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The Role of Humility in the Revitalization of Pentecostal Churches James O

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The Role of Humility in the Revitalization of Pentecostal Churches James O Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2008 Remembering to be Faithful: The Role of Humility in the Revitalization of Pentecostal Churches James O. Williams George Fox University, [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Williams, James O., "Remembering to be Faithful: The Role of Humility in the Revitalization of Pentecostal Churches" (2008). Doctor of Ministry. Paper 202. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/202 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY REMEMBERING TO BE FAITHFUL: THE ROLE OF HUMILITY IN THE REVITALIZATION OF PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY JAMES 0. WILLIAMS NEWBERG, OREGON APRIL 2008 DISSERTATION ACCEPTANCE CERTIFICATE JAMES 0. "WILLIAMS DATE: MARCH 5, 2008 TITLE: REMEMBERING TO BE FAITHFUL: THE ROLE OF HUMIUTY IN THE REVITAUZATION OF PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES WE THE UNDERSIGNED CERTIFY THAT WE HAVE READ THIS PROJECT AND APPROVE IT AS ADEQUATE IN SCOPE AND QUALITY TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY IN LEADERSHIP AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION DEGREE GEORGE Fox F.VANC.FLICAI. SFMINARY CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... vi INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. ANTECEDENTS TO PENTECOSTALISM ......................................................... 16 Restorationism Defined ......................................................................................... 16 Concern Over Spiritual Decline ............................................................................. 18 Causes of Spiritual Decline ............................................................... 23 Dynamics of Restorationism .................................................................................. 25 Prominent Figures in Restorationism .................................................... 27 2. PENTECOSTAL FORERUNNERS: IN THEIR OWN WORDS ........................ .40 Salvation ................................................................................................................ 40 Baptism in the Holy Spirit .................................................................................... .46 Divine Healing ....................................................................................................... 52 The Second Coming of Jesus Christ ...................................................................... 55 Summary ....................................................... ,........................................................ 58 3. THE GENESIS OF THE AZUSA STREET REVIV AL. ....................................... 60 Harbingers of the Azusa Street Revival ................................................................. 61 Charles F. Parham .................................................................................................. 65 William J. Seymour ............................................................................................... 74 4. HUMILITY AND THE AZUSA STREET REVIVAL. ......................................... 89 A Biblical Concept of Humility ............................................................................. 91 The Facilities at the Apostolic Faith Mission ........................................................ 96 The Meetings at the Apostolic Faith Mission ...................................................... 105 5. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 123 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 133 1ll ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I express my thanks to the many people who made it possible for me to complete this dissertation. First and foremost, I thank my wife, Donna, who has stood by me a~ ~n encourager, counselor, and companion in the journey of faith. Her love, wisdom, and quiet strength enrich me daily. I thank the elders and congregation of the Gloucester Assembly of God. They made a substantial financial investment to make my Doctor of Ministry studies possible, and they afforded me the necessary time to research and write. Many thanks to the faculty of George Fox Evangelical Seminary, who stimulated my thinking and enlarged my perspective. I learned much from their expertise as well as their character as Christians. I express special thanks to Dr. Larry Shelton, who guided me through my dissertation writing. I owe a debt of gratitude to the members of Cohort B. It was a privilege to interact with this group of remarkably insightful and Christ-loving women and men. Thank you to Tom Ashbrook who, together with his wife Charlotte, extended rich hospitality in opening their home to me during the two-week residencies at George Fox. I thank Dr. Chuck Conniry, who went the extra mile in guiding me to the completion of this program. Thanks also to Dee Small and Loren Kerns. They walked me through the world of procedure and technology with amazing grace. IV v Finally, I express my thanks to Jim Darlack, a close friend and the Reference Libratian at a nearby seminary. Jim provided me with countless hours of invaluable assistance and encouragement at all stages of my dissertation writing. ABSTRACT Title: REMEBERING TO BE FAITHFUL: THE ROLE OF HUMILITY IN THE REVITALIZATION OF PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES Author: James 0. Williams Degree: Doctor of Ministry Year: 2008 Institution: George Fox Evangelical Seminary This dissertation addresses spiritual revitalization of Pentecostal churches. This paper's thesis is that the revitalization of Pentecostal churches must begin with the recovery of the early Pentecostals' passion and urgency. Knowledge of the antecedents affords a clear understanding of the early Pentecostal movement. Chapter 1 examines the spiritual decline in the decades leading up to the birth of Pentecostalism. The chapter considers the causes of decline, the dynamics of renewal, and concludes by introducing key figures in restoration movements in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Chapter 2 explores the passions of the Pentecostal forerunners in their own words. This chapter is organized around the four central doctrines: salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, divine healing, and the second coming of Christ. Chapters 3 and 4 focus on early Pentecostalism. Chapter 3 describes the rise of Pentecostalism at the Azusa Street revival. The story is built around two key figures: v Charles Parham and William J. Seymour. Chapter 4 focuses on the urgencies and passions of the participants in the Azusa Street revival. It uses firsthand accounts to describe the experience of the participants. In researching this chapter, insistence on humility emerged as the key passion that informed every other passion at Azusa Street. This chapter, therefore, uses humility as the lens through which to view the revival. After an examination of the biblical concept of humility, this chapter describes the facilities and activities of the Azusa Street revival from the perspective of humility. Chapter 5 offers concluding reflections on humility as an agent for the revitalization of Pentecostal churches. It considers how contemporary Pentecostals might re-appropriate the early Pentecostal passion for humility in their own search for renewed Pentecostal vitality. Vl INTRODUCTION Pastor Ted grew increasingly uncomfortable as the worship service progressed. Because Pastor Ted was a Pentecostal minister, nothing going on around him was unfamiliar. The people behind him were exclaiming, "Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus!" Around him were the muffled sounds of people speaking in tongues. Some were shouting with exuberance and others were groaning with longing, while the worship leader was booming, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; thank you Lord! Thank you Lord! Thank you Lord!" The whole setting suddenly seemed strange and surreal. Pastor Ted's mind raced. "Why do I feel out of place here? Here I am a Pentecostal minister, yet I am reacting strongly against Pentecostal worship. Is it because I'm on vacation and unplugged from my ministerial role? Is it because I'm a visitor here and don't know these people? I've got to get out of here. I can't stand this." Pastor Ted wondered if he was being too judgmental. Nevertheless, he could not escape his thoughts. The expressions of worship sounded shallow and strangely rote and the worship leader's style seemed contrived. Later, Ted told his wife, Denise, "I don't doubt the sincerity of the people, and I can't judge their hearts, but it felt as though the whole goal was to make a lot of noise in hopes that God would do something powerful and exciting in their midst. I wondered whether they were worshiping God or trying to conjure God." Pastor Ted could never envision not being Pentecostal,
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