peter had to step in to calm the crowd down (Acts 2:14-21), reciting Joel 2:28-29 to help them understand what they were hearing and seeing. “And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days."
Lie: All Pentecostals Adhere to Strict Modesty and Moral Guidelines
Not all Pentecostal groups adhere to a strict set of rules regarding modesty and moral guidelines.
Women’s Modesty Issues
Through the years, there has been a focus on women’s modesty when it comes to clothing, hair, and make-up – meaning no tight, clingy clothes, slacks or shorts, keeping their hair long, and not wearing make-up or jewelry. But it’s not the majority.
These denominational guidelines are based on Scriptures like 1 Timothy 2:9, which encourage, “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.”
Other supportive verses include 1 Peter 3:3-5, explaining how holy women of the past, ones who put their trust in God, adorned themselves: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
In the birth of the Pentecostal movement, many followed these guidelines. Still, in more recent years, it flip-flopped, with groups widely criticized for wearing big hair, heavy makeup, and flashy clothes. Pentecostal high-profile ministers and celebrities such as Tammy Faye Bakker and Jan Crouch endured much public ridicule for their flamboyant hair, make-up, and wardrobe.
Abstaining from Worldly Activities
As well, although Pentecostals were known for their strict moral guidelines of not attending movie theaters or dances based on their belief that these activities originate from worldly and sinful places like Hollywood and Broadway, many followers now openly participate in both.
Abstaining from such activities came from following Scripture 1 John 2:15: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
Likewise, inspired by, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
As well as 1 Thessalonians 5:22, “Reject every kind of evil.”
Although worldly entertainment was frowned on, surprisingly, some of the world’s favorite celebrities have deep Pentecostal roots, such as Denzel Washington, who explains, “My father was a minister for 50 years with the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ.”
As well as music legend Dolly Parton, whose grandpa was a Pentecostal minister, noted by her as a great musician who played the fiddle and piano, and credited with her early beginnings in music.
Photo Credit: ©Sparrow Stock
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
