Pentecostalism

THE HERESY OF THE UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH - A MAN-MADE "SPEAKING IN TONGUES & BAPTISM" CULT

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• published: 18 Apr 2012
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See our playlist "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC)" at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9931642C7C8FFEAB&feature;=plcp; websites: http://www.BIBLEQUERY.ORG, http://www.HISTORYCART.COM & http://www.MUSLIMHOPE.COM). Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (YouTube channel CANSWERSTV at https://www.youtube.com/user/CAnswersTV; presents another broadcast of his radio program "Christian Answers Live!" usually hosted by Lee Meckley but in this case Bob L. Ross. The special guests for this broadcast are Bob L. Ross, director of Pilgrim Publications (website: http://www.PilgrimPublications.com - one of the world's leading publishers of the works of Charles Haddon Spurgeon) & author of the book, "The Trinity & the Eternal Sonship of Christ" & Mark McNeil, former valedictorian of the Texas Bible College which is operated by the United Pentecostal Church & who is the author of the pamphlets, "An Evaluation of the Oneness Pentecostal Movement" & "Is Speaking with Tongues the Initial Evidence of the Spirit Baptism?" Many Oneness Pentecostals believe that Christians must receive the gift of tongues, or glossolalia, in order to be saved. It should be pointed out that such Oneness Pentecostals do not believe that the gift of tongues in itself will save individuals; however, any individual who has received the Holy Spirit, and thus will be saved, will also receive and exhibit the gift of tongues. The founding date of the Oneness Pentecostal movement can be traced to a specific event: a revival meeting in Los Angeles on April 15, 1913. The culmination of the meeting occurred when Canadian revivalist R.E. McAlister baptized converts not according to the Trinitarian formula of the historic Christian Church, but in the name of Jesus only. While many at the meeting were shocked by this action, the burgeoning evangelist Frank Ewart spent many hours with McAlister following the service and was converted to the practice. According to many Oneness Pentecostals, McAlister taught Ewart that baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as stated in Acts 2:38, was the fulfillment of the Trinitarian creed in Matthew 28:19. The passage from Matthew is fulfilled because Jesus, the Son, is simply the ultimate expression of the monotheistic God (rather than the Son being a distinct Person within the Trinitarian Godhead). The next significant date in the development of the movement occurred exactly two years later, on April 15, 1915, when Ewart gave his first sermon on Acts 2:38. David Reed believes that, despite the claims of Oneness Pentecostals that Ewart preached the message given to him by McCalister, Ewart did not actually develop his modalistic theology until after this sermon. Nonetheless, the approximate date for the development of Ewart's teaching regarding the necessity of baptism in the name of Jesus only can be traced to this period. Also on this date, Ewart rebaptized supporter Glenn A. Cook according to the Jesus only formula; Cook then rebaptized Ewart. This was the beginning of the rebaptism of thousands of Pentecostals. The Oneness movement quickly spread through Pentecostal churches, particularly the Assemblies of God. The AG debated the issue of baptism in Jesus' name at their 1915 general assembly, and in 1916 defeated the movement in their denomination by requiring adherence to Trinitarian theology in the Statement of Fundamental Truths. 156 ministers subsequently left the AG to form an independent Oneness denomination. In January, 1918, the General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies merged with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, a denomination affiliated with the original Pentecostal revival on Azusa Street in Los Angeles. One of the three most distinguishing beliefs and practices within Oneness Pentecostalism (along with Jesus Only baptism & speaking in tongues) is modalism. Oneness Pentecostals deny the Trinity, believing instead that the monotheistic God simply "manifests" Himself in the offices or roles of the members of the Trinity. UPC followers believe you must be saved by "Jesus Name Only" water baptism according to Acts 2:38. Matthew 28:18 clearly refutes the Oneness understanding of Matthew 28:19. Jesus claims in verse 18 that all power was given to him by the Father; this claim would be meaningless, and would perhaps even be an indication of schizophrenia, if the Father and Son were actually the same person. Thus, just as he claimed in verse 18 the authority given to him, in verse 19 he commands the apostles to go forth and to baptize upon that authority (i.e., the command of Jesus). Such an understanding is confirmed by Acts 10:48, which similarly expresses the authority by which baptism is performed.