The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-06-12
The PentecOStals
Among Us

Inv VI VIZ NNOAiNtNAn VI NlAN IT,
llgious world today has been the
phenomenal growth of the pente-
costa churches. The present day
penetecostal movement began to
take form. in the latter part of the
nineteenth century and early in
the twentieth
1t is remarkable that in face Of
stern opposition, condemnation
and ridicule by SO called orthodox
Christianity that the pentecostals
have continued growing by leaps
and bounds.
The so-called regular churches
in ten year period according to
government statistics showed a
gross loss of 100000 members or
s. of their total. The Pentecostal
sectS had opposite results. In that
same ten year period one group Of
Pentecostal Assemblies showed an
increase of 2647 per cent, the AS
semblies of God, 2O87 per cent; the
Church of God 928 per cent; the
Pcnecostal Holiness, 60 per cent in
progress. Today there is an esti-
mated five to six million Pente-
coastal believers.
In the face of the momentous
progress, traditional Christianity
makes no attempt to really find
the true reason why these groups
have had such a phenomenal
growth,
Instead orthodox Christianity
criticizes and ridicules the Pente-
costals without trying to know the
true facts of Penecostal teachings.
For the most part critics use as
examples of disapproval, incidents
and elements which aren't endors-
ed by orthodox Pentecostals at all.
We, as all groups, have our radi-
cal and undesirable elements.
The doctrinal difference that
sets Pcnecostals apart from other
Protestants is the gift of the Holy
Ghost with power, subsequent to
conversion.
The Gift of the Holy Ghost is
definite work Of grace which
a person may have upon becoming
a Christian. Jesus said, CIn Luke
24:49) And behold, Il send the
promise of my father Holy Ghost
or Comforterl upon you Chris
tians); but tarry We in the city of
Jerusalem until We believers be
endued with power from on high
They were certainly believers be-
cause they had baptized other
converts, cast out devils, healed
the sick and preached the Gospel
While rejoicing over their success
in the ministry. Jesus said to them
Rejoice not that the devils were
subject to you but rather rejoice
that your names are written in
heaven. Are sinners names writ
ten in heaven? Were the apostles
and disciples sinners at this timc%
NO, l don't believe SO. They were
yet however to receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost with power on the
day of Pentecost
When the apostles and disciples
received the Holy Ghost Acts
2:1-4l they began to speak in
tongues as the spirit gave utter
ance. There were one hundred and
twenty people including the
mother of Jesus who began speak
ing in tongues. AS they were prais-
ing God and speaking in tongues
a very noisy Pentecostal meet
ing was in session. The multitude
came together. Seventeen different
nationalities heard their own
language. There were however
one hundred and twenty speaking
in tongues. We have no record of
Interpretation of all these mani
festations. They we're Simultaneous
" praising and magnifying God
as the spirit gave them utterance.
The most controversial subject
in the religious world today is the
Gift of the Holy Ghost with initial
speaking in tongues. However we
find ample evidence in the scrip
ture to substantiate the Pente-
costal viewpoint concerning that
subject
We find in the scripture five
occasions of people after CONVEX
sion receiving the Holy Ghost. In
four accounts they spoke in
tongues. acts "a, 9:17, 8:15, and
II, 1O:44-46, 1866.
Let us look into pages of his
tory and consider the historical
reports of previous great revival
movements.
Augustine wrote m the 4th cen
turv. I'VE still do what the apostles
did when they laid hands on the
Samaritans and called down the
HOLY Ghost on them in the laying