Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism
This lesson deals with Pentecostalism. Pentecostalism is a
doctrinal error held to by various so-called charismatic or Pentecostal
groups. We will look at the origin of this error, state some of the
specific errors and compare them to the Bible. Pentecostalism is wide
spread throughout the entire world. There are no less than a hundred
different brands of modern day Pentecostals.But first, the West End
Church of Christ presents these fifteen minute sermons each Sunday. We
have only one reason for doing it -- we want to preach the truth of
God's word without being restricted by human doctrines, creeds, and
wisdom. That is why we repeatedly ask anyone who listens to communicate
with us if you do not agree with what we teach on this program. This is
not done out of a spirit of dare, or challenge, but in sincerity and in
the interest of being absolutely right about the most important issue of
this life and of eternity.
We also want to invite you to attend our services. Bible study
begins at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. We have classes for all ages in which
the Bible is discussed and made relevant to living in this world today.
At 10 each Sunday morning we assemble to worship -- we honor God in the
reading and teaching of His word, several prayers, gospel songs, giving
of our means, and partaking of the sacred memorial feast of the Lord's
Supper. Sunday evening we assemble for worship at 6 p.m. and mid-week
Bible study is each Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
One rather large group of Pentecostals is the United Pentecostal
Church International (UPCI). They list around 1.2 million members and
are represented in 118 nations. They claim an annual growth rate of
about ten percent per year. They are largely known for two doctrinal
tenets, The One Person of God, Jesus Only, and Water Baptism Only in the
Name of Jesus. There are other erroneous views they hold, but these two
distinguish them from other charismatics and Pentecostals.
The modern Pentecostal movement had its origin in Topeka, Kansas.
It began in 1901. Charles Parham is the recognized founder of the
Pentecostal movement. Please read: "Parham formulated classical
Pentecostal theology in Topeka, Kansas, in 1901 and thus deserves
recognition as founder of the Pentecostal movement." Dictionary of
Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, page 660. One need no further
information to recognize that such a church is not the one Jesus
founded. If Charles Fox Parham founded the Pentecostal movement --
Jesus didn't.
A significant event in Pentecostalism occurred in 1906 in Los
Angeles, California. It took place at the Apostolic Faith Mission,
located at 312 Azusa Street. People who were drawn toward the new ideas
Parham was teaching came to this "mission" and later regarded the
establishment of this so-called "mission" a "Pentecostal" revival. In
reality it was more the arrival of a Pentecostal preacher from Texas,
W.J. Seymour. Seymour had been trained by Parham. Parham was the
father of the Apostolic Faith Movement. Seymour worked his way into
meetings being held in the homes of some who were inclined toward a
mystical feeling about their religion. The homes soon became too small
and the meeting place at 312 Azusa St. was secured.
Seymour began in earnest preaching the baptism of the Holy Spirit
with evidence of speaking in tongues. Azusa St. became the center for
expressions of so-called tongue speaking and the experience associated
with Holy Spirit baptism. By September of 1906 they reported that there
were 25 blacks and 300 whites who were members of the "mission." It
became probably the first integrated religious group on this continent.
It holds the significance of being the first West Coast Pentecostal
movement which leaned on the imagined experience of Holy Spirit baptism
and tongue speaking.
The "Oneness" Pentecostals originated with preachers like Frank
Ewart, Glenn Cook, and R.E. McAlister. These men began baptizing
converts "in the name of Jesus only." This meant that when they
baptized a person, they shunned the vocal expression naming the Father,
Son, and the Holy Spirit. They repeated a baptismal formula that
included only the name of Jesus. In 1916, the Assemblies of God took a
strong doctrinal position on the three persons of God, the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. It is estimated that about a fourth of the preachers
in the Assemblies of God left that organization. These preachers formed
various "oneness" groups. In 1945 The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated,
and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ merged into one
denominational body. They then took the name United Pentecostal Church
International.
The belief that Jesus is the one and only person of God is stated
in their articles of faith
.
"We believe in the one everliving, eternal God: infinite in power,
Holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute,
indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father,
through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation."
Articles of Faith of the United Pentecostal Church, page 3
This error is quite evident when the Bible is consulted. Jesus
clearly affirmed the distinction in His person and that of the Father
and of the Holy Spirit. Notice these verses:
"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all
things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are
all things and we exist through Him" (I Corinthians 8:6).
"Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of
Christ does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has
both the Father and the Son" (II John 9).
"But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in
it, but I and He who sent me" (John 8:16).
These, and many more, show that Jesus is not the Father and the
Father is not Jesus. They are two of the tree divine beings who make up
the Godhead (Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9). The Holy Spirit is neither
the Son nor the Father, for the Father was to send the Holy Spirit in
the Son's name (John 14:26).
Their creed states that God is indivisible -- He is only one
person. That person was the Father, revealed in the Son in redemption,
and in the Holy Spirit by emanation. This by itself shows the folly of
their view of God. If there is only one person, then when there was the
manifestation of God as Father, there was no Son, no Holy Spirit. When
the Father was revealed in the Son in redemption, there was no Father,
still no Holy Spirit. But when God was revealed in the Holy Spirit by
emanation, there was neither Father nor Son. This is really the
doctrine of the anti-Christ (I John 4:3).
They strongly argue that when Jesus said, "I and My Father are
one," (John 10:30). But the Lord did not add the word "person." Paul
said that he and Apollos were "one" (I Corinthians 3:6-8) but obviously
not one person. Jesus said a man and his wife are "one flesh" but not
one person. Oneness denotes concord, unison, or agreement. This is
what Jesus meant.
The baptismal formula the Pentecostals require is also erroneous.
The only place in the Bible where anyone was given instructions to
baptize others is Matthew 28:19-20).
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them
to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even
to the end of the ages."
The instructions are not to the one who is to be baptized. For
those instructions we read passages like Acts 2:38; 10:48; 19:5. These
all tell those who were to be baptized that it was to be done "in the
name of Jesus Christ," or "in the name of the Lord," or "in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ." The fact that there is variation in the
expression shows it cannot be a formula. But the Pentecostals ignore
the only place where instructions are given to the one baptizing another
and jump to passages where instructions were given to those being
baptized and find their imaginary formula for baptism.
The fact is there is no baptismal formula taught in the Bible. One
is not told what to say -- one is told what to do. The doing is
embraced in "baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and
the Holy Spirit." There is nothing wrong with saying what you are
doing. Paul wrote, "combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words"
(I Corinthians 2:13). The spiritual thought is baptism -- the spiritual
words one may combine with it are found in Matthew 28:19. But again, an
oral formula is not required to make baptism valid.
There are other interesting doctrines the Pentecostal Church
upholds. These fall into the realm of forced interpretations and human
legislation. Read this from their own publication.
"HOLINESS AND MAKE-UP
"A synthetic society is becoming fraudulent in appearance; Dye is
for the hair, paint is for the face, eye mascara, and sad to say male
participation makes the present society a strange mixture of
artificiality and hypocrisy. The United Pentecostal Church has taken a
position that all of these conditions are heathenistic in origin and
date back to Queen Jezebel, whose very image speaks of rebellion and
opposition to anything Godly or Christ-like. The scriptures give us a
very decided understanding that the natural beauty of woman and the
masculinity of man demands every aspect of reality and natural
appearance."
"HOLINESS AND JEWELRY
"The scriptures teach us that the wearing of gold and the emphasis
of putting on apparel is a low key position with a New Testament
Christian. Again, jewelry and its excess steps out of the rank of
modest and into the area of the heathen. The Lord's delight is in the
ornamentation of a meek and quiet spirit. We disdain the expensiveness
and the excessiveness of jewelry that is not necessary. A watch and
convenient accessories that assist the individual in his or hers (sic.)
attire is to be given thoughtful consideration so that the emphasis does
not steer from the real and subvert to the gaudy." The Holiness Position
of the United Pentecostal Church International Adopted by the General
Board, page 7 - 8.
While the Bible does teach modesty in both sexes, it does not
condemn make-up on either men or women, nor does it prohibit the wearing
of jewelry. The passage to which most Pentecostals appeal is I Peter
3:3, "And let not your adornment be merely external -- braiding the
hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses..." It is no more
wrong to wear gold jewelry as adornment than it is to put on dresses.
The point is that excesses must be avoided. Extremes, in either
direction, are to be avoided.
In former lessons we have dealt with Holy Spirit baptism and
speaking in tongues. The Pentecostals of all forms and varieties hold
to this in common. When they differ on such an essential doctrine as
the very nature of Deity, how can they all claim they received Holy
Spirit baptism, and all have the proof in that they all speak in
tongues?
If you have any question at all about this topic, or if you would
like extra study materials on it, contact us. You can write us at
West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Dr., Bowling Green, KY. 42101.
Until the next time we have this opportunity to be with you by radio,
may God richly bless you and yours. Good bye.
Radio Sermon No. 47
|
Lyrics, Chords Tabs Rated
Children's NT Studies
