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The United Pentecostal Church traces its origin back to New year's
day, 1900, when a group of college students and faculty members
at Bethel College (Topeka, Kansas) were overwhelmed by the "power
of God" and began speaking in unknown tongues. This experience
resulted after 21 days of prayer and fasting. Most of those involved
had been Christians for several years; thus, their special "Baptism
in the Spirit" was subsequent to salvation. All claimed
revival began to spread to other geographical regions and soon
reached into the state of Texas. It eventually went westward
into California. People everywhere were claiming to receive a
"second touch" from God.
In 1906 Los Angeles, California became the focal point for another
Pentecostal outbreak. A group of people meeting in an abandoned
warehouse on Azuza Street were overwhelmed by the presence of
God. They too, began to speak in tongues and evidenced other
miraculous signs and wonders as well. Some prophesied, others
received miraculous healing abilities and many were given words
of knowledge. The revival continued for weeks. Christian leaders
from across America and Canada, and many foreign missionaries
home on furlough traveled great distance to witness the revival
fires firsthand. There were various reactions. Many went away
skeptics, believing the experiences to be fanaticism. Others
took a middle of the road position, believing it to be genuine,
but not necessarily for everyone. But others came away enthusiastic
supporters of the phenomenon, and actually received the gift of
speaking in tongues for themselves.
It was the last group of investigators who took the message of
Pentecost back to their parishes, college campuses, communities
and mission compounds. Before long, the Pentecostal message encircled
the world.
It is important to emphasize that the original participants in
the movement were true Christians from orthodox backgrounds.
They were Methodists, Baptists, Presbytarians, Lutherans and
a host of others. Their only claim was that they had been filled
with the Holy Spirit as a subsequent act to salvation. This,
of course, is a common belief held today by many orthodox Christian
denominations (Assemblies of God, Church of God - Cleveland, Tennessee,
Nazarene Church, Wesleyan Methodist, Salvation Army, etc.) Some,
but not all, believe that speaking in tongues is the evidence
of being filled with the spirit. Regardless of ones position
regarding tongues, Baptism in the Spirit, and spiritual gifts,
if he is truly trusting Christ's atoning death alone for his salvation,
he should be accepted as a Brother or Sister in the Lord. These
peripheral issues are secondary in importance. They should never
be a cause for separation among the brethren. With this said,
we can continue our expose.
In 1914 a group of these Pentecostal believers began teaching the doctrine that a person could NOT be saved without first speaking in tongues. They made the experience a prerequisite to salvation. They turned a secondary issue into a primary doctrine. This is heresy and has no Biblical basis. The doctrine began to spread like wildfire, and several denominations were started that embraced this position. Two of the larger ones were:
In 1944 the two groups merged and formed the United Pentecostal
Church International.
Doctrinal Deviations
The United Pentecostal Church deviates from mainline Christianity
in two basic ways.
1). It rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. According
to the cult there is one God, who has chosen to reveal Himself
in three different ways throughout history. In the Old Testament,
He revealed Himself as the FATHER. In the New Testament, He manifested
Himself as the SON. Today, He manifests Himself as the HOLY SPIRIT.
On the surface this sounds good. But it is not Biblical. Such
a view is known as MODALISM.
To help you more fully understand this hersy, let me offer the
following illustration. My name is Alan Streett. There is only
one me. But I am known to my children as their FATHER.
I am known by my wife as her HUSBAND. I am known by my parents
as their SON. One Alan Streett, but three different roles. That's
what the United Pentecostal Church teaches about God. One God
who has simply revealed Himself in three different modes.
Orthodox Christianity holds to a totally different concept of
God. We believe that there is one God who has eternally existed
as three separate and distinct personages; God the Father, God
the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Three persons make up the one
Godhead. A perfect example of this is found in Matthew's account
of the Baptism of Jesus. It was Jesus who went down into the
water. There's one member of the Godhead. Then the Father spoke
down from heaven, "This is my beloved Son with whom I am
well pleased." There's the second member of the Godhead.
Then the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ as a dove. That's
the third member. Three persons; one God.
2). It rejects salvation be grace through faith. According
to United Pentecostal theology, five things are necessary to be
saved. First, a belief that Christ died on the Cross for an individual's
past sins. Second, repentance of all known sin in one's life.
Third, water baptism by immersion. Fourth, reception of the
Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues. And finally,
the necessity to live a godly life, separated from all worldly
pleasures. In the place of a system of grace, the cult offers
a salvation by works.
One thing that is extremely disturbing is the concept that speaking
in tongues is necessary to salvation. If this be the case, how
can a person who is deaf and dumb ever be saved, since he has
no ability whatsoever to speak vocally?
The United Pentecostal Church continues to grow. It has over 5,000
churches worldwide with 644,000 members. It conducts a large
radio ministry and has an apparent evangelistic zeal. Its weekly
broadcast, Harvestime, is heard on 187 stations. Its missionary
force employs 200 full time workers, scattered throughout the
world.
I look for the movement to continue to grow. In these days when
so many people are being caught up in subjectivism, the United
Pentecostal Church will prosper; thereby making it one of the
larger cults in existence.