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.
They also believe that if you are not baptised in "Jesus' name" then you can't be saved. In other words, if you are baptised in the Catholic method of "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit", you are not saved.
poised to make a big impact on global affairs"
What big impact on global affairs are they going to make?
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We don't know. But I'd hazard guesses along these lines:
1. Millions more will build lasting relationships with God.
2. Millions more will be fed and educated by such good works of such groups.
3. Millions more will be rescued from natural disasters and war aplenty by such groups.
4. Some leaders will be given ultimatums delivered by humble nobody believers--SOME of whom God will supernaturally place in the inner offices and bedrooms of said leaders akin to Star Trek/SG-1 beaming transport somehow.
5. The leaderes who obey will be blessed as will their nations. Those who refuse will be obliterated--all memory of them wiped from the face of the earth--and their nations and people will suffer greatly. Probably the degrees to which the saints in those countries are praying and fasting will determine a lot how the leaders will decide to respond to God.
6. Children will call for angel armies to destroy vast earthly armies and generals and it will be done in a flash.
7. Groups of people will be seen walking on top of water to safety in floods and other crises.
8. Groups of people will be transported supernaturally to safety.
9. Groups of people will be fed supernaturally.
10. Many individuals and families will discover in their treks from piller to post led by angels that their clothes do not wear out and their food doesn't run out.
11. Whatever dramatic demonstrations of satanic power accrues to the global government will be matched and raised by the forces on God's side.
12. The sacrificial, servant hearted Love to the death of believers will be one of the most awesome things of this coming era.
I'm sure the above is just a hint of the global impact of such believers.
And, IF ONE CHOOSES TO CLING TO THE SIDE OF EVIL, YES, THEY SHOULD FEAR SUCH FORCES OF GOD'S KINGDOM.
But we are not interested in building our own theocracy. We've always botched such things. We are quite content to allow Christ to build His own government His own ways.
However, we will call for our Constitutional rights to be honored as long as we can. They have been mangled wholesale and increasingly now for 2-3 decades.
He likes to give all kinds of good gifts even tangible ones IF AND WHEN it's beneficial to do so.
But Gifts of The Spirit are not hazardous to earnest humble believers.
I work with a couple of Apostolic Pentecostals. They are very much "speak in tongues or you are not saved".
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Sorry to read that.
I pray they get some balance to their perspective.
There's always been at least a remnant over the last 2000 years.
After a major life changing series of spiritual growth spurts, I was rebaptized in a San Diego house church--pool of the Methodist MD leader . . . Their custom was 3 dunks each
in the name of The Father, The Son and The Spirit.
My JESUS ONLY uncle and wife were ecstatic.
Dang...that is really splitting hairs to make a distinction in the Trinity???
Back on the comment about praying out loud, etc. I mainly wanted to say that I have really noticed a difference in spiritual boldness...even within the leadership of the church. I worked as secretary there for 5 years, my husband was on the church board, and was a worship leader. So, we had multiple opportunities to work with church leadership and there was just such a difference in the decision making, the need to please man, the fear of doing something that would offend....it was a pattern that was impossible to not note the difference from the freedom and boldness to which we had been accustomed during our years and years in spirit filled churches.
My union thug parents were not thrilled at all when I got out of the Army and proclaimed that I was "saved" in Honduras.
There are many kinds of spiritual boldness too. In Baptist churches you'll see the boldness that gets people out door to door in the worst neighborhoods to get people saved. I have been going to a Plymouth Brethren church and the men there are more likely to be bold enough to preach messages on Sunday without having been to seminary. It is yet another kind of spiritual boldness that has a very shy woman like my wife keep our 8 kids at home and homeschool them as do so many other women.
Then there are just spiritually dead churches that are merely social clubs.
WOW!
I knew a precious Spirit-filled ambassador type in Taipei from there.
Wow, I just read this thread and feel like I've been to church! I'm encouraged, strengthened, and uplifted. Praise God! Ya'll keep up the great work, and prayers, and add me to that ping list please!
These are the only good gifts we receive from Him. All the other stuff is trinkets. God would never let me win the lottery but Satan sure would like for me to have $35 million in my grubby little hands.
Then there are just spiritually dead churches that are merely social clubs.
Point well taken...the boldness to walk out God's call on your life is the most important of all.
PRAISE GOD FOR THAT!
Very blessed to read that.
Heading off to school finally.
Will first add you to the ping list.
THX.
God's best to you and yours.
That's the difference. We can be healed spiritually, but not necessarily physically. How disheartening for someone to think that all they need to do is confess their sin to God and think God will heal them physically, and then God doesn't heal them. What do you think that will do to their faith? Especially if they are new christians. Do I think God can heal? Yes, I do. Do I think God answers all prayers? Yes, but sometimes the answer is no. So anyone who say that all we have to do is confess our sin to be healed is misleading. I'm sorry but I still think charismatics are too hung up on physical signs. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us when we accept Christ. He doesn't leave us. So you're saying the Holy Spirit comes and goes? Not in my book. I Cor 14:26-33 says, regarding speaking in tongues, if no one can interpret then you are to keep it to yourself, because God is not a God of confusion.
There are many kinds of spiritual boldness too. In Baptist churches you'll see the boldness that gets people out door to door in the worst neighborhoods to get people saved. I have been going to a Plymouth Brethren church and the men there are more likely to be bold enough to preach messages on Sunday without having been to seminary. It is yet another kind of spiritual boldness that has a very shy woman like my wife keep our 8 kids at home and homeschool them as do so many other women.
Then there are just spiritually dead churches that are merely social clubs.
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Excellent points, imho.
Thx.
Plenty truth in your post.
Though David did a lot with his trinkets and Solomon more.
I mostly have come to think that it's more th individual acts of kindness, sacrificial giving etc. that we do person to person one on one that counts the most with God and probably eternally.
LUB
Yes, a lot of charismatics/Pentecostals are hung up on signs.
And a lot of Baptists and others are hung up on no signs.
A necessary condition for healing may not be a sufficient condition.
Life is complex.
Even Kenneth Hagin didn't have all the answeres. Though, I believe that folks who Biblically in balance, faith and earnestness apply Scriptures as Kenneth Hagin did will see tons more healings in their lives than folks who don't.
Nevertheless, there was the case of the prayer warrior old grandmotherly saint whom Hagin KNEW applied Scripture as he did and as he taught . . . and she got cancer or heart trouble or some such and he prayed several times. Others prayed. She still died.
He inquired of The Lord. The Lord very pointedly and harshly told him it was none of his business and not only not to bring it up again, but not even to bother his thoughts about it again.
Mysteries aplenty there are. Nevertheless, applying Scripture as Scripture instructs produces miraculous Scriptural results far, far, far more than not doing so.
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