Differences among Pentecostal denominations

[Biblicist]

I'm curious to see what answers people give. Among the classical Pentecostal churches, what are the differences between them?

It is really almost impossible to summarise the various opinions of the Pentecostal denominations but they can possibly be grouped into at least two major categories, the classic-Pentecostal position where the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues is subsequent to our initially being sealed with the Spirit at the moment of our salvation. The term classic does not infer that these are the earlier Pentecostals but simply that they adhere to the original Pentecostal position that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is subsequent to our initially being sealed with the Spirit.

The Pentecostal or pentecostal position is that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues is synonymous with our initial salvation.

Baptized in the Spirit: A Global Pentecostal Theology, Frank D. Macchia (2006) page 34

‘Decades before these developments [1972], Walter Hollenweger raised issues about the global diversity of Pentecostalism, bringing Pentecostal research to another level. Hollenweger’s research revealed a vast doctrinal diversity among Pentecostals worldwide and even within the United States, both now and from the beginning of the movement. Hollenweger’s classic, The Pentecostals, fell like a bombshell in the later 1960’s and early 1970’s on geographically sheltered Pentecostal groups surprised by the doctrinal diversity of the movement globally. Hollenweger notes in an interesting postscript to that book:

“There is . . . a broad spectrum of opinion in . . . the definition of baptism in the Spirit, social and individual ethics, the question of biblical hermeneutics, the doctrine of the Trinity and Christology. Therefore, talk of “the doctrine” of the Pentecostal churches is highly problematical. What unites the Pentecostal churches is not a doctrine but a religious experience, and this can be interpreted and substantiated in many different ways.”
​

There is no question but that Pentecostal distinctives globally are diverse and variously interpreted. In his study of the variety of the theologies among Pentecostal thinkers in the first twenty-five years of the movement, Douglas Jacobsen concluded also that “all the diverse versions of Pentecostalism stand to some degree on their own, mutually criticizing each other in complex ways.’

 

[dentonz]

I'm curious to see what answers people give. Among the classical Pentecostal churches, what are the differences between them? By "classical," I mean those denominations that trace their history back to the Pentecostal revival in the early 20th century. These would be denominations such as the Church of God in Christ, Assemblies of God, Church of God, etc. Any differences that you have observed in your own experience or that you are aware of are on the table. Differences can include doctrine, polity, worship styles, etc.

One question I am particularly interested in has to do with churches like the Church of God in Christ, Church of God (Cleveland), and the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Historically, these denominations advocated a Wesleyan theology that included three stages: conversion, entire sanctification, and then baptism in the Holy Spirit. These churches still mention entire sanctification in their belief statements.

I grew up in an independent Pentecostal church that only taught two stages: conversion and Spirit baptism. Sanctification was viewed as a lifelong progressive process. However, my family did attend a Pentecostal Holiness Church for several months once when our home church was going through a dysfunctional time. While I clearly heard references to and saw incidents of people being baptized in the Holy Spirit, I never once heard a sermon or reference to someone "getting sanctified." Would anyone who has been a member of these churches help me understand what exactly is believed about sanctification in these churches today?

Thanks.

I don't know much about the Church of God in Christ, But I grew up CoG Cleveland and then later went to an AoG church.
The Church of God Cleveland teaches that you are to be saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost. The Assembly of God teaches being saved and then filled with the Holy Ghost.
However if you ask someone in the CoG if they are entirely completely sanctified without sin, they will say no, that will only happened when Jesus returns and gives us new bodies. Much like we are not "saved" entirely yet, because we are still present in this sinful world, but in Christ we are saved completely. However, sanctification as a subsequent act to salvation comes about by the Holy Spirit when God chooses you (sets you apart) for His service. It is a point in your Christian walk where your desire is to do God's will, not your own. Some people, God will change instantly upon salvation, and some it takes maybe years in their walk of faith to get to this point. However, the church teaches that you must be sanctified before receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In the Assembly of God, they teach basically the same thing, although they don't call it sanctification. If you ask someone in the assembly of God how do you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, they will probably say that first you need to be saved, then you need to get your life in order through the help of the Holy Spirit and wholly desire to do God's will and be set apart from the world, then you can receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In my experience with both churches that is pretty much the difference. Really it's semantics. However, there are bigger differences in the way the churches are governed, but doctrinally are pretty much the same.

In years past the AoG was a little more relaxed and more modern, maybe less legalistic, and the CoG was more traditional. The louder fire and brimstone jumping up and down preachers were more CoG and the more sophisticated teacher types were AoG.

Disclaimer: This is just from my personal experience from the area of Florida that I grew up in. I have close family members that are bishops, deacons, elders, and Pastors in both denominations. I have been sent forth from a CoG by the laying on of hands from a bishop with a group of elders but am not an ordained minister by either church.

 

[ltwin]

I don't know much about the Church of God in Christ, But I grew up CoG Cleveland and then later went to an AoG church.
The Church of God Cleveland teaches that you are to be saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost. The Assembly of God teaches being saved and then filled with the Holy Ghost.
However if you ask someone in the CoG if they are entirely completely sanctified without sin, they will say no, that will only happened when Jesus returns and gives us new bodies. Much like we are not "saved" entirely yet, because we are still present in this sinful world, but in Christ we are saved completely. However, sanctification as a subsequent act to salvation comes about by the Holy Spirit when God chooses you (sets you apart) for His service. It is a point in your Christian walk where your desire is to do God's will, not your own. Some people, God will change instantly upon salvation, and some it takes maybe years in their walk of faith to get to this point. However, the church teaches that you must be sanctified before receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In the Assembly of God, they teach basically the same thing, although they don't call it sanctification. If you ask someone in the assembly of God how do you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, they will probably say that first you need to be saved, then you need to get your life in order through the help of the Holy Spirit and wholly desire to do God's will and be set apart from the world, then you can receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In my experience with both churches that is pretty much the difference. Really it's semantics. However, there are bigger differences in the way the churches are governed, but doctrinally are pretty much the same.

Thank you so much for commenting. I know this was a big deal when both of these denominations started. Today, these doctrines of sanctification do not really get a lot of talk from Pentecostals, but back in the 1920s entire churches were torn apart over this issue.

In years past the AoG was a little more relaxed and more modern, maybe less legalistic, and the CoG was more traditional. The louder fire and brimstone jumping up and down preachers were more CoG and the more sophisticated teacher types were AoG.

It could be more of a regional thing. The CoG is rooted in the South.

Disclaimer: This is just from my personal experience from the area of Florida that I grew up in. I have close family members that are bishops, deacons, elders, and Pastors in both denominations. I have been sent forth from a CoG by the laying on of hands from a bishop with a group of elders but am not an ordained minister by either church.

I know that the CoG seems to be a lot more centralized than the AG is.