Pentecostalism: Fire, Experience, and Doctrinal Drift

Pentecostalism: Fire, Experience, and Doctrinal Drift

Pentecostalism is one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the world, boasting hundreds of millions of adherents. It emphasizes the “baptism of the Holy Spirit,” speaking in tongues, miraculous healing, and revivalistic worship. For many, it represents a return to the book of Acts — a Christianity full of power and supernatural vitality.

Yet Pentecostalism is also an umbrella, not a monolith. From Assemblies of God to Word of Faith megachurches to “Oneness” Pentecostals, the movement is fractured by theology, practice, and extremes. And while Pentecostal fervor has drawn millions, it has also fueled heresies, abuses, and a “non-denominational” bait-and-switch that has left the body of Christ deeply confused.

History

Pentecostalism traces its roots to the Azusa Street Revival (1906) in Los Angeles, led by William J. Seymour, a Holiness preacher. Meetings there were characterized by ecstatic worship, interracial fellowship, tongues-speaking, and claims of healing.

From Azusa Street, Pentecostalism exploded worldwide, spawning denominations like the Assemblies of God (1914) and the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). By mid-century, the movement birthed the Charismatic Renewal, which spread Pentecostal practices into mainline denominations.

Later, the Word of Faith movement (Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen) pushed prosperity gospel teaching into Pentecostal and Charismatic streams, creating massive influence but doctrinal corruption.

Today, Pentecostalism is the fastest-growing form of Christianity globally, especially in Africa, Asia, and South America.

Core Beliefs & Distinctives

• Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Taught as a “second blessing” after conversion, evidenced by speaking in tongues.

• Emphasis on Spiritual Gifts: Healing, prophecy, and tongues are treated as central rather than peripheral.

• Revivalism: Services are loud, emotional, and experiential — focused on “encounter” over liturgy.

• Prosperity & Word of Faith (in many branches): Teaching that faith guarantees wealth and health.

• Loose Structure: Pentecostal churches often operate independently or in loose networks, contributing to doctrinal chaos.

Strengths

• Zeal for Evangelism: Pentecostals are bold in sharing faith, often willing to plant churches and send missionaries where others will not.

• Vibrant Worship: Their music and fervor can remind us that God is alive and worthy of passionate praise.

• Global Growth: In contexts of poverty and oppression, Pentecostal communities often provide real hope and community.

• Emphasis on the Spirit: At their best, they remind the church that Christianity is not merely intellectual but supernatural.

Weaknesses & Errors

• Non-Denominational Bait-and-Switch: Like Baptists, Pentecostals frequently brand themselves “non-denominational.” In reality, many are Pentecostal/Charismatic to the core — especially in Word of Faith megachurches. This creates confusion and masks doctrinal issues.

• Oneness Pentecostalism: A major heresy within Pentecostalism denies the Trinity, teaching that “Father, Son, and Spirit” are modes of one person (Sabellianism reborn). This undermines the biblical revelation of God’s triune nature (Matthew 28:19). Read more here.

• Prosperity Gospel / Word of Faith: Faith is treated as a force, and God as obligated to bless materially. This distorts biblical faith and reduces God to a vending machine.

• Emotionalism over Truth: Worship often prioritizes feelings and ecstatic experience over sound doctrine. Scripture warns against being “carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14, NASB).

• Abuses of Authority: High-profile Pentecostal leaders have often built empires of wealth and influence, exploiting followers with false promises.

What They Get Wrong Biblically

• Holy Spirit Baptism: Pentecostals insist on tongues as evidence of Spirit baptism, but Scripture teaches all believers receive the Spirit at conversion (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 12:13).

• Prosperity Teaching: Directly contradicted by Christ, who said, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33, NASB). Paul himself suffered poverty, illness, and persecution.

• Oneness Theology: Denies Christ’s eternal relationship with the Father. John 1:1 (NASB): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is distinct from yet one with the Father — not the same person in different masks.

• Judging Maturity by Gifts: Pentecostals elevate ecstatic gifts over fruit of the Spirit. Yet Paul says, “But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13, NASB).

Myths to Refute

• “Pentecostalism is just like the book of Acts.” False. The Spirit in Acts spread the gospel with power, but modern Pentecostal practices (slaying in the Spirit, prosperity teaching, etc.) are nowhere in Scripture.

• “Non-denominational churches aren’t Pentecostal.” Many of the largest “non-denoms” (Hillsong, Bethel, Elevation, Lakewood) are Pentecostal/Charismatic at the core.

• “Tongues are required for Spirit-filled life.” Not biblically. Paul asks, “All do not speak with tongues, do they?” (1 Corinthians 12:30, NASB).

Pastoral Path Forward

Pentecostals need a reformation — keeping their zeal but grounding it in sound doctrine. Passion for God is not wrong; it becomes dangerous when unmoored from truth. If Pentecostals embraced Scripture above feelings, rejected prosperity distortions, and upheld the historic Trinity, they could become a powerful witness.

Why Denominations Are Unbiblical

At the root, the very existence of denominations contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for dividing themselves under labels—“I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos”—and asked, “Has Christ been divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:13, NASB).

Denominations are simply the modern version of that same error: elevating human traditions, teachers, or cultural distinctives above the unity of Christ. While God has worked through these groups despite their flaws, the reality remains—denominations fracture the body of Christ, blur the gospel’s simplicity, and create loyalties that compete with loyalty to Jesus Himself. The church was never meant to be “Catholic,” “Orthodox,” “Baptist,” or “Pentecostal.” It was meant to be one body, with Christ as its only Head.