One fact is that there are many people with unanswered questions regarding Pentecostalism. Before delving into details of this movement, it is important to understand their magnitude in the world. Research shows that they have followers nearly every region of their world. Their population has grown to about half a million followers. Of course, this is despite having started with the onset of the 20th century. It only serves to prove how fast they are growing.
If you want to fully understand this Christian expression, you need to get to their genesis. That way, you will understand their founding beliefs and those who formed it. That notwithstanding, in terms of performance, Pentecostalism faces the same challenges as other Christian denominations. You will find accounts of their successes and failures. The testimony of receiving the Holy Spirit, like the twelve disciples in the bible is the one thing that brings them together.
It is almost impossible to talk about Pentecostalism without mentioning the Holy Spirit. The day of Pentecost in particular is of great value to this movement as it explains how they define their beliefs and practice of Christianity. However, they hold to the principal doctrines of the Trinity, making them similar to other Christian denominations. The divinity of Jesus and believing the Bible as the word of God equally makes them similar to other Christian groups.
Pentecostals are different from other Christians due to their belief in the power to speak in tongues. While all Christians believe in the Holy Spirit and its divinity, they believe it does more than cleansing one of their sins. They say that after the Holy Spirit giving you salvation from Jesus Christ; it can also fill you with another gift. This is the gift to speak in tongues.
The formation of Pentecostalism faced so many challenges. Other established holiness bodies could not accommodate their beliefs. Pentecostals were largely rejected by the recognized denominations of that time. As if that was not enough, nearly all the famous preachers of that time also overruled the creation of a Pentecostal group. Their beliefs were different from other holiness bodies. Pentecostalism appeared more of a cult practiced in urban areas.
The fact that the majority of their leaders were untrained in bible schools did not make things any better. Other holiness bodies believed that a church should have leaders who have attended bible schools. Consequently, the leaders of Pentecostalism were termed ignorant and unable to head any Christian denomination or church. Pitching of tents and hiring urban buildings sent a different message to Christians. The church would not be permanent.
The challenges motivated the founders of Pentecostalism. It was clear that their survival depended on forming a discrete Christian expression: it exactly what they did.
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