Pentecostal church is any religious institution who claims to receive the same Spirit that came the Pentecostal day. Some say it should be with the evidence of speaking in tongues, for others speaking in tongues is not considered a requirement. They think tongues are a gift rather than evidence.
Pentecostal churches also belief that the power of healing and the gifts of the Spirit remain in action till today in the church of Christ. Every service has the purpose of seeking for the presence of God, to learn from the scriptures, to get closer to God as a personal experience with the creator where the power of God is the one that changes you rather than auto-imposed discipline.
The bible is the maximum authority within the church's body who believe that everything in the bible is God's word.
Pentecostal churches nowadays are mainly the result of the revival at Azusa street on 1906.
For many centuries nothing was heard regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many the baptism of the Spirit was symbolic. There are some data of groups who believe in what historians call convulsions in the services and today some may try to relate them with manifestation of the Spirit, but those stories are kind of blurry. There are also clear evidence that in the letters of the first fathers of the church around the 100 and before the year 300, the church experienced gifts of healing and miracles.
Old Pentecostal churches after Azusa and probably until the 90's were about prayers, praising and holiness. To be Pentecostal was to renounce the world and make your whole life about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The new generations of followers are more secular than their predecessors, probably because many churches had passed to the hand of the children for second, or third generation of pastors where the children may be academically educated in theology but do not have the same calling or some less charismatic leaders.
People used to memorize scriptures and use them for every daily occasion. Pentecostals were kind of Jesus frisks and holy rollers. Testimonies were part of the daily service and outdoor evangelism.
It was always an urgency to seek for souls because we are living the last days. The message to the world for many years had been "repent because Jesus is coming soon." And also "convert and get free from Hell and from your sins because you don't know the day and the hour when you will have to encounter God."
Pentecostal Roots
What are really Pentecostal churches like? Many people have diverse opinions on what is to be Pentecostal. But what an insider has to say? Come, and find out.
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