Pentecostals vs Christians – aren’t they one-in-the-same?
Pentecostals are Christians, right?
Well, that’s not a straightforward yes or no answer. Let me explain. To do this, I have to provide some background about Pentecostalism.
According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, Pentecostalism is a “charismatic religious movement that gave rise to a number of Protestant churches in the United States.” And that it is “unique in its belief that all Christians should seek a post-conversion religious experience called ‘baptism with the Holy Spirit.’”
As the encyclopedia says, Pentecostalism is a movement. In the beginning, Christianity was a movement as well. It was known as “the Way.”
“Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.” – Acts 9:1-2
In the New Testament, the Son of God (Matthew 3:16-17) had upset the Jewish leaders because He was teaching them something that was contrary to what they’d been teaching.
Of course, what the Jewish leaders had been teaching was that salvation was earned through a life of works. Whereas Jesus taught that their works would only lead them to hell. We know that the New Testament teaches us that His sacrifice was sufficient.
Pentecostals have infiltrated the Christian church and are trying to change the doctrine of Christianity. Jesus infiltrated the Jewish synagogues to teach them the truth. While Pentecostals have infiltrated the Christian churches to teach heresy.
Unfortunately, infiltration from deceivers is nothing new to Christianity. Satan has been trying to dethrone God from the very beginning. Read Genesis 3.
Do they teach from God’s Word the Holy Bible?
Yes and no.
I know what you’re asking, how can it be both yes and no? Either they do or they don’t. Right?
Not exactly.
Pentecostals don’t have another “Bible” that they use as well as the Holy Bible aka the Word of God. But they also don’t teach from the Bible as a whole either. Actually, they do things that go against the Bible’s teachings.
They do things that include, but are not limited to:
- Ordain Women Pastors.
- Give greater precedence to the Holy Spirit over God the Father or Jesus Christ.
- Teach the Prosperity Gospel, Word of Faith Movement, and the New Apostolic Reformation.
- Speak in gibberish which they refer to as “speaking in tongues.”
They Ordain Women Pastors.
Like the Methodists, the Pentecostals ordain women as pastors. For those who don’t know, that goes against what the Bible teaches.
In 1 Timothy, Paul lays out in chapter 3 that the role of Pastor/Elder/Bishop/Overseer/Leader (all interchangeable) in the church is for men only.
“This is a trustworthy saying: ‘If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.’ 2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
“6 A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. 7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.” – 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Not only must the church leader be a man he must have several other qualities. Unfortunately, too many churches today don’t find men based on these qualities. Which is why too many are compromised. Their leaders have led them astray.
More than just being the leader there are other things that women aren’t allowed to do in church either.
How many of you attend a church where women read the Word to the congregation or lead in prayer? Did you know that women aren’t supposed to teach, speak, or pray in church?
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.” – 1 Timothy 2:11-12
“Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.” – 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
Do you not agree with that passage of scripture? Does your church not practice that either? Because God’s Word is inherent, either we accept every word of it or none at all. There is no in-between. We can’t cherry-pick what we like and leave out what we don’t.
They teach the Prosperity Gospel.
Pentecostals teach the prosperity gospel theology of “Health and Wealth” through the concept of “Name It and Claim It.”
You’re probably more familiar with many of the Prosperity Gospel preachers than you are with the subject itself. Individuals like Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, Paula White, TD Jakes, Stephen Furtick, Bill Johnson, Brian Houston, Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Max Lucado, Oral Roberts, and many others.
It’s all extra-biblical. Meaning, that it goes beyond what the Bible teaches.
Why does that matter?
It matters because if God’s Word is inherent, complete, and without error, nothing should be added or removed from it.
As a matter of fact, Revelation 22 says that no one should add to or remove from the Bible.
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” – Revelation 22:18-19
In addition to teaching the Prosperity Gospel (also known as the Word of Faith movement), they teach the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement.
The term Apostolic Church is the term used for the early believers. Not just the 13 disciples (14 minus Judas) but the followers of the Way as well.
If you have not heard of NAR before now, it’s the extra-biblical belief that the new church has come. Essentially, they believe and teach that the new church that Jesus spoke of has been established. Just without Him or His return.
Do Pentecostals believe one must believe in Jesus Christ to be saved?
To make a long answer short, the answer to that question is no. As I’ve already explained, they teach a lot of things that are extra-biblical.
God’s Word teaches that Jesus is the only way (John 14:6) and that our faith in Him is sufficient (Ephesians 2:8-9).
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
Yet, they teach the extra-biblical narrative that one must be saved through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s their theology that one must “prove” their salvation. Which leads me to my next point.
Pentecostals believe that one must be baptized by the Holy Spirit to be saved. Which includes having the sign of speaking in tongues.
Jesus said in John’s gospel that He must go away so He could send His helper (referring to the Holy Spirit).
Referring to the Holy Spirit, Jesus said,
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” – John 16:7
Then in the book of Acts, Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would give them power.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
However, Pentecostals believe that anyone not “baptized by the Holy Spirit” isn’t saved. With that belief system, because the Holy Spirit hadn’t come yet, that means that no one in the Old Testament or John the Baptist was saved.
Of course, we know that’s not true. When Jesus went to the Mount of Transfiguration with John, James, and Peter, they saw Elijah and Moses with Jesus.
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” – Matthew 17:1-3
According to their belief system, a byproduct of baptism by/with the Holy Spirit is Speaking in the “Unknown Tongue.”
Both the Old and New Testaments reference speaking in tongues. However, in almost every instance, the Bible is referring to a known language.
There is, however, one entry that refers to speaking in a tongue that no one understands.
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1-2, 4
Paul goes on to further clarify what that means.
“Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.” – 1 Corinthians 14:7-9
In 1 Corinthians, Paul continuously refers to speaking in tongues as speaking a known language. We would refer to it as a foreign language.
This passage explains how important it is to speak and pray in a language that others understand. It might be your native “tongue,” but if others don’t understand what you’re saying how will it edify or benefit them?
That’s why Paul says later in that chapter that no one should speak in their native language (if it’s different to the hearers) unless there’s an interpreter for them.
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.” – 1 Corinthians 14:27-28
Peter specified to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
“Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.
“Then Peter asked, 47 ‘Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?’ 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.” – Acts 10:44-48
Another falsehood the Pentecostals misrepresent is the gift of prophecy.
The gift of prophecy is not the same as being a prophet of the Old Testament (or John the Baptist). Rather, the gift of prophecy is simply the ability to speak positively to others and tell them about God.
“But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.” – 1 Corinthians 14:3
It’s not them guessing what might happen in the future and saying they’re a prophet. Even if they might get it right once or twice, a broken clock is right twice a day. In other words, a broken clock is right more often than these so-called prophets.
Having that stigma of needing to “speak in tongues” to prove salvation will lead some to make up their own nonsensical language. Which is what they’ve done.
So, are Pentecostals Christians?
No, I don’t believe they are. Because they teach a theology that goes against what the Bible teaches.
If you found value in this article, please consider reading: Has Satan infiltrated and overtaken the Christian church?
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