The theological roots of Pentecostalism lie in the Holiness Movement pioneered by John Wesley (1703-1791). Wesley promoted the idea of“Christian Perfectionism” which he defined as freedom from self-will and a desire for nothing but the holy and perfect will of God. Charles Finney (1792-1875) later equated the idea of Wesley’s second work of grace with the concept of the baptism of the Spirit.

As the Pentecostal Movement developed through the early 20th century the emphasis on divine healing was added to the mandate for speaking in tongues. This unbiblical emphasis on healing, coupled with the many
charlatans which associated themselves with healing services, prompted B.B. Warfield to write his 1917 book Counterfeit Miracles. Healing ministries received national prominence when, beginning in 1948 Oral Roberts began healing crusades, which he later began to televise.

The Second Wave 1960- 1982

Whereas the Pentecostal Movement was for the most part a separate movement outside the mainline denominations, the Second Wave or Charismatic Movement was very much a mainstreaming of Pentecostal
theology. Beginning in 1951, Demos Shakarian, a Southern California millionaire businessman, launched the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship Int’l, whose stated purpose was to spread the Pentecostal message of tongues and healing via nonsectarian luncheons and conferences.²

On April 3, 1960 the Charismatic Movement went public when Father Dennis Bennett, an Episcopal priest announced to his Van Nuys, CA, congregation that he had personally spoken in tongues and that he believed that this was the pattern for the church. Later in 1966 the Charismatic Movement penetrated the Roman Catholic Church where it was readily received by a laity and clergy opened, via Vatican II, to new ideas on church renewal.

The Charismatic Movement differs from old line Pentecostalism in several significant ways including a rejection of the necessity of speaking in tongues as a sign of the baptism of the Spirit. However tongues speaking does remain a very important element in most Charismatic circles. Today the Charismatic Movement has enetrated every mainline denomination, and has affected virtually every church in the world, and although the Charismatic Movement is far from a monolith it does teach and exhibit certain distinctives such as:³

The Third Wave 1982- Present

The Third Wave or Signs and Wonders Movement originated in 1982 with John Wimber (1934-1997) when he left his association with the Calvary Chapels to pastor a church in Anaheim, CA, called “The Vineyard.” Also in 1982 Wimber began teaching a class at Fuller Seminary called “Signs, Wonders, and Church Growth” which as part of the class time included healing the sick and casting out demons. It was in the context of Fuller Seminary that Wimber connected with C. Peter Wagner, an “expert” on church growth from the Fuller World School of Missions, who in 1983 coined the names 1st, 2nd, and 3rd waves. Wimber was of the view that present evangelism is not truly effective because it is not accompanied by the “in-breaking of the kingdom” in signs and wonders, as was true of Jesus’ ministry. Wimber coined the term“Power Encounters” for these supernatural manifestations of God in the life of Christ. Under Wimber’s leadership the Anaheim Vineyard Church grew rapidly and spawned thousands of other Vineyard churches, which are affiliated in the ssociation of Vineyard Churches. This association produces their own statement of faith, has their own leadership and in
many ways acts as a denomination. For example, in 1995, the leadership of the Vineyard Association disfellow-shipped the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship for their unbiblical practices connected with the “Toronto Blessing.”⁴

Although the Vineyard Association is neither Pentecostal nor Charismatic in a classical sense, they do hold to a number of doctrinal positions that concern us.

Where Do We Go From Here?

When subjective experience rather than careful examination of the Scriptures becomes the driving force behind your theology, then you are open to all sorts of abuses. While we admire the desire for close
fellowship with God, and the desire to see His work grow and expand in this world, we believe that the Pentecostal Movement and its stepchildren are trading the birthright of the Holy Scriptures for a bowl of pottage named experience. We hope and pray that leaders will arise in these movements who will bring the people back to the Word of God.

We trust that this short study has been profitable for you and contributes to your obedient walk of faith. Psalm 119:105

This article is copyright 2000 by David C. Forsyth. This article may be quoted, in part or in
whole, without permission.

from ChristianFallacies,com

I decided to present the previous section above in its entirety because it was so well written and presented in terms of the historical content. I wanted you to read it because it presents the fact that like many false religions and cults, The Charismatic Movement is a modern creation based on an incorrect interpretation of Scripture and emotion verses fact. This movement was never accepted by sound Christian Preachers and Teachers. It was rejected and remains outcast from all Bible-believing Churches. One group that has not only accepted, but eagerly embraced The Charismatic Movement, are Catholics. This may surprise you since it is a fact that many or most Catholics are not Christians (as defined by the Bible) and are already following a faith that accepts tradition and myth as equal with the Bible.

Many unsaved and even saved people unknowingly become involved with The Charismatic Movement because they have been deceived into seeking special powers and gifts that were once available to Believers for specific purposes and are no longer offered. The Bible tells us that before the entire New Testament was available and God's Word was complete, these gifts were made possible for various reasons. However, even at that time it was clearly stated by the Apostle Paul that these gifts would go away and be replaced by the complete Bible and the power of God to call sinners to repentance through the preaching, teaching and witnessing of Christians called to these tasks:

I Corinthians 13:
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Many Charismatics look at the phenomenon of Tongues as a unique and heavenly language when, in most cases, it was the ability of those preaching and teaching the Word of God to speak other known languages. Do we see that today in any Charismatic Church? No. Unless you have learned a foreign language through other than supernatural means you are not going to be able to speak one. Equally at error is the belief that you need to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to be saved or serve the Lord. According to most Charismatics, that special gift comes with the ability to do things like speak in unknown tongues, receive the word of knowledge (knowledge supernaturally received) or the ability to heal. When is the last time we have seen anyone raise the dead in any church service? See my article on Baptism for more on this.

The Charismatic Movement is all about experience and emotion above Scripture. A Christian knows that he or she is saved because the Bible tells us that once we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord we have eternal life. Most people are happy to be saved and will see changes in their lives as a result of that salvation as Jesus comes into their lives and they begin to seek how they may live for God and serve the Lord by reading the Bible and being taught by sound Preachers and Teachers. That does not mean you will experience some special feeling or supernatural event that can be seen when you accept the Lord. Like most of the Devil's tricks and tools, the false teachings of the Charismatic Movement are designed to replace the Bible, keep unsaved people from being saved and keep saved people from obeying the Lord.

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