Assemblies of God
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The World Assemblies of God Fellowship, or Assemblies of God for short, is the world's largest Pentecostal denomination, with over 283,413 churches and outstations in over 200 countries (including 12,311 churches in the U.S.) and approximately 57 million adherents worldwide.[1][2][3] It prefers to be referred to as a cooperative fellowship instead of a denomination.[4]
The Assemblies of God has aggressive missions programs that are designed to establish self-propagating, self-supporting, and self-governing national church bodies in every country. As of late 2006, the Assemblies of God World Missions Research Office reported constituencies in 212 countries and territories, with over 5,000 adherents added per day.[2] As of 2005, the fellowship operated 859 Bible schools, 1,131 extension programs and 39 seminaries outside of the United States.[5]
Contents
[edit] History
The Assemblies of God has its roots in the Pentecostal revival of the early twentieth century. This revival is generally traced to a prayer meeting held under the leadership of Charles Parham, at Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas, on January 1, 1901. The "awakening" or "revival" spread rapidly to Missouri, Texas, California and elsewhere. In 1906, a three year revival meeting under the leadership of William Seymour began at Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles that attracted believers from around the world.
Reports of the revival were carried far and wide by periodicals and other publications that sprang up along with the movement. Independent revivals also began to break out during this time in other parts of the world. The Pentecostal aspects of the revival were not generally welcomed by established churches, and participants in the movement soon found themselves forced outside existing religious bodies. These people sought out their own places of worship, and founded hundreds of distinctly Pentecostal congregations.
Many of these congregations sought to partner with existing religious movements, such as the Christian and Missionary Alliance, but many Pentecostals left following controversy over the doctrine of "The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit". These early leaders where licensed as ministers by Charles Harrison Mason, founder of the Church of God in Christ, a predominately African-American denomination. It is possible that the Church of God in Christ provided initial credentials to the mostly white Pentecostals who would later form the Assemblies of God. [6]. Jim Crow laws of the South and other racial cultural norms of the early 19th century America contributed to the early demise of racial unity with these Pentecostal leaders with the predominately African-American Church of God in Christ denomination.
By 1914, many ministers and laymen alike began to realize just how far-reaching the spread of the revival and pentecostalism had become. Many evangelistic outreaches birthed by the new movement created a number of practical problems-- Formal recognition of ministers, approval and support of missionaries, doctrinal unity, gospel literature, and a permanent Bible training school, and full accounting of funds were all issues that needed to be dealt with.
Concerned leaders felt the desire to protect and preserve the results of the revival these thousands of newly Spirit-baptized believers by uniting through cooperative fellowship. In April 1914 about 300 preachers and laymen were invited from 20 states and several foreign countries for a "General Council" in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to discuss and take action on these and other pressing needs. It is disputed that many of the early African-American Pentecostal leaders such as Charles Harrison Mason of the COGIC were not invited to such gathering.
A cooperative fellowship emerged from the meeting and was incorporated under the name The General Council of the Assemblies of God. In time, self-governing and self-supporting general councils broke off from the original fellowship or were formed independently in several nations throughout the world, originating either from indigenous Pentecostal movements or as a direct result of the indigenous missions strategy of the General Council.[7]
The Assemblies of God experienced a schism early in their history when they adopted the Statement of Fundamental Truths affirming their belief in the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity at their Fourth General Council in October 1916 in St. Louis. Those that withdrew from the fellowship were known as "Oneness or Jesus Only Pentecostals", who believed in baptizing "in the name of Jesus Christ" and not "in the name of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost/Spirit." This schism caused the loss of approximately one-fourth of recognized A/G ministers, including all but one minister in the state of Louisiana (Rev. George Harrison remained with the Assemblies of God).
In 1988, the loose body of cooperative councils joined under the name World Pentecostal Assemblies of God Fellowship as result of an initiative by Dr. J. Philip Hogan, then executive director of the Division of Foreign Missions of the General Council of the Assemblies of God of the United States. The initial purpose was to coordinate evangelism, but soon developed into a more permanent organism of inter-relation. Dr. Hogan was elected the first chairman of the Fellowship and served until 1992 when Rev. David Yonggi Cho was elected chairman. In 1993, the name of the Fellowship was changed to the World Assemblies of God Fellowship.[8]
[edit] Doctrine
Two years after the church's founding, the pioneers of the Assemblies of God adopted a set of core beliefs for the Fellowship, which remain virtually unchanged. These are known as "The 16 Fundamental Truths." The Assemblies' doctrines are summarized in its Statement of Fundamental Truths.[9]
Numerous Christian groups share some or all of these tenets -- and some positions (like the Trinity) are considered more central to the faith than others. Of these sixteen, four are considered "core beliefs of the Fellowship", or "Cardinal Doctrines." These are:
These statements of belief have a biblical basis and are considered non-negotiable. Below is a summary of the Assemblies of God's doctrinal positions and biblical references which are used to back up these statements.
[edit] Sixteen Fundamental Truths
1. The Scriptures Inspired - The Scriptures, both the Old Testament and New Testament, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)
2. The One True God - The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM", the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10,11, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22)
- The AG doctrine clarifies the position of The Adorable Godhead into ten detailed sub-categories:
Defining the "persons" or Trinity of the Godhead (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 14:16-17) Distinction and Relationship in the Godhead - three persons, one God (Luke 1:35, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Matthew 11:25-27, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 John 1:3-4) Unity of the One Being of Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John 1:18, John 15:26, John 17:11, John 17:21, Zechariah 14:9) Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead (John 5:17-30, John 5:32, John 5:37, John 8:17,18) The Title, Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1-3, 2 John 1:3) The Lord Jesus Christ, God with Us (Matthew 1:23, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:14, Revelation 1:13, Revelation 1:17) The Title, Son of God (Matthew 1:21-23, 2 John 1:3, 1 John 3:8, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews 1:1-13) Transgression of the Doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9, John 1:1-2, John 1:14, John 1:18, John 1:29, John 1:49, 1 John 2:22-23, 1 John 4:1-5, Hebrews 12:2) Exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord (Hebrews 1:3, 1 Peter 3:22, Acts 2:32-36, Romans 14:11, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28) Equal Honor to the Father and to the Son (John 5:22-23, 1 Peter 1:8, Revelation 5:6-14, Philippians 2:8-9, Revelation 7:9-10, Revelation 4:8-11)
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ - The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
4. The Fall of Man - Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Genesis 1:26,27, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-19)
5. The Salvation of Man - Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
6. The Ordinances of the Church
7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit - All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31) This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. (Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9)
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
8. The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit - The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use. (1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28)
9. Sanctification - Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. (Romans 12:1,2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:12) The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14) By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15,16)
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 8:1,2, Romans 8:13, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:12,13, 1 Peter 1:5)
10. The Church and its Mission - The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven. (Ephesians 1:22,23, Ephesians 2:22, Hebrews 12:23)
Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priority reason for being of the Assemblies of God as part of the Church is:
The Assemblies of God exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason for being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:
11. The Ministry - A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in:
12. Divine Healing - Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers. (Isaiah 53:4,5, Matthew 8:16,17, James 5:14-16)
13. The Blessed Hope - The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17, Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, 1 Corinthians 15:51,52)
14. The Millennial Reign of Christ - The Second Coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years. (Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-14, Revelation 20:1-6)
15. The Final Judgment - There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:8)
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth - "We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21, Revelation 22)
[edit] Beliefs
[edit] Pacifism
Today, the Assemblies of God acknowledges that its members may take different stands on the question of war, and allows each church and believer to take the stance they feel most appropriate. The denomination acknowledges its loyalty to the government, but has no other official stance on the issue.
However, prior to 1967, the A/G, along with the majority of other Pentecostal denominations, officially opposed Christian participation in war and considered itself a peace church. The official position of the church until that time read as follows, "We, as a body of Christians, while purposing to fulfill all the obligations of loyal citizenship, are nevertheless constrained to declare we cannot conscientiously participate in war and armed resistance which involves the actual destruction of human life, since this is contrary to our view of the clear teachings of the inspired Word of God, which is the sole basis of our faith."[10] Most of the founders and first generation members of the denomination held to this view and it was presented as official teaching throughout World Wars I and World War II. In 1940, The Pacifist Handbook listed the Assemblies of God as the third largest peace church in America.
The official position however, did not reflect the actual practice of the church. Although the original position of the denomination stated in 1917 and reaffirmed in 1927 General Council may have been pacifist, attitudes changed rapidly during the 1930s. This was caused in part by the influx of many new members who did not share the older pacifist view. Influential teachers such as Myer Pearlman, who had served in World War I and who now wrote the Adult Sunday School quarterly, also challenged the pacifist stand. The degree of this change is seen in that the October 17, 1942 Pentecostal Evangel carried a feature story on the first Assemblies of God Minister to serve as a military chaplain.[11] Since the Pentecostal Evangel is the official organ of the Assemblies of God and denominational approval is required for a chaplaincy appointment there was obviously a disconnect between official statements and practice. Among the membership less than 35 Assemblies of God men had requested conscientious objector status during WW2.[12] By Contrast in 1944 over 50,000 Assemblies of God men were serving in the Armed forces.[13] This is a huge number for a denomination with a membership of less than 250,000 at the time.[14] The official pacifist position however remained unchanged until the 1967 general council when the present neutral position was written into the General Council Constitution and By-Laws: "ARTICLE XXII. MILITARY SERVICE As a Movement we affirm our loyalty to the government of the United States in war or peace. We shall continue to insist, as we have historically, on the right of each member to choose whether to declare their position as a combatant, a noncombatant, or a conscientious objector."[15]
[edit] Denominational Post-secondary Educational Institutions
- United States
- Canada (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada)
- Central America and the Caribbean
- Latin America
- Europe
- Asia
- Australia
[edit] Denominations members of the WAGF
The data shown below are primarily drawn from the World Christian Database (2005 ed) but also contains national denominational data and/or Census where indicated.