Posted on 10/07/2006 6:40:10 AM PDT by NYer
NEW YORK - A new 10-nation survey of Pentecostal and charismatic Christians, considered the fastest-growing stream of Christianity worldwide, shows they are deeply influencing the Roman Catholic and mainstream Protestant churches and are poised to make a big impact on global affairs. p>The poll released Thursday by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that "spirit-filled" Christians, who speak in tongues and believe in healing through prayer, comprise at least 10 percent of the population in nine of the 10 surveyed countries.
The study also found that followers are more willing than previously thought to bring their traditional values into public debates, potentially shaping government policies in the years ahead.
The surveys were conducted over the spring and summer in Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, India, the Philippines, South Korea" /> Researchers polled both Pentecostals, who form their own denominations such as the Assemblies of God, and charismatics, who have adopted some Pentecostal beliefs but remain members of traditional Protestant and Catholic churches.
The survey estimated that Pentecostals and charismatics together comprise at least half the population of Brazil, Guatemala and Kenya, and 44 percent of the Philippines.
They make up about one-third of the population of South Africa and Chile and nearly one-quarter of Nigerians and U.S. residents. The figure for South Korea is smaller, at 11 percent. In India, the poll was limited to three states with large Christian populations, so a national estimate could not be made.
The study found Pentecostal beliefs have a strong hold in major churches in many countries.
In the traditionally Catholic nations of Brazil, Guatemala and the Philippines, charismatics are a larger share of the population than Pentecostals.
In six of the 10 countries, Pentecostals and charismatics together make up the majority of the overall Protestant population, according to the survey.
The Pentecostal movement, which began a century ago in Los Angeles, spread quickly overseas because of its adaptability to local cultures, whose indigenous beliefs often include healings and casting out of evil spirits, and because of the exuberance of its worship.
While Pentecostals and charismatics are known for speaking in tongues, the survey found respondents were more likely to say that they had personally witnessed or experienced other signs of the Holy Spirit, such as a healing through prayer or a direct revelation from God.
The majority of Pentecostals in every nation surveyed except South Korea and India believed religious groups should express their views on social and political issues. In seven of the 10 countries, 70 percent of charismatics agreed.
"These are folks for whom the world of spirit is remarkably alive ... but that in no way diminishes their commitment to social justice for the poor, for instance, or a role for government in meeting those needs," said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum.
The polls were conducted by phone in the U.S., and in person overseas, with margins of error ranging from plus or minus 4 percentage points to 9 percentage points for some subgroups.
The polls in Brazil, South Africa and South Korea focused on urban areas.
Sorry, but that's such a wearisome old UNBiblical straw dog, to me. And I'm already quite tired and headed for bed. Perhaps I'll feel more like responding tomorrow.
Unfortunately, some people, instead of being humbled by God working through them, somehow feel a sense of pride. I think that tends to make others feel that those whom God has used are somehow holier than they. This inherently produces defensiveness and a critical view that is extremely counterproductive. It is paramount that leadership educate the congregation on what the gifts are and aren't...and those whom God is using also remember that he has also spoken through a bush and a donkey.
= = = = =
Exactly right.
But, I wonder . . . sometimes it seems God is more willing to flow through very flawed vessels than He is willing to cease such altogether.
I do believe we'll see purified vessles operating flawlessly before Jesus returns . . . the end times has hardly seen God even begin to get warmed up compared to what He will routinely demonstrate in these end times, imho.
Thanks for your great posts.
Good night.
I can personally testify that I am one who received my healing from God. When the doctors said there was nothing they could do and gave me 5 years or less to live in 1989, I not only didn't die, but God totally healed me! Thank you, Doctor Jesus! :o)
Ahh, don't worry about it. If you're born-again, we'll have plenty of time to work it out in the gloryland. I'm sure there's much more for both of us to learn along the way. We'll both be able to look back and see how foolish and ignorant we were along the journey to truth. What's really important is that we both know that Jesus is "the Way, the Life, and the Truth." In the end, that's what will count for eternity!
How do you know the Spirit is quenched? Are you all knowing? And there's no EGO involved with outward expressions of piety? Go ask a pharisee. Spare me, please. Please don't flame me too much, but never have I seen such shallow faith than in those who make sure everyone sees them raise their hands and speak in tongues, with no edification. Or please answer me a question, why do pentecostals tell you you're sick because you have unconfessed sin in your life? Excuse me!? When you accept Christ into your heart, all the sins past, present and future are forgiven, so why would someone say something like that? They do say that. I read it in one of their pamphlets. I thought it was rather sad for a church to do that to someone when it goes against scripture. I've had my fill of organized religion. I will continue to read God's word, that is how you know God's will. If you read the Bible you can't quench the Spirit.
You think that song is depressing? Do you know the words? Well, I'll say a prayer for you that God will open your eyes to the real meaning of the song, ok? Then you will find spiritual healing. It's not depressing, it's liberating.
"Tongues of men and of angels" is a hyperbole. Paul is saying that if he could speak in tongues of, not only men, but of angels too, but have no love, it's useless.
They don't. You're confusing charismatic Word-of-Faithers with classical Pentecostals.
That's ridiculous on two counts.
ONE: The Pharisees read the Bible.
TWO: Paul wrote that very passage to people who read the Bible or you obviously would never had read it. ;-)
So, are you saying that faith doesn't play a part in this at all? That is what christianity is all about...faith. I don't expect God to perform for me to know He is real. He's not a carnival show. Signs are for those who have weak faith.
Oh, I was debating a Christophobic homosexual lib over on essembly who held the same opinion.
You should get out more.
Very insightful post there, HiTech RedNeck, and yours always are (I am not flattering you, but speaking the truth). I've been meditating and praying over these things:
But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
~James 3:8-11Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
~Psalm 141:3Words kill, words give life;
they're either poison or fruit—you choose.
~Proverbs 18:21 (Message)
Your post reminds me of the complaint of Elijah, all discouraged, and God Almighty's reply to him!
God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.The *Lord* knows those who are His!
~Romans 11:2-5 citing 1 Kings 19
Christ said it. I believe it. I've found it abundantly true.
I was just discussing this very reference with a dear sister and prayer partner yesterday! What, we discussed, are these "greater things" that we who are In Christ will do, since, as Jesus said, He will be in Heaven and His Spirit among - in - us?
I surmised that it is "greater" to "take up our cross and die daily," to suffer violence and torture and mocking day after day, to be like righteous Lot, grieved day after day by what he saw where he lived, and yet keep abundantly peace and love and joy and set-apartness through it all.
My sister surmised that the "greater" is to be of the blessed who "not seeing, yet believe."
Yet again, indeed the Miracles of Christ are "greater" (more abundant) now than when He walked the earth as man, for now all men in Him are His Body on the earth by the Spirit, and He the Head, over all, orchestrating from Heaven as Himself Enthroned! His Kingdom, by the sons of it, is filling the earth with His Righteousness! Christ Jesus lives and walks among us daily in "greater" ways now than 2,000 years ago because the person/body of every Holy Spirit Filled Believer is a "little Christ," a Christian! It is glory and blessing to contemplate and to live out these words, this Truth, which Elohim has worked into us - like yeast, He said, in a batch of dough. Gotta love this plan, this Mighty God!
"For the Father loves the Son,
and shows Him all things that He Himself does;
and He will show Him greater works than these,
that you may marvel."
~John 5:20
Nu.11:27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, do prophesy in the camp.
11:28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his
young men, answered and said, My Lord Moses, forbid them.
11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God
that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD
would put his spirit upon them!
They thought that Eldad and
Medad were strange, too, but Moses knew better.
Un hn. Thanks.
The first scripture that comes to mind is "you shall do greater things than these" but of course I am well aware that no one can parse scripture like a Protestant.
I'm not going to debate this with anyone. As I said in a previous post, I'm home and quite at peace. Thanks for your concern.
Amen, and to honor him; as you know, this is our blessing! Be encouraged and refeshed always, dear Quix, and also may all be who care for their aging parents!
ladyinred, you are gifted with encouragement! Thank you for your faith-on-display here!
There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
~1 John 4:18The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.
~Proverbs 29:25
Jesus Christ, who claimed He Is God, has said,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”I hope you find that worthy of your contemplation!
Know exactly what you mean. (:
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