What are the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements?
The Pentecostal and Charismatic movements are the fastest-growing religious movements with over 500 million members world-wide. So, what’s the difference?
The Pentecostal movement which started in the 1920s is both a unique and very familiar Christian movement. It adheres to the inerrancy of the Bible and the necessity of the New Birth: an individual repenting of their sin and "accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior". It is distinguished by belief in the "baptism in the Holy Spirit" that enables a Christian to "live a Spirit-filled and empowered life". This empowerment includes the use of spiritual gifts: such as speaking in tongues and divine healing which are just two (2) of the nine (9) gifts Paul mentions in the bible (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).
Because of their commitment to biblical authority, spiritual gifts, and the miraculous, Pentecostals see their movement as reflecting the same kind of spiritual power and teachings that were found in the Apostolic Age of the Early Church. For this reason, some Pentecostals also use the term "Apostolic" or "Full Gospel" to describe their movement.
The Charismatic movement exists within established or mainstream Christian denominations that have adopted the beliefs and practices of Charismatic Christianity. The Charismatic’s like the Pentecostals, place an emphasis on baptism with the Holy Spirit, and the use of spiritual gifts (charismata). Unlike the Pentecostal churches, Charismatic churches operate within the confines of their particular denominational beliefs.
Since its start in the 1960s, the Charismatic movement has spread throughout most denominations in the U.S. and has spread widely across the world. Once it began the Charismatic movement quickly spread to mainstream protestant denominations, including Lutherans and Presbyterians. By 1967, the movement had spread into mainstream Roman Catholicism. The Methodist church became involved in the charismatic movement in the 1970s.
While there are a variety of differences between the various Pentecostal and Charismatic churches mainly due to denominational differences, the things they have in common are their belief in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Today, Charismatics make up about half of the 500 million Pentecostal and Charismatic believers throughout the world.
The Pentecostal movement which started in the 1920s is both a unique and very familiar Christian movement. It adheres to the inerrancy of the Bible and the necessity of the New Birth: an individual repenting of their sin and "accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior". It is distinguished by belief in the "baptism in the Holy Spirit" that enables a Christian to "live a Spirit-filled and empowered life". This empowerment includes the use of spiritual gifts: such as speaking in tongues and divine healing which are just two (2) of the nine (9) gifts Paul mentions in the bible (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).
Because of their commitment to biblical authority, spiritual gifts, and the miraculous, Pentecostals see their movement as reflecting the same kind of spiritual power and teachings that were found in the Apostolic Age of the Early Church. For this reason, some Pentecostals also use the term "Apostolic" or "Full Gospel" to describe their movement.
The Charismatic movement exists within established or mainstream Christian denominations that have adopted the beliefs and practices of Charismatic Christianity. The Charismatic’s like the Pentecostals, place an emphasis on baptism with the Holy Spirit, and the use of spiritual gifts (charismata). Unlike the Pentecostal churches, Charismatic churches operate within the confines of their particular denominational beliefs.
Since its start in the 1960s, the Charismatic movement has spread throughout most denominations in the U.S. and has spread widely across the world. Once it began the Charismatic movement quickly spread to mainstream protestant denominations, including Lutherans and Presbyterians. By 1967, the movement had spread into mainstream Roman Catholicism. The Methodist church became involved in the charismatic movement in the 1970s.
While there are a variety of differences between the various Pentecostal and Charismatic churches mainly due to denominational differences, the things they have in common are their belief in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Today, Charismatics make up about half of the 500 million Pentecostal and Charismatic believers throughout the world.
