Page 105 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

CHARGE - CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT

which gave birth to Magna Charta” (Kenyon, p. 190). imbibed of the worldly, ecumenical spirit of the
[See Bible, Verses.] Charismatic movement.
CHARGE. (1) To put to one’s account (Ps. 35:11; Ac. THE HISTORY OF THE PENTECOSTAL-CHARISMATIC
7:60). (2) A command; a solemn mandate; to deliver to MOVEMENT
one’s trust (Nu. 5:19; 1 Ti. 5:16). (3) To be a burden (2 Pentecostalism was one of the many unscriptural
Co. 11:9). doctrines which arose from the end-times frenzy
CHARGEABLE. Burdensome (2 Sa. 13:25; 2 Co. permeating the United States after the Civil War during
11:9). the last half of the 19th century. The roots of the
CHARGER. A dish or platter (Nu. 7:13-85). Pentecostal latter rain doctrine reach into the holiness
CHARASHIM (craftsmen). 1 Ch. 4:14. movement which swept the country. Influential leaders
CHARIOT. A horse-drawn carriage used for such as Charles Finney, William Booth, and Phoebe
Palmer promoted various forms of the doctrine of
transportation and war (Ge. 41:43; Ex. 14:6). Other “complete sanctification,” claiming that the dedicated
animals were also used to draw chariots. Is. 21:7 believer can experience a condition of perfection of
mentions asses and camels. Some chariots were for some sort in this life. A similar doctrine had been taught
single occupants and others were for multiple riders (2 in the Methodist denomination from its inception. The
Ch. 18:33; Ac. 8:28-31). Elijah went up to heaven in a doctrine of entire holiness usually involved a belief that
chariot of fire (2 Ki. 2:11). [See Military.] the individual could experience a “second work of
CHARISMATIC, CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT. The grace” or a “second blessing” whereby the sin nature
Pentecostal-Charismatic movement is distinguished from was either eradicated or conquered, thus placing the
other Christian movements by its belief in the entirely sanctified Christian above the normal struggles
continuation of the apostolic sign gifts. The term with sin.
“Pentecostal” dates to the early part of the 20th century By the late 19th century the stage was set for
and refers to a desire to recapture the miraculous Pentecostalism to be birthed. The holiness movement
experience of Pentecost. Many denominations have had produced a frenzy of spiritual excitement and a
grown out of the Pentecostal movement, including the lusting after “second blessings” and “second baptisms.”
Assemblies of God, International Church of the To the holiness “second work of grace,” the early
Foursquare Gospel, Church of God in Christ, Church of Pentecostal leaders added yet another crisis experience
God (Cleveland, Tennessee), Pentecostal Church of God, labeled “the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial
United Pentecostal Church, and Church of God of evidence of tongues.” Men such as John Dowie and
Prophecy. The “Charismatic” movement is of more Frank Sandford had also set the stage with their
recent origin and refers to the ecumenical tongues- emphasis on divine healing, the expectation of an end-
speaking phenomenon that has spread through non- times miracle revival, and the reestablishment of
Pentecostal Baptist and Protestant denominations as apostolic sign gifts, including tongues speaking.
well as the Roman Catholic Church since the 1960s.
By any reckoning Charles Parham (1873-1929) is a
While there used to be significant differences key figure in the birth of Pentecostalism. In a restless
between old-line Pentecostalism and the Charismatic search of religious instruction he sat under the
movement, the differences are rapidly blurring. The ministries of a number of strange holiness teachers,
terms are often used synonymously today. Even the picking up various heresies along the way, which he
Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements merged together into his Pentecostal theology. Prior to
notes this. “The terms Pentecostal and charismatic are the turn of the century, Parham observed the meetings
often used interchangeably. Indeed, they do have many of Benjamin Irwin, founder of the Fire-Baptized
features in common, and even for the expert it is Holiness Church. Irwin believed there were three
frequently difficult to draw a dividing line. ... [by the “blessing” experiences—the blessing of conversion, the
1990s] many Pentecostals recognized that the Holy blessing of entire sanctification, and the blessing of fire
Spirit was accomplishing a new work and sensed an baptism. Irwin taught that it was necessary for the
affinity with it. The charismatic renewal brought Christian to seek the baptism of fire for power and
pressure on the Pentecostals to broaden their perfection. His meetings were characterized by
identification within the universal church to groups emotional phenomena such as shouts, screams,
previously considered apostate” (International “tongues,” trances, holy dances, holy laughs, and the
Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, jerks (Vincent Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition,
revised and expanded, 2002, pp. xxi, xxii). Though p. 52). Parham was deeply influenced by Irwin’s “third
there are some notable exceptions, the mainstream, old- blessing” doctrine. Pentecostal historian Vinson Synan
line Pentecostal denominations have by and large
admits this connection:

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 105