Fire-Baptized Holiness Church

Last updated

The Fire-Baptized Holiness Church was a holiness Christian denomination in North America and much of the denomination was involved in the early formation of Pentecostalism, the advent of which caused a schism in the church; it continues today in the following denominations: International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Bible Holiness Church and Wesleyan Holiness Alliance. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The Fire-Baptized Holiness Church was founded in 1896, mainly from a Methodist background, with Benjamin Wesley Young and Benjamin Hardin Irwin serving as leaders, though some of the denomination's members had a Quaker or River Brethren background as well. Irwin, a Wesleyan Methodist elder taught belief in a baptism by fire (known in short as "the fire"). [3] The Constitution and General Rules of the Fire Baptized Holiness Association taught three definite works of grace: (1) the New Birth, (2) entire sanctification (baptism with the Holy Ghost), and (3) baptism of fire. [4]

The Southeastern Kansas Fire Baptized Holiness Association dissolved its relationship with the rest of the denomination in 1898 after Irwin began to preach the necessity of maintaining Jewish dietary laws; the Southeastern Kansas Fire Baptized Holiness Association renamed itself as the Fire Baptized Holiness Association of Southeastern Kansas in 1904 and then the Fire Baptized Holiness Church (Wesleyan) in 1945 and then the present-day name of Bible Holiness Church in 1995. [3] [5] This group dropped its belief in a third work of grace in 1948; its annual camp meeting is held in Independence, Kansas, which has been the location of it since 1933. [3] In 1979, a schism regarding holiness standards occurred in the Fire Baptized Holiness Church (Wesleyan), resulting in the formation of the Wesleyan Holiness Alliance. [2] Both the Bible Holiness Church and the Wesleyan Holiness Alliance are considered to be a part of the conservative holiness movement and teach two works of grace: (1) the New Birth and (2) entire sanctification (baptism with the Holy Ghost). [3] [2]

In 1908, most of the African-American members withdrew to form a church, the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, which teaches three works of grace in accordance with Holiness Pentecostal doctrine: New Birth, (2) entire sanctification, and (3) baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire evidenced by speaking in tongues. [6] Most of the original Fire-Baptized Holiness Church merged with the Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1911, forming a new denomination known as the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. Before the merger, the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church was an interracial body.

History

The church was founded in 1896 by Rev. Benjamin Hardin Irwin of Lincoln, Nebraska. Irwin was educated as a lawyer but entered ordained ministry after he was converted to a Baptist church. After contacting members of the Iowa Holiness Association, Irwin accepted holiness beliefs and claimed to experience entire sanctification in 1891. He was a student of the writings of John Wesley and John William Fletcher and eventually joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church. [7]

Irwin became convinced that there was an experience beyond sanctification called the "baptism of fire", or in short, "the fire". After receiving this experience in October 1895, he began to preach this "third blessing" among holiness adherents in the Midwest, particularly among Wesleyan Methodists and Brethren in Christ, a River Brethren denomination. His services were highly emotional, with participants often getting the "jerks", shouting, speaking in tongues, and holy dancing and laughing. [8] Thousands attended his meetings, and his teaching was circulated widely within the holiness movement, with its greatest strength in the Midwest and South. His message was largely rejected, however, and was denounced as a "third blessing heresy". [9]

Because of opposition, Irwin formed an organization in 1895 called the Iowa Fire-Baptized Holiness Association at Olmitz, Iowa. As he traveled nationwide, Irwin established associations to promote his message. [10] By the time these associations were organized into one denomination in 1898, there were churches in eight American states and two Canadian provinces. [11] An organizational convention was held in Anderson, South Carolina, from July 28 to August 28, 1898. [12] The constitution of the Iowa Fire Baptized Holiness Association was accepted by the Neosha Valley Holiness Association in 1897. It became the Southeastern Kansas Fire-Baptized Holiness Association. [3] William E. Fuller, an African-American minister who had left the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was elected to the church's general board and became the overseer of the black churches. The church was fully integrated with Southern whites and blacks openly worshiping together despite stringent segregation laws. [13] According to Synan, "All [(Pentecostal) statements for or against racial integration failed to obscure one important fact——the practical integration of poor whites and blacks in backwoods Pentecostal revival services" and this was "a type of race-mixing that has occurred in the South since before the Civil War." [14] By 1900, Fuller had organized 50 black Fire-Baptized churches and a convention. [13]

The Constitution and General Rules of the Fire Baptized Holiness Association taught three definite works of grace: [4]

1. We believe that Jesus Christ shed his blood for the remission of sins that are past (Rom. 3:25), and for the regeneration of penitent sinners and for salvation from sin and from sinning (I. John 3:5-10, Eph. 2:1-10).
2. We believe, teach, and firmly maintain the scriptural doctrine of justification by faith alone, as taught by John Wesley and the early fathers of Methodism (Rom. 5:1).
3. We believe also that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the complete cleansing of the justified believer from all indwelling sin, and from its pollution subsequent to regeneration.
4. We believe also that entire sanctification destroys and eradicates inbred sin (Rom. 6:6, Heb. 13:12, I. John 1:7-9, I. Thes. 5:23, John 17:17, Acts 26:18).
5. We believe that entire sanctification is an instantaneous, definite, second work of grace obtainable by faith on the part of the fully consecrated believer.
6. We believe also that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is obtainable by a definite act of appropriating faith on the part of the fully cleansed believer (Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 38, Luke 11:13; Acts 19:6).
7. We believe also that the baptism of fire is a definite, scriptural experience, obtainable by faith on the part of the Spirit-filled believer (Matt. 3:11, Luke 3:16, Rev. 15:2, Psa. 104:4, Acts 2:1-4, Heb. 12:29, Ezek. 1:4-14, 10:2-7, Isa. 33:14, 6:1-8). [4]

In 1900, Irwin confessed to "open and gross sin", which brought "great reproach" to the church. He resigned as general overseer and was replaced by Joseph H. King, a 31-year-old former Methodist from Georgia. The revelation of Irwin's failure greatly affected the church; several state associations collapsed. [15]

The Southeastern Kansas Fire Baptized Holiness Association dissolved its relationship with the rest of the denomination in 1898 after Irwin began to preach the necessity of maintaining Jewish dietary laws; the Southeastern Kansas Fire Baptized Holiness Association renamed itself as the Fire Baptized Holiness Association of Southeastern Kansas in 1904 and then the Fire Baptized Holiness Church in 1945 and then the present-day name of Bible Holiness Church in 1995. [3] The Bible Holiness Church dropped its belief in a third work of grace in 1948. [3] In 1979, a schism regarding holiness standards occurred in the faction of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church that now calls itself the Bible Holiness Church, resulting in the formation of the Wesleyan Holiness Alliance. [2]

By 1906, King led the majority of the original Fire Baptized Holiness Church into third-blessing Pentecostalism (Holiness Pentecostalism), taking the line that the baptism in the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues had been the "baptism of fire" the church had been seeking. After 1908, the denomination split on racial lines when Fuller left, with the blessing of the white leadership, and started what would become the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas. In 1911, the church merged with the Pentecostal Holiness Church and took the latter organization's name even though the Fire-Baptized church was larger. [11] The body resulting from the merger would be renamed the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1975.

Theological distinctives

The church's beliefs were largely consistent with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement in Methodism; however, there were distinct doctrinal positions that made it unique. Irwin taught of a third blessing that came after salvation and entire sanctification called the "baptism of fire." [8] While speaking in tongues was not unheard of among the Fire-Baptized Holiness, it was not understood as the initial evidence of Spirit baptism as Holiness Pentecostals teach. [16] This idea was formulated by Charles Parham and only began to influence the Fire-Baptized Church as news of the Azusa Street Revival spread after 1906. By 1900, Irwin also taught there were additional "baptisms of fire" he called baptisms of "dynamite", "lyddite", and "oxidite". This "chemical jargon" never took root within the church and was abandoned by Irwin's successors. [17]

Other doctrines held by Irwin were also rejected after his departure. He, like other holiness Christians, opposed women wearing "needless ornamentation". However, he also applied this prohibition to men, claiming that the wearing of neckties fell under the category of adornment and was sinful. He also said it was a sin to eat anything forbidden by the dietary laws of the Old Testament. As a result, the church was sometimes called "the no ties, no hog-meat people." [18]

The belief in a third work of grace was rejected in 1948 by the faction of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church that now calls itself the Bible Holiness Church. [3] The Bible Holiness Church is non-sacramental (reflective of its partial Quaker heritage) and its holiness standards include the prohibition of "alcohol, tobacco, drugs, secret societies, television, immodest clothing, and jewelry." [3] The Bible Holiness Church teaches conscientious objection. [1]

Structure

At the First General Council in Anderson, South Carolina, the church was organized with authority centralized in the General Overseer who held office for life. The General Overseer appointed Ruling Elders to oversee the churches in each state, and he could also make pastoral appointments. [19]

For several decades, there has continued to be a Pentecostal Fire Baptized Holiness Church. There are churches in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

The Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness Church operates with a General Conference comprising five State Conferences (Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia). There is a General Moderator who serves two-year terms, while a State Moderator serves one-year terms, with both having term limits. There also are Assistants at both the General and State Conference Levels.

The faction of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church that now calls itself the Bible Holiness Church is headquartered in Independence, Kansas. It had forty-five congregations and eighty-three ministers in 2002. [3] Its periodical, which has been in existence since 1934, is called The Flaming Sword. [3] The Bible Holiness Church runs Independence Bible School and Troy Holiness School, established in 1948 and 1973, respectively. [3] The Bible Holiness Church has missions in New Guinea. [1]

Related Research Articles

Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, an event that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)</span> Pentecostal Christian denomination

The Church of God, with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States, is an international Holiness-Pentecostal Christian denomination. The Church of God's publishing house is Pathway Press.

The Holiness movement is a Christian movement that emerged chiefly within 19th-century Methodism, and to a lesser extent influenced other traditions such as Quakerism, Anabaptism, and Restorationism. The movement is historically distinguished by its emphasis on the doctrine of a second work of grace, which is called entire sanctification or Christian perfection. The word Holiness refers specifically to the belief in entire sanctification as a definite, second work of grace, in which original sin is cleansed, the heart is made perfect in love, and the believer is empowered to serve God. Churches aligned with the holiness movement additionally teach that the Christian life should be free of sin. For the Holiness movement, "the term 'perfection' signifies completeness of Christian character; its freedom from all sin, and possession of all the graces of the Spirit, complete in kind." A number of Christian denominations, parachurch organizations, and movements emphasize those Holiness beliefs as central doctrine.

The Statement of Fundamental Truths is a confession of faith outlining the 16 essential doctrines adhered to by the Assemblies of God USA. These doctrines are heavily based on other evangelical confessions of faith but differ by being clearly Pentecostal. Of the 16 articles, four are considered core beliefs "due to the key role they play in reaching the lost and building the believer and the church". They are the doctrines concerning salvation, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, divine healing, and the Second Coming of Christ. The Statement of Fundamental Truths has undergone several permutations since its original adoption in 1916 despite common claims that it has remained largely unchanged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Pentecostal Holiness Church</span> Pentecostal denomination

The International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) or simply Pentecostal Holiness Church (PHC) is an international Holiness-Pentecostal Christian denomination founded in 1911 with the merger of two older denominations. Historically centered in the Southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas and Georgia, the Pentecostal Holiness Church now has an international presence. In 2000, the church reported a worldwide membership of over one million—over three million including affiliates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas</span>

The Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas is a Holiness Pentecostal Christian denomination based in the United States. Originating when the African American members of the integrated Fire-Baptized Holiness Church withdrew to form their own organization, the church was founded at Greer, South Carolina, in 1908. As such, though the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas is multiracial, it is predominantly African-American.

Sanctification literally means "to set apart for special use or purpose", that is, to make holy or sacred. Therefore, sanctification refers to the state or process of being set apart, i.e. "made holy", as a vessel, full of the Holy Spirit of God. The concept of sanctification is widespread among religions, including Judaism and especially Christianity. The term can be used to refer to objects which are set apart for special purposes, but the most common use within Christian theology is in reference to the change brought about by God in a believer, begun at the point of salvation and continuing throughout the life of the believer. Many forms of Christianity believe that this process will only be completed in Heaven, but some believe that complete entire sanctification is possible in this life.

In Christian theology, baptism with the Holy Spirit, also called baptism in the Holy Spirit or baptism in the Holy Ghost, has been interpreted by different Christian denominations and traditions in a variety of ways due to differences in the doctrines of salvation and ecclesiology. It is frequently associated with incorporation into the Christian Church, the bestowal of spiritual gifts, and empowerment for Christian ministry. Spirit baptism has been variously defined as part of the sacraments of initiation into the church, as being synonymous with regeneration, or as being synonymous with Christian perfection. The term baptism with the Holy Spirit originates in the New Testament, and all Christian traditions accept it as a theological concept.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian perfection</span> Process of achieving spiritual perfection

Within many denominations of Christianity, Christian perfection is the theological concept of the process or the event of achieving spiritual maturity or perfection. The ultimate goal of this process is union with God characterized by pure love of God and other people as well as personal holiness or sanctification. Other terms used for this or similar concepts include entire sanctification, holiness, perfect love, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, baptism by fire, the second blessing, and the second work of grace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative holiness movement</span>

The conservative holiness movement is a loosely defined group of theologically conservative Christian denominations with the majority being Methodists whose teachings are rooted in the theology of John Wesley, and a minority being Quakers (Friends) that emphasize the doctrine of George Fox, as well as River Brethren who emerged out of the Radical Pietist revival, and Holiness Restorationists in the tradition of Daniel Sidney Warner. Schisms began to occur in the 19th century and this movement became distinct from parent Holiness bodies in the mid-20th century amid disagreements over modesty in dress, entertainment, and other "old holiness standards". Aligned denominations share a belief in Christian perfection, though they differ on various doctrines, such as the celebration of the sacraments and observance of ordinances, which is related to the denominational tradition of the specific conservative holiness body—Methodist, Quaker, Anabaptist or Restorationist. Many denominations identifying with the conservative holiness movement, though not all, are represented in the Interchurch Holiness Convention; while some denominations have full communion with one another, other bodies choose to be isolationist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decision theology</span> Belief that accepting and following Jesus Christ is a conscious decision

Decision theology, also known as decisionism, is the belief of some evangelical denominations of Christianity, such as the Baptist and Methodist churches, that individuals must make a conscious decision to "accept" and follow Christ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethel Bible College</span> Bible college in Topeka, Kansas

Bethel Bible College or Bethel Gospel School was a Bible college founded in 1900 by Charles Parham in Topeka, Kansas, United States. The school is credited with starting the Pentecostal movement, particularly its earliest form—Holiness Pentecostalism—due to a series of fasting days that ended in what was interpreted as speaking in tongues on January 1, 1901. Although the school would close later in 1901 after less than two years of operation, the movement itself grew substantially to tens of millions of people around the world.

The cross and flame is a style of the Christian cross that is used by certain Christian denominations, especially those of the Methodist tradition and the Holiness Pentecostal tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wesleyan theology</span> Protestant Christian theological tradition

Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charles Wesley. More broadly it refers to the theological system inferred from the various sermons, theological treatises, letters, journals, diaries, hymns, and other spiritual writings of the Wesleys and their contemporary coadjutors such as John William Fletcher, Methodism's systematic theologian.

Finished Work Pentecostalism is a major branch of Pentecostalism that locates sanctification at the time of conversion; afterward the converted Christian progressively grows in grace. On the other hand, the other branch of Pentecostalism—Holiness Pentecostalism teaches the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification as a definite second work of grace, which is a necessary prerequisite to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Finished Work Pentecostals are generally known to have retained the doctrine of progressive sanctification from their earlier Reformed roots, while Holiness Pentecostals retained their doctrine of entire sanctification from their earlier Wesleyan roots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second work of grace</span> Christian belief of interaction with God

According to some Christian traditions, a second work of grace is a transforming interaction with God which may occur in the life of an individual Christian. The defining characteristics of the second work of grace are that it is separate from and subsequent to the New Birth, and that it brings about significant changes in the life of the believer.

Pentecostalism is a renewal movement within Protestant Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal relationship with God and experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. For Christians, this event commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts. Pentecostalism was established in Kerala, India at the start of the 20th century.

The third work of grace, also called the third blessing, is a doctrine, chiefly associated with Holiness Pentecostalism, that refers to baptism with the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues as evidence for the same. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is taught by Holiness Pentecostals to empower the Christian believer for service to God.

Protestant theology refers to the doctrines held by various Protestant traditions, which share some things in common but differ in others. In general, Protestant theology, as a subset of Christian theology, holds to faith in the Christian Bible, the Holy Trinity, salvation, sanctification, charity, evangelism, and the four last things.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiness Pentecostalism</span>

Holiness Pentecostalism is the original branch of Pentecostalism, which is characterized by its teaching of three works of grace: [1] the New Birth, [2] entire sanctification, and [3] Spirit baptism evidenced by speaking in tongues. The word Holiness refers specifically to the belief in entire sanctification as a definite, second work of grace, in which original sin is cleansed, the heart is made perfect in love, and the believer is empowered to serve God.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kostlevy, William (August 3, 2009). Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement. Scarecrow Press. p. 19. ISBN   978-0-8108-6318-7.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jones, Charles Edwin (1974). A Guide to the Study of the Holiness Movement. Scarecrow Press. p. 781. ISBN   978-0-8108-0703-7.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Kurian, George Thomas; Lamport, Mark A. (November 19, 2016). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 244. ISBN   978-1-4422-4432-0.
  4. 1 2 3 Constitution and General Rules of the Fire-Baptized Holiness Association of America. 1900. p. 2-4.
  5. ↑ Jones, Charles Edwin (1 January 1974). Perfectionist Persuasion: The Holiness Movement and American Methodism, 1867-1936. Scarecrow Press. p. 67. ISBN   978-1-4616-7039-1. Whatever its corrolaries, "fire baptism" seems to be the only belief that survived in the Southeast Kansas Association. In 1945 the group changed its name to the Fire Baptized Holiness Church (Wesleyan).
  6. ↑ "What We Believe". Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas . Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Vinson Synan, The Holiness–Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in the Twentieth Century, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997), page 51, ISBN   978-0-8028-4103-2.
  8. 1 2 Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 52.
  9. ↑ Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 53.
  10. ↑ Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 53–4.
  11. 1 2 "The Pentecostal Holiness Church" . Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  12. ↑ Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 54.
  13. 1 2 Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 55.
  14. ↑ Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 183–184.
  15. ↑ Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 58–59.
  16. ↑ Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 55–56.
  17. ↑ Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 57.
  18. ↑ Synan, The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, 58.
  19. ↑ Hunter, Harold D. (2007). "Year:1879 Iowa Holiness Association Formed". Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.