Racial, Gender, and Social Barriers Disappear in the Pentecostal Movement

    From the day of Pentecost to the Azusa Street Revival, the move of God has always attracted lots of criticism. Spirit filled believers have always been rebuked for believing in speaking in tongues, modern day use of prophecy and healing, lifting our hands in worship, etc. One rebuke that is overlooked however, is how every social barrier disappeared.

    In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost, and what was the first thing that happened? A crowd of people from nearly every ethnicity came hearing the Word of God in their own language. After that day for the first time, Jews and Gentiles starting worshipping together. The rich, the poor, the slave, and the free sat at the same table on equal ground.

    In 1906 the Pentecostal movement got its start at 312 Azusa Street Los Angeles California. William J Seymour led revival meetings every night. People were saved, filled with the Spirit, and healed. This ofcourse brought attention from the press and criticism from other pastors. One of the biggest criticisms of this new Pentecostal movement was that it was integrated. Whites, African Americans, Asians, Latinos and Hispanic all met in the same worship service worshipping side by side. There were people of different races praying for eachother. New Pentecostal churches that were starting up were integrated. The preacher at Azusa Street was an African American. Remember this was 1906.

Then there was the role of women in ministry. Traditionally, only men have been allowed to serve in ministry. This exclusion continues today. Pentecostals have always been different. In 1935 the Assemblies of God began ordaining women as pastors. By the year 1950 over 1,000 women pastors were traveling the country planting churches. Some notable women ministers were Zelma Argue, Hattie Hammond, Annie McPherson, and Kathryn Kuhlman(my hero). It has been said that church is the last part of America that is still segregated. I'm proud to be part of a movement where that is not the case. Much has been said about how Christianity puts down women and holds them back. Its good to know that in Pentecostalism, women are allowed to be in their rightful place of leadership. When God's Spirit moves, all these barriers seem to disappear. So I leave you with God's promise to remove these barriers by His Spirit. "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your son's and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." -Joel 2:28-29