Baptism

another event. By now the immersion baptism symbolizing death and burial
of the person became standard for all new churches. This is indeed the correct
understanding of faith in modern terms. Cross no longer reminds anyone of
suffering or death. How can it represent death when the cross on the necks of
bishops and kings represented power and authority? Surrendering oneself into
the hands of others to be drowned is the correct image of dying to self in this
society.
However the Pentecostal movement soon gave rise to divisiveness, fraud and
was influenced by Gnostic occult mysticism. This is inevitable in an
individualistic self-centered society. The movement itself was centered on
persons. Parham himself was involved in racism, authoritarianism, and sexual
scandal. Classical Pentecostal Movement continued to proliferate at an
amazing rate. Large number of independent and indigenous churches began to
rise all over the world with varying doctrinal stand. Then came the penetration
of Pentecostalism into the mainline Protestant and Catholic churches as
"charismatic renewal" movements with the aim of renewing and reviving the
historic churches. These movements were powerful enough that the main line
churches could not neglect them. They were therefore internalized.
"Neo-Pentecostal" movement followed close on line in 1960 in Van Nuys,
California under the ministry of Dennis Bennett, Rector of St. Marks
Episcopal (Anglican) Church. The influence of movement caught up even the
traditional churches. Many Protestant and Orthodox Churches around the
world, including the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement had its
beginnings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1967 among students and faculty of
DuQuesne University. "Third Wave" of the Spirit which originated at Fuller
Theological Seminary in 1981 under the classroom ministry of John Wimber.
These consisted of mainline Evangelicals who moved in signs and wonders.
Essentially, these movements gave a new revival to Christianity because of
the visual impact it gave. The intensification rite of the church, which until
now has been restricted to the reading and exposition of the Word of God and
to the breaking of the bread was not considered sufficient. New and
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