An Evangelical Christian Perspective of the U.P.C.I. (Oneness Movement)
The Pentecostal Assemblies and The Pentecostal Church, Inc
By Alan Street
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:
- The Pentecostal Assemblies, Inc.
- The Pentecostal Church, Inc.
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.
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