The Charismatics

May 1972

Most people do not differenciate between Pentecostals and Charismatics. Even if somebody belongs to one of these groups, chances are, that somebody has no clue there is a difference, but there is.

The Pentecostals began at the turn of the Century 110 years ago (1900) and grew among poorer and seemingly less educated until 50 years later they rose through the economic ranks and became acceptable among other evangelicals in the 60s and 70s.

Pentecostals said that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes after conversion and is always evidenced by the speaking in tongues. If you don't speak in tongues, you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Traveling evangelists coming from the Pentecostals held tent meetings in different states who made amazing claims of healings and even raising people from the dead. The Assemblies of God (Pentecostal denomination) decided back in the 40s and 50s that these people were not on the up and up - they were false prophets, phony, illegitimate...you get the picture.

The Charismatics started in 1960 by an Episcopal priest - Father Dennis Bennett who led his congregation into the pentecostal experience. The movement grew to millions within a few short years reaching almost every Protestant and then even Catholic denomination.

Like the Pentecostals, the Charismatics teach that there is a 2nd experience called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but unlike the Pentecostals the Charismatics believe one can be baptized with the Holy Spirit and not speak in tongues. To be sure the gifts are taught and practiced, but tongues are not necessary.

Those Charismatics who were not associated with or those coming out of a denomination started their own churches, every one having the names "Word of..." in it - just kidding, kind of....

Whereas Pentecostal denominational leaders didn't like those traveling evangelists making wild assertions of raising the dead and the like, the Charismatics loved them and promoted their writings and their teachings.

Even though churches like the AG even now try to keep some of the Charismatic teachings out, a lot of the Pentecostal pastors promote and accept the Charismatic teachings and influences, thus many Pentecostal do not even know there is a difference between the two groups.

Ok if that didn't confuse you, you are doing pretty good. The point of the whole thing is this - there is a difference between the Charismatics and the Pentecostals. In 1972 I was smack dab in the middle of both camps, going to a Pentecostal church and listening and attending meetings of Charismatic teachers, of whom Derek Prince was my favorite.