History and meaning of the Church
The Pentecostal Church is a Christian society that started in the year 1906 under the leadership of William J. Seymour, in Los Angeles, California.
Earlier, the community started it’s belief on January 1st, 1901, at Bethel Bible School, followed by baptism in the holy spirit, speaking in tongues, conversion, and sanctification.
The Pentecostalism is a belief system and not a denomination. It’s a system that believe and practice only what is in the scriptures, baptism with the holy spirit which can be identified by speaking in tongues, miracles, prophecy and Salvation through grace and faith in Jesus .
The Pentecostal Church got it’s name from the word Pentecost which describes the special and mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, as recorded in Acts 2.
Some denomination practice Pentecostalism like the Assemblies of God and the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). Pentecostals can also be found in other denominations that haven’t accepted the Pentecostal theology like Baptist, Methodist, Nazarene, and others.
The Catholic Church is the first Christian denomination that was founded by the Apostles of Jesus after his death more than 2000years ago and Peter being the first Pope. It has maintained the apostolic succession till date.
Unlike the Pentecostal that upholds only the bible,the Catholic church upholds both the scriptures and the church tradition and rituals. Catholics avow the universal truth of God or their sacred home, the Church.
Belief and practices in the church
The Pentecostal Churches believe and practice only what is written in the Scriptures.
The Catholic Church in the other hand practice what is in the Bible and the tradition ( teachings) of the church which have been passed down from generation to generation.
The Pentecostal Churches doesn’t follow the apostolic succession. During the Reformation of the church, the Protestant churches split out of the Catholic Church thereby breaking out from the apostolic succession.
The Catholic Church for centuries has maintained the apostolic succession, The Pope is the successor of Peter and the leader of the Catholic Church.
The Pentecostal Churches doesn’t have centralized authority, which means each individual church can choose it’s policies and belief which can be different from other Pentecostal Churches. This has caused the churches not to be in unity with each other
In the Catholic Church, there is centralized power, with the Pope being the leader. This centralized power has made the Catholic Church to be one body and one church. The unity in the church has made the church infallible.
The Pentecostal Churches doesn’t believe in transubstantiation of the Bread and wine into the true body and blood of Jesus Christ during the consecration. They practice an open Communion as a symbolic act to remember the last supper of our Lord Jesus Christ. During the open Communion every member of the church is permitted to take the Communion both young and old.
The Catholic Church use both Bible, images and statue of Saints, Jesus, Mary and other heavenly beings while praying. In the other hand Pentecostal uses only the Bible while praying.
Pentecostal consider speaking in tongues as divine gift from God and presence of God in a person, whereas in the Catholic Church they believe that there is different gifts of the holy Spirit and everyone has his or her own gift.
The Catholic Church pray to Saints to intercede for them. Saints are people who have lived holy Life and are now in heaven,the Catholic Church believe that they can act as our intercessors and thereby praying to them. The Pentecostal Churches doesn’t pray to Saints rather they beg their pastors to intercede for them.
Similarities between Catholic and Pentecostal Churches
- Both churches believe in one Trinity God. They both believe that God the Father sent his son (God the son) to come down to earth and die for our sins and that he conquered death on the third day and ascended into heaven and he will come back to judge the living and the Dead. Both believe that God the son sent God the holy Spirit to guide us till he comes back.
- Both church practice charismatic worship.
- They both believe in the gift of the holy Spirit.
- Both church believe in salvation through faith in Jesus though Catholic believe it must be accompanied with good works.
