Pentecostalism and The Pentecostalism and The 2020thth Century Century

The Fire Returns

A History of Christian A History of Christian Doctrine, Vol. 1-3 by David Doctrine, Vol. 1-3 by David

BernardBernard

The Holiness The Holiness MovementMovement

There was a strong call to go back to the doctrines and practices of the apostles in the New Testament church.

In describing this desire, the adjective “Pentecostal” became common, and a rallying cry was, “Back to Pentecost.”

Some leaders began to press for the restoration of spiritual gifts, including prophecy, healing, and miracles.

A minority of Holiness people, including the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church, began to seek for the “baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire” as a third crisis experience, but again not associating it with tongues.

Three Works of Grace?Three Works of Grace?

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost The Baptism of the Holy Ghost originally thought of as a third work originally thought of as a third work of graceof grace

The common testimony of early The common testimony of early Pentecostals was,Pentecostals was, “ “Thank God, I am saved, sanctified, and Thank God, I am saved, sanctified, and

filled with the Holy Ghost.”filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Charles Parham and the Topeka Outpouring

Founder and director of Bethel Bible School on Stone Avenue in a building named Stone’s Folly in Topeka, Kansas.

He was an independent preacher associated with the Holiness movement.

Stone’s FollyStone’s Folly

Research at Stone’s FollyResearch at Stone’s Folly

He asked his students to research the bible to see what was the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. They all agreed that the initial evidence was speaking in another language.

They all began to seek God for this “third crisis experience.”

The Pentecostal MovementThe Pentecostal Movement(January 1, 1901)(January 1, 1901)

In a prayer meeting Agnes Ozman asked In a prayer meeting Agnes Ozman asked Parham to lay hands on her that she might Parham to lay hands on her that she might receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. speaking in tongues.

When he did, she began to speak in tongues. When he did, she began to speak in tongues. It is said that Agnes Ozman spoke in Chinese It is said that Agnes Ozman spoke in Chinese

for three days straight. She couldn't speak in for three days straight. She couldn't speak in English at all. English at all.

Several other students soon received the Several other students soon received the same experience, and on January 3 Parham same experience, and on January 3 Parham himself along with many others also received himself along with many others also received the Holy Ghost with the sign of speaking in the Holy Ghost with the sign of speaking in tongues. tongues.

The Apostolic Faith Movement

Parham called his new group the Apostolic Faith movement, and he published a periodical called The Apostolic Faith.

The group conducted meetings in Kansas and Missouri but did not grow rapidly at first.

A significant breakthrough came in the fall of 1903 in Galena, Kansas. A woman from the town was almost completely blind from an eye disease. After she was instantly healed in one of Parham’s services in Eldorado Springs, Missouri, she invited him to conduct meetings in Galena.

There, more than eight hundred people were baptized in water, many hundreds received the Holy Ghost, and at least one thousand people testified that they were healed.

The Apostolic FaithThe Apostolic Faith From Kansas and From Kansas and

Missouri to:Missouri to: Orchard TexasOrchard Texas HoustonHouston San AntonioSan Antonio Zion City IllinoisZion City Illinois

By 1906 it was By 1906 it was 13,000 strong13,000 strong

By 1908 it was By 1908 it was 25,000 people25,000 people

Charles Parham’s Significance

In Houston he started a bible school In Houston he started a bible school after an outpouring and one of his after an outpouring and one of his students (informally) was William students (informally) was William Seymour.Seymour.

The Revival in Galena Missouri The Revival in Galena Missouri affected the life of an atheist named affected the life of an atheist named Howard Goss who would go on to be Howard Goss who would go on to be one of the founders of the Assemblies one of the founders of the Assemblies of God and the first Superintendent of God and the first Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church.of the United Pentecostal Church.

William Seymour and theAzusa Street Revival

William Seymour William Seymour (1870-1922)(1870-1922)

Student of ParhamStudent of Parham

William Seymour and theAzusa Street Revival

Seymour was a Holiness Preacher from Seymour was a Holiness Preacher from Louisiana living in Houston. After hearing Louisiana living in Houston. After hearing Parham’s teaching he went to Los Angeles Parham’s teaching he went to Los Angeles to pursue a ministerial position.to pursue a ministerial position.

His first sermon at the church was about His first sermon at the church was about the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking tongues.initial evidence of speaking tongues.

The pastor and congregation were The pastor and congregation were offended and she locked Seymour out the offended and she locked Seymour out the church.church.

William Seymour and theWilliam Seymour and theAzusa Street RevivalAzusa Street Revival

He continued services in the homes He continued services in the homes of two sympathetic families: first in of two sympathetic families: first in the home of Edward Lee, where he the home of Edward Lee, where he stayed, and then in the Asberry stayed, and then in the Asberry home on Bonnie Brae Street.home on Bonnie Brae Street.

Bonnie Brae Street Bonnie Brae Street HouseHouse

Before Azusa: Bonnie Brae Before Azusa: Bonnie Brae StreetStreet

At Edward Lee’s home they held a At Edward Lee’s home they held a 10-day fast, specifically seeking the 10-day fast, specifically seeking the Holy Spirit. A few days into it, Lee Holy Spirit. A few days into it, Lee received the Holy Spirit while getting received the Holy Spirit while getting prayed over for healing. God also prayed over for healing. God also healed him.healed him.

Seymour went to the Bonnie Brae St. Seymour went to the Bonnie Brae St. service that night and shared the service that night and shared the news and the Holy Ghost fell and news and the Holy Ghost fell and many more were filled.many more were filled.

Bonnie Brae StreetBonnie Brae Street

Seymour's future wife, Jennie Evans Seymour's future wife, Jennie Evans Moore, received another special gift Moore, received another special gift that night. She had never played the that night. She had never played the piano, but that night she was piano, but that night she was praying, playing the piano and praying, playing the piano and singing in a language that was not singing in a language that was not her native language. She was a her native language. She was a pianist until her death.pianist until her death.

The Fear of GodThe Fear of God The house was filled for several days, with The house was filled for several days, with

masses of people jamming the yard and masses of people jamming the yard and Bonnie Brae Street. Bonnie Brae Street.

A young person came to the porch and A young person came to the porch and prophesied about the great San Francisco prophesied about the great San Francisco earthquake in which 452 people died. The earthquake in which 452 people died. The earthquake happened a few days later.earthquake happened a few days later.

This brought the fear of God and general This brought the fear of God and general curiosity. Eventually too many people curiosity. Eventually too many people thronged the porch, the porch caved in, thronged the porch, the porch caved in, and they had to find a larger place. That's and they had to find a larger place. That's when they moved to Azusa Street.when they moved to Azusa Street.

Azusa Street MissionAzusa Street Mission

Azusa Street MissionAzusa Street Mission The small group rented an old, two-story building on Azusa The small group rented an old, two-story building on Azusa

Street in downtown Los Angeles and began services on Street in downtown Los Angeles and began services on April 14. The Azusa Street Mission held services daily for April 14. The Azusa Street Mission held services daily for three years, from 1906 to 1909. three years, from 1906 to 1909.

Many miracles, healings, and baptisms of the Holy Spirit Many miracles, healings, and baptisms of the Holy Spirit occurred. There were documented accounts of the dead occurred. There were documented accounts of the dead being raised. The meetings were characterized by being raised. The meetings were characterized by spontaneous, demonstrative worship and strong moves of spontaneous, demonstrative worship and strong moves of the Spirit.the Spirit.

They were racially integrated, an amazing development in They were racially integrated, an amazing development in that segregated, prejudiced time. Frank Bartleman (1871-that segregated, prejudiced time. Frank Bartleman (1871-1936), a Holiness evangelist and the foremost chronicler of 1936), a Holiness evangelist and the foremost chronicler of the revival, wrote, “The ‘color line’ was washed away in the the revival, wrote, “The ‘color line’ was washed away in the blood.” Blacks and whites, men and women, served in blood.” Blacks and whites, men and women, served in public leadership and ministry roles.public leadership and ministry roles.

Azusa Street LeadersAzusa Street Leaders

Significance of AzusaSignificance of Azusa Even though Pentecostalism started with Parham, Even though Pentecostalism started with Parham,

it was Azusa Street that broadcast it to the world.it was Azusa Street that broadcast it to the world. In September 1906, Seymour began publishing In September 1906, Seymour began publishing

the news of the revival in a paper called the news of the revival in a paper called The The Apostolic FaithApostolic Faith

Missionaries, ministers, and lay members from Missionaries, ministers, and lay members from across the United States and around the world across the United States and around the world flocked to Los Angeles, received the Holy Spirit, flocked to Los Angeles, received the Holy Spirit, and carried the message everywhere. Many who and carried the message everywhere. Many who could not attend nevertheless read the news of could not attend nevertheless read the news of the revival and sought and received the same the revival and sought and received the same experience for themselves.experience for themselves.

The Decline of Parham and Seymour

Parham came to Azusa Street and didn’t Parham came to Azusa Street and didn’t like what he saw even though he admitted like what he saw even though he admitted that people were being filled with the that people were being filled with the spirit.spirit.

He felt the service was too demonstrative, He felt the service was too demonstrative, too overly influenced by blacks and rife too overly influenced by blacks and rife with false manifestations.with false manifestations.

Aside from racial issues, there is some Aside from racial issues, there is some speculation that territorial issues affected speculation that territorial issues affected his opinions.his opinions.

The Decline of Parham and Seymour

Parham was arrested on a moral Parham was arrested on a moral charge, but the charges were dropped.charge, but the charges were dropped.

This forever crippled his reputation. He This forever crippled his reputation. He was sidelined from the leadership of the was sidelined from the leadership of the movement that started with him.movement that started with him.

There still is a group left in Baxter There still is a group left in Baxter Springs, Kansas named the Apostolic Springs, Kansas named the Apostolic Faith.Faith.

Name ChangeName Change

Since Parham coined the term Since Parham coined the term “Apostolic Faith,” many people “Apostolic Faith,” many people (perhaps trying to distance (perhaps trying to distance themselves from him) started themselves from him) started referring to themselves as referring to themselves as Pentecostal instead of Apostolic.Pentecostal instead of Apostolic.

The term Apostolic would later be The term Apostolic would later be used mainly by Oneness Pentecostals used mainly by Oneness Pentecostals (like us).(like us).

Seymour’s DemiseSeymour’s Demise

Florence Crawford (1872-1936), an Azusa Street member in 1906, started the Apostolic Faith Mission in Portland, Oregon, in 1908 as a rival organization to Seymour’s.

She took Seymour’s mailing list, thereby shutting down his paper, and she started her own paper, also called The Apostolic Faith.

Seymour’s DemiseSeymour’s Demise Seymour’s struggles with Parham, Crawford, and

William Durham (discussed in chapter 2) eroded his leadership role.

The revival at Azusa Street dwindled in 1909 Most of the whites left the mission, and in 1915

Seymour changed the constitution of the church to specify that a “person of color” must always be the leader.

He also moved away from the doctrine of tongues as the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit, holding that tongues did not always come immediately, although it was still expected as a sign that would follow Holy Spirit baptism.

Opposition and Persecution Holiness groups and Fundamentalists (and

others) typically forced them out, denounced them…. Calling them:

Holy Rollers of the devil the last vomit of Satan emphatically not of God wicked and adulterous anti-Christian sensual and devilish

Pentecostal workers were: threatened Beaten shot at tarred and feathered.

They were pelted with rocks and with rotten fruit, vegetables, and eggs.

Tents ropes were slashed; tents and buildings were set afire. Howard Goss explained:

The FinishedWork Controversy

William DurhamWilliam Durham

William Durham

In Chicago, shortly after the great Azusa In Chicago, shortly after the great Azusa Street revival, a prominent Baptist minister Street revival, a prominent Baptist minister named William H. Durham (1873-1912) named William H. Durham (1873-1912) began to question whether sanctification was began to question whether sanctification was actually a separate experience. actually a separate experience.

He had a conversion experience in 1898. He had a conversion experience in 1898. Because of Holiness teaching, for three years Because of Holiness teaching, for three years

he sought for a definite experience of he sought for a definite experience of sanctification.sanctification.

In 1901, he had an experience that he In 1901, he had an experience that he identified as sanctification, and he began to identified as sanctification, and he began to teach sanctification as a second work of teach sanctification as a second work of grace.grace.

Durham’s Experience

Many of the members of Durham’s North Avenue Mission received the Holy Ghost under Parham’s ministry in nearby Zion, Illinois.

In early 1907 he visited the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles and received the Holy Ghost on March 2.

He questioned all of his previous experiences.

Durham’s Conclusions

1. The baptism of the Holy Ghost was different from the experiences that he had identified as conversion and sanctification.

2. He realized that he could not simply “claim” the baptism of the Holy Ghost as did the Holiness people who equated it with entire sanctification

3. Speaking in tongues was invariably the initialevidence of this experience.

From Three Works of Grace From Three Works of Grace to Twoto Two

He taught that there was no second work known as sanctification.

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost was the Second Work

Instead, sanctification is an integral part of conversion and an ongoing process.

To be holy, we do not need to seek a second work of grace, but we simply need to appropriate the benefits of the finished work of Calvary.

The Controversy Erupts

He preaches at a Pentecostal Convention in He preaches at a Pentecostal Convention in Chicago in 1910 and convinces Howard Goss Chicago in 1910 and convinces Howard Goss of the Finished Work Doctrine.of the Finished Work Doctrine.

He preaches at the Azusa Street Mission while He preaches at the Azusa Street Mission while Seymour is away and the revival returns.Seymour is away and the revival returns.

Seymour did not approve and he locked Seymour did not approve and he locked Durham out of the Mission.Durham out of the Mission.

Seymour started his own services at Seventh and Los Angeles Streets, and the revival continued.

Those Who Rejected The groups who rejected the Finished Work The groups who rejected the Finished Work

message and continued to teach three crisis message and continued to teach three crisis experiences included experiences included

the Apostolic Faith groups of Charles Parhamthe Apostolic Faith groups of Charles Parham William SeymourWilliam Seymour Florence CrawfordFlorence Crawford The Pentecostal Holiness ChurchThe Pentecostal Holiness Church The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)

and its later offshoot, the Church of God of and its later offshoot, the Church of God of ProphecyProphecy

The Church of God in Christ. The Church of God in Christ.

Those Who Accepted

The Pentecostal groups that accepted The Pentecostal groups that accepted the Finished Work: the Finished Work:

The Assemblies of God The Assemblies of God The International Church of the The International Church of the

Foursquare Gospel. Foursquare Gospel. Including the United Pentecostal Including the United Pentecostal

Church International Church International The Pentecostal Assemblies of the The Pentecostal Assemblies of the

WorldWorld

The Outcome of the Controversy

Why did the Finished Work message gain such widespread acceptance?

1. as the Pentecostal revival exploded, many converts came directly from a life of sin without claiming a prior experience of sanctification.

2. many of the men who became leaders in the Pentecostal movement after 1910 did not come from a Wesleyan-Holiness background.

3. The Finished Work position has the stronger biblical support. Holiness people had equated entire sanctification with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but when early Pentecostals differentiated the two, there were no clear examples in the New Testament of people receiving sanctification as a distinct, instantaneous work.

The Jesus NameThe Jesus NameControversyControversy

The Worldwide Camp Meeting,Arroyo Seco, 1913

Pentecostalism was the message of Pentecostalism was the message of Robert E. McAlister (1880-1953), a Robert E. McAlister (1880-1953), a Canadian preacher who had received Canadian preacher who had received the Holy Spirit at Azusa Street in the Holy Spirit at Azusa Street in 1906. 1906.

Speaking at a baptismal service, he Speaking at a baptismal service, he explained that single immersion in explained that single immersion in Jesus Name was the proper mode for Jesus Name was the proper mode for baptism, not triple immersion as baptism, not triple immersion as some people practiced. some people practiced.

Frank Ewart and the Oneness of God

Another man who was deeply impressed by McAlister’s message was Frank J. Ewart (1876-1947)

He started a work in Los Angeles with McAllister and John Cook.

Frank Ewart and the Oneness of God

Ewart pitched a tent and began meetings in Belvedere, California, just outside Los Angeles.

He preached his first message out of Acts 2:38 Ewart was rebaptized in the name of Jesus

Christ. Then Ewart baptized Cook in the name of Jesus

Christ, and Cook baptized Ewart. This action was the decisive step in starting

Oneness Pentecostalism as a distinct movement.

The Spread of the Jesus Name Message

Many missionaries and preachers came to the meetings and were rebaptized in Jesus’ name. Even more significantly, Ewart’s periodical, Meat in Due Season, carried the Jesus Name message and reports of the revival far and wide.

Missionaries to China, Japan, and India were soon baptized in Jesus’ name.

During this revival, Ewart endured much opposition from local church people as well as from a gang of hoodlums. The latter threatened him and his wife on numerous occasions, planted “stink bombs” in the services, and even burned down the tent. The town constable did nothing to protect them, but the persecution ended when the gang leader was converted.