Posted on 12/22/2011 4:48:07 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life published a demographic report this week on the size and distribution of the world's Christian population and revealed that Pentecostals and charismatics make up more than a quarter of all Christians.
Using estimates from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the report also showed that together Pentecostals and charismatics make up more than 8 percent of the worlds total population.
The study defines Pentecostals as members of Pentecostal denominations that teach that all Christians should seek a post-conversion religious experience called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. These denominations also teach that those who experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit may receive spiritual gifts, including prophesy or speaking in tongues.
Charismatics are members of Catholic, Orthodox and some Protestant denominations, who engage in some spiritual practices associated with Pentecostalism.
Both groups can be characterized as placing emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Greg Mundis, executive director of Assemblies of God World Missions, told The Christian Post, The biggest thing for us in our exegesis of Scripture is that we believe in baptism in the Holy Spirit Our understanding of the Scriptures is that upon salvation the Holy Spirit is sent to convict us.
Baptism in the Spirit empowers us to be His witnesses, he explained.
This foundational belief has drawn a large following particularly in the Global South, including Latin American countries, Africa and India. The Pew report revealed that 44 percent of the worlds Pentecostals reside in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mundis noted that Brazil has experienced the most growth worldwide with 15 to 20 million Assemblies of God Pentecostal believers there. According to the Pew report, the Protestant population in Brazil grew from 2.6 percent in 1940 to about 21 percent today and the fastest-growing Protestant community is overwhelmingly Pentecostal. Additionally, more than half of Brazilian Catholics identify with the charismatic movement.
Pentecostalism has taken hold in many of these cultures, Mundis explained, because there has been an outpouring of the Gospel through mission work and because of the experience-based emphasis of Pentecostalism. Societies that are more oriented to emotional experiences, like in Latin American cultures, take a bigger interest in the religion.
On a similar note, David Roozen of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research said, If someone is going to be religious in todays world, it (Pentecostalism) has a lot more pizzazz than sitting around reading an old book. With Pentecostalism [you] can call on the spirit; there is an element of control.
Roozen pointed out that many of the followers can be found among the marginalized.
Marginalized groups, he said, feel a draw toward a religion that gives them direct access to the Holy Spirit, thus giving the powerless power, in a sense.
Pentecostalism has grown in Latin American countries because many women are marginalized in those cultures, he noted. But as they bring their families to church, it starts creating order and discipline to their families lives and it gives women value in a culture where they dont have much power.
According to Roozen, the movement is also very counter-cultural in Latin American countries, where Catholicism is the dominant religion. It gives marginalized people, either socio-economically or politically, ways to be a part of the modern world.
Many also see it as God is actively here, we can touch Him, and feel Him, and see Him at work with healing and speaking of tongues, Roozen added. This notion sits well with many in countries where there is no middle class. The very poor in these cultures have very little access to anything personally that makes them feel powerful.
Interestingly, in the United States, the Hartford director pointed out that the Pentecostal and charismatic movement is spreading among middle class Americans a phenomenon that has puzzled many academics.
Whats attracting many in the middle class, Roozen observed, is the prosperity gospel the teaching that essentially God will bless you with health and wealth that preachers like Joel Osteen are spreading. This teaching is not affirmed by all in the Pentecostal movement.
The Pew report found that overall, the number of Christians around the world has more than tripled from historical estimates of approximately 600 million in 1910, to more than two billion today. Estimates for the number of Pentecostals worldwide are based on membership data from historically Pentecostal denominations, such as the Assemblies of God and the Church of God in Christ.
The strongest group in China is Reformed.
Because “pizzaz” appeals to the ego and pride of man - no wonder it grows.
The “dusty old book” religion abases man before an all-powerful God, teaches us that there is no confidence in the flesh, and that man is nothing apart from Him to whom all glory and praise is due!
Joining a Charismatic or Pentecostal church is “pizzaz” ??
Are all Charismatics pizzaz?
26 But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26,27
We and the Holy Spirit are to bear witness to Christ. The Spirit does not bear witness to himself, and neither should we. I left Pentecostalism due to the sickening sideshow atmosphere, and the lack of emphasis on Christ and sound scriptural teaching.
RE: The strongest group in China is Reformed.
Do you have a source for this factoid? ( a link maybe?)
Just commenting on the quote in the article:
>>If someone is going to be religious in todays world, it (Pentecostalism) has a lot more pizzazz than sitting around reading an old book. With Pentecostalism [you] can call on the spirit; there is an element of control.”<<
Pride wants us to feel like we’re in control, and “pizzazz” appeals to the flesh. Why wait and pray patiently when you can have a direct ‘download’ of the Spirit to satisfy your needs?
Personally, based on my experience, the above mentality is exhibited in a lot of american churches and coupled with the prosperity gospel, not just Charismatic.
Maybe they meant “pizzas”.
Eschatology is where they come closest to the truth of Scripture.
Amen
The speaking in tongues “hamna-shalamba-shalamba-lamba-ooohhh-sama-nahama” (you can almost script it if you hear it enough) is what always got me. On the day of Pentecost, yes they spoke in tongues, but they were speaking known languages - not gibberish.
I woudn't even go that far.
>>That’s why the experiential gifts of the Spirit are so ardently sought and so extravagantly displayed.<<
And if you can’t perform them as well as another, the problem is you and your lack of faith!
One of the most dangerous things I heard while speaking with a Charismatic was them recounting a story to me - they were tired and didn’t feel like going to a service, but they felt the devil’s presence and rebuked him - “I told him Satan, I bind and rebuke you! And then all of a sudden I felt a lot better and went to service!”
If I remember scripture right, not even the archangel Michael dared to rebuke the devil in his own power, but said “The Lord rebuke you”.
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
I wonder if that really is Gospel teaching os a self-help group / financial advisor teaching...
pizzaz! why not just Cross it up!
where do you get that from? The demographics of China say that there are officially 15 million people belonging to various Protestant denominations, with 50 to 100 million belonging to underground movements
So I'd guess most are filled with style, flamboyance,flair, energy and excitement.
I don't think one can say that about all Pentecostal groups, right? The Assemblies of God in particular strike me as orthodox in their teaching. Or am I wrong?
Arminianism is not "man centered" it just rejects the idea of puppets with no ability to truly love God.
True, that is why the Jews from Ethiopia, etc. were surprised to see these Galileans speaking their languages...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.