RELG 330 - History of Christianity
Course Notes
Chapter 39
Page 593 - the Beginnings of Pentecostalism - see the Notes on Pentecostals and Charismatics
See also the map on page 595 of the textbook. The map mentions by name some of the leaders of the Pentecostal movement, and the dates of Pentecostal activity across the USA
Page 593 - the Azusa Street Revival was led by William Seymour, a student of Charles Fox Parham. See the Notes on Pentecostals and Charismatics
Page 595 The textbook is misleading when it says that Pentecostalism often includes the teaching that all illness is the result of sin or lack of faith - such teaching is more closely associated with Christian Science. Most Pentecostals and charismatics teach that healing is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit - to be given as He wishes. Prayer, often with the laying on of hands or anointing with oil, is usually part of the healing process, and faith is intimately bound with the prayer - but involves the faith of the person doing the praying at least as much as that of the person being prayed for. Indeed, I have experienced a cat being healed when prayed for.
Page 595 - the FGBMFI. The textbook is misleading when it gives the impression that the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International was set up because of the increasing importance of ministers in Pentecostalism. The FGBMFI was set up as a para-church organization, not as a body in opposition to ministers. Its primary purpose was to encourage Pentecostal laymen in their daily life and ministry in the secular business world, to reach out to other people with whom they did business. They were members of Pentecostal or other churches, and took part in the regular Sunday worship and other activities in their churches, but they also met monthly as the Fellowship, in some secular venue such as a restaurant. At the meetings there was usually a speaker and a time of prayer for healing and other concerns. Members actively invited business colleagues who did not normally go church to come with them and get serious with God. Women were welcome at the Meetings, and there was also a separate group, Women's Aglow, for women. Pastors were welcome to attend, but they did not usually take leadership roles in the FGBMFI.
Page 598 photo is misleadingly placed on this page. It is of an Ethiopian Orthodox priest, not a member of one of the African Independent Churches. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is an ancient church which traces its origin to the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch at the time of the apostles (Acts 8:26-39). The textbook has confused the 'Ethiopian' group of African Independent churches with the 'Ethiopian Orthodox Church' or 'Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church' of Ethiopia.
Copyright © 2005 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
