Pentecostalism's dark side
 

Pentecostalism's dark side

This is a great article from the Christian Century. I grew up in the Assemblies of God and still consider myself to be Pentecostal. I totally relate to the points the author makes, in particular the final paragraph:

In spite of exposing the continuing dark side of the movement born on Azusa Street a century ago, I love Pentecostalism. They say you can take the boy out of Pentecostalism but you can't take Pentecostalism out of the boy. Most of the formerly Full Gospel men and women I know still remember fondly the excitement and passion of the movement. Some of us listen to Pentecostal music on CDs and occasionally raise our hands or clap to its ecstatic words and beat. But I long to see the movement that taught me to love Jesus and the Bible mature further in the ways I've outlined here. It is happening, but too slowly.