The Origin of Pentecostalism

According to most sources, the Pentecostal denomination had its beginning on New Year’s Eve Night 1899. It began when a group of highly zealous Christians (Rom 10:2) longed for more of God than they were getting from reading the Bible. Because of these urges, certain Christians called for a 21-day fast in which the baptism of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them on January 1, 1900. In accordance with this so-called “baptism of the Holy Spirit” these Christians claimed to speak in other languages and perform miracles as those on the day of Pentecost did. Hence, they were modern day Pentecostals. According to a government report,

“Ministers and evangelists came from every section of the United States and missionaries returned from the foreign fields to learn more about this strange doctrine. Many who came received a like experience of the group in Topeka, Kansas, and returned to their field of labor preaching that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever… But in the year 1914 a conference was called at Hot Springs, Arkansas., during which a General Council of the Assemblies of God was formed. Later, because of what many believed to be new revelation of doctrine this group was divided and two or three small groups soon formed, among them being what is known as the Pentecostal Church, Inc., was formed, composed of white brethren only.”1

Also, concerning the Pentecostal denomination, the Pentecostal manual says,

“During the early half of this century various groups were organized. Among them 2 of the major bodies known as the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ, Inc., and the Pentecostal Church, Inc., became so closely associated in doctrine and fellowship that in 1944 steps were taken to unite the two bodies into one organization known as the United Pentecostal Church.”2

It is clear from these two documented sources that the Pentecostal denomination did not begin on Pentecost when the true church of the Lord did (Acts 2:47). Also, one notices that they focus more the miraculous touch and feel system of belief, rather than the Word of God which makes one fully complete (II Tim 3:15-17). Pentecostalism is a rapid, untiring runner in the denominational race that is taking place in America. Sadly, Pentecostalism gains so many people because they believe that what you feel is better than what you know. Often when pressed with true they will say, “I wouldn’t trade this feeling I get for all the Bibles in the world.”

The Basic Tenets of Pentecostalism

Oneness Godhead

The first major tenet among Pentecostals is the “oneness Godhead.” Pentecostals believe that Jesus alone constitutes the Godhead, and that all other appellations to the Father and Holy Spirit are simply to Jesus.

A. Proof Texts used by Pentecostals.

1. John 10:30 In this verse Jesus claims to be one with the father, and therefore, Pentecostals affirm that Jesus is the father.

2. John 14:8-9 Pentecostals use this verse to try and prove that Jesus was asserting that he was the father.

3. Deuteronomy 6:4 Many believe this verse defeats the Christian theory of the Trinity.

4. Col 2:9 This is often cited to prove that there is only on person in the Godhead---Christ.

5. Job 13:8,10 This verse is used in the KJV to prove that one can not accept the persons of God, and therefore God is only one person.

B. Proper teaching of wrested passages (II Pet 3:16ff).

1. The following verses will prove that Jesus is not the father (Eph 5:31, Matt 19:5, Gal 3:28, Mk 1:8-10, Mk 13:32). Also, if John 10:30 teaches that Jesus and the father are one, then Matthew 19:5 teaches that a husband wife are not two separate individuals, but one person. Therefore, a husband could take medicine for his wife and she would get well! Who would affirm the ignorance of this?

2. The following two verses prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that John 14:8-9 does not teach “oneness” doctrine (Jn 1:18, Deut 33:20).

3. A proper teaching on John 1:1-4,14 will disprove the fallacy that some hold concerning the Trinity.

4. Col 2:9 does not teach the “oneness” of Christ as God, but merely that Christ is all in all. Complete! On this verse Guy N. Woods says, “An examination of the context of Col 2:9 will reveal that the Apostle is contrasting the fullness that is in Christ with the emptiness and vanity of the heathen systems of philosophy in vogue at the time.”3

5. A proper translation of the phrase “accept his person” will help resolve the proposed proof text of Job 13:8,10. The phrase “accept his person” literally means to show partiality for someone. So, in essence, Job is asking his friends if they are showing favoritism for God. Job is not rebuking his friends for accepting God as more than one person. Most versions translate accept his person as show partiality (NKJV, RV, ASV, NASB).

Baptism In The Holy Spirit

Another main tenet among United Pentecostals is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Pentecostals affirm that on “January the 1^st 1900 while they were praying for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which, to their joyful surprise came upon them.” One definite flaw that is evident in the above statement made by Pentecostals is that they could not have had their prayers answered by the God of Heaven because they were not praying according to his will by not asking in faith (James 1:5-7, Mk 11:24, I Tim 2:8). God answers prayers when we pray according to His will and in the way He has ordained. Therefore, they did not receive a Holy Spirit Baptism, but “because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (II Thes 2:10ff).

A. Alleged proof Texts

1. Acts 1:15ff and Acts 2:1ff. Pentecostals believe the combination of these two verses prove that the 120 and not the 12 only received the Holy Spirit baptism. And therefore, we can receive it today.

2. Joel 2:28 This verse is often used to prove that everyone will receive the Holy Spirit Baptism.

3. Acts 10:1ff This passage is used to prove that all will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit as Cornelius did.

4. Titus 3:5 Pentecostals use this verse to teach that one must be baptized in the Holy Spirit, and not only water.

5. Matt 3:11 Oneness believe that the Baptism of Holy Spirit and fire are the baptism of the Holy Spirit for all believers (Acts 2:1ff).

B. Proper handling of wrested Scriptures.

1. To prove to Pentecostals that the 12 and not the 120 were baptized one need only look no further than Acts 2:43 & 1:13.

2. A proper understanding of the word flesh will disprove the Pentecostal theory. The word flesh in this context means, “all men, all humanity, or both Jew and Gentile alike.” This found its fulfillment in Acts 2 (Jew) and Acts 10 (Gentile).

3. Notes on 2 will suffice for Acts 10.

4. The washing of Regeneration can not be the Baptism of the Holy Spirit because the Greek words will not allow it. The Greek word for washing is loutron, which literally means “a bath or laver”. The Word for regeneration literally means, “new birth, or to be born again.” It Titus 3:5 were literally translated it would read “the bath of new birth.” This can only mean baptism (Jn3:5ff). Also, the renewing of the Holy Spirit probably goes in accordance with Eph 5:26 and I Pet 1:23 as the Spirit inspired word washes us and allows us to be born again. Or, it could be speaking of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, Eph 1:13-14).

5. To understand Matt 3:11-12 one must first remember that the baptism of the Holy Spirit did come to pass as promised in Acts 2 & 10. Secondly, the baptism of fire is sadly the only baptism Pentecostals will ever receive. In Matt 3:12 John affirms that the Baptism of fire is the Hell of Separation (Matt 25:31ff).

Baptism in the name of Jesus

Another main tenet that Pentecostals hold is that the words in the name of Jesus must be quoted at one’s baptism. When pressed with Matthew 28:18-20 they will say that the names Father and Holy Spirit all refer to Jesus anyway. Pentecostal point out that where baptism is administered in the New Testament it is done in the name of Jesus

A. Alleged Proof Texts.

1. Acts 2:38, 8:12, 10:48, 19:5 In all these instances baptism is administered in the name of Jesus only. Therefore, we must administer baptism in the name of Jesus only.

B. Proper handling of alleged proof texts.

1. To disprove that baptism must be done in the name of Jesus one need look no further than the above-cited passages. IN all 4 of the Acts baptisms 3 out of 4 have a different title for Christ, and in the Greek 3 out of the 4 prepositions are different. If it was necessary to say in the name of Jesus, then why did the apostles not use the exact same wording?

2. To help disprove the oneness baptismal citing, we must understand the import of the phrase in the name of. In Acts 4:7 the apostles were asked by what power or name they were able to do miracles. Their answer was Jesus power. However, the interesting point that we learn from this verse is that when you are doing something by the name of someone, you are doing it by his or her power or authority. Therefore, it is not really important if you cite in the name of Jesus at a baptism, but it is important that we have Christ authority for everything that we do (Col 3:17).

Miracles & Tongue Speaking

One of the most popular tenets of Pentecostalism today is their so-called “miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit.” This is accomplished by the healing of the sick and speaking in tongues. It is this aspect of Pentecostalism that attracts the most attention because it is entertaining and unbelievable. The latter no doubt! Pentecostals must affirm miraculous power if they claim to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the first century Christians did.

A. Texts used to prove miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

1. Heb 13:8 Pentecostals claim that since Jesus has not change then why should miracles that he and the first century brethren were able to do?

2. Matt 18:20 Oneness claim that since Jesus is still with us today, we can still do miracles.

3. Mk 16:17 Of all the passages that Holy Rollers claim prove miracles, this one comes the closest. At least it makes sense and is speaking of miracles in context.

B. Alleged proof texts answered Biblically.

1. To try and prove that Heb 13:8 substantiates miracles today is totally foreign to the context and purpose of the Hebrews writer. In context Heb 13 is dealing with Christians who were being persecuted, and were reminded that Jesus will never leave them nor forsake them, and that nothing men could do to them physically would harm them spiritually if they remained faithful. Therefore, the writer reminds them that Jesus will not change on His promises.

2. Of course Jesus is always with us in the sense that He cares for us and loves us and will never leave us (Heb 13:5). But, Jesus is not physically with us today. As most false teachers do, Pentecostals have to try and take verses out of context to make something out of them that the Holy Spirit never intended.

3. To prove that Mk 16:17 does not teach we have authority to do miracles today one only needs to look to Mk 16:20. Mk 16:20 teaches that miracles had one purpose, which was to confirm the word that the apostles were speaking as the word of God. Miracles were not used simply to heal people’s diseases. To prove this, in II Tim 4:20 Paul, a man who was able to heal diseases, left Trophimus at Miletus sick. Why did he not heal him? Because miracles were not for personal gratification. But, someone might object by saying that healings confirm the word today. If that is the case, then all the fake healings that have been proven to be a hoax must unconfirm the word. Truth be known we do not need miracles today because the Bible is self-confirming that it is the inspired word of God.

4. Lastly, the New Testament clearly teaches that miracles have ended. In I Cor 13:8-10 Paul said that prophecy, tongue speaking, and miraculous knowledge would one day vanish away when that which is perfect has come. But, what is that which is perfect? The Greek word for perfect does not mean sinless, but rather complete, lacking in nothing, or absolute. Therefore, the only thing that this could be talking about is the complete law of liberty---the Bible. (James 1:25, II Tim 3:16-17). In light of I Cor 13:8-10 we can prove Pentecostal healings is a fallacy.

End Notes