Pentecostalism

The fastest-growing Protestant movement worldwide, with an estimated 280 million classical Pentecostals and 600+ million including Charismatic Christians. Emerging from early 20th-century revival movements, Pentecostalism emphasizes baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, divine healing, and experiential faith.

Core Beliefs

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Distinct from conversion, Spirit baptism is a second definite experience empowering believers for witness and service. The initial physical evidence is speaking in tongues (glossolalia), as on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

Spiritual Gifts

Pentecostals emphasize all spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12-14, including prophecy, healing, miracles, tongues, and interpretation. These gifts are for the church today, not limited to the apostolic era.

Divine Healing

Physical healing is provided in Christ’s atonement and available through prayer, faith, and anointing with oil. Many Pentecostals emphasize healing as part of the gospel.

Imminent Return of Christ

Pentecostals hold to premillennial eschatology, expecting Christ’s imminent return. This urgency motivates evangelism and missions.

Full Gospel

Pentecostalism proclaims the “Full Gospel”: Jesus as Savior (salvation), Sanctifier (holiness), Healer (divine healing), Baptizer in the Holy Spirit (empowerment), and Coming King (second coming).

Historical Development

• 1901 - Charles Parham’s Bible school in Topeka; students speak in tongues
• 1906 - Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles under William Seymour; Pentecostalism spreads globally
• 1914 - Assemblies of God founded
• 1916 - Church of God in Christ becomes largest African American Pentecostal denomination
• Mid-20th century - Healing evangelists (Oral Roberts, etc.); Charismatic Renewal in mainline churches
• 1960s-1970s - Catholic Charismatic Renewal; Third Wave movements
• Modern era - Explosive growth in Global South (Latin America, Africa, Asia)

Practices

Spirit-led Worship

Pentecostal worship is typically informal, spontaneous, and emotionally expressive, with lively music, clapping, raised hands, dancing, and vocal praise. Services allow space for Spirit manifestations.

Speaking in Tongues

Both as initial evidence of Spirit baptism and as a devotional prayer language (1 Corinthians 14:2), tongues remain central to Pentecostal spirituality.

Healing Services

Prayer for the sick, anointing with oil, and laying on of hands are regular practices. Some churches hold dedicated healing services or crusades.

Believer’s Baptism

Most Pentecostals practice believer’s baptism by immersion, following personal faith.

Church Structure

Pentecostal polity varies. Classical Pentecostal denominations (Assemblies of God, Church of God) use various structures. Many independent Pentecostal churches center on charismatic leaders. Neo-Pentecostal “megachurches” often have strong pastoral leadership.

Geographic Distribution

While originating in the United States, Pentecostalism has grown explosively in Latin America (Brazil has the world’s largest Pentecostal population), sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia (especially South Korea, Philippines, China). It is reshaping global Christianity.

Major Pentecostal Groups

• Assemblies of God - Largest classical Pentecostal denomination
• Church of God in Christ (COGIC) - Largest African American Pentecostal body
• International Church of the Foursquare Gospel - Founded by Aimee Semple McPherson
• Oneness Pentecostals - Reject Trinitarianism (distinct from mainstream Pentecostalism)
• Neo-Pentecostal/Charismatic churches - Independent megachurches and prosperity gospel movements

Relation to Other Christian Traditions

Pentecostalism emerged from the Holiness movement (rooted in Methodism) but developed distinctive emphases on tongues and gifts. Early Pentecostals were often marginalized by mainline Protestants, who viewed their practices with suspicion. The Charismatic Renewal (1960s-70s) brought Pentecostal emphases into Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and other traditions. Today, Pentecostalism has moved toward mainstream evangelical acceptance while retaining distinctive practices.