From the beginning of what we know today as Christianity, there have been many back-and-forth movements that have led so many people into deeper and further confusion.
Movements upon movements that forced and made people to be much deeper into religion rather than into a relationship with God.
This article is a short journey into the evolution of Christianity from the early church to the current apostolic movement.
Early Church (1st-5th century)
The early Christian church was characterized by a strong sense of community, apostolic leadership, and the spread of Christianity through missionary work.
Middle Ages to Reformation (5th-16th century)
During this period, Christianity underwent significant changes, including the rise of Catholicism, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Protestant Reformation.
During the 16th to 18th centuries, several significant church movements emerged. Here are a few notable ones:
Protestant Reformation (16th century)
The Protestant Reformation, sparked by Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517, aimed to reform the Catholic Church. This movement led to the emergence of various Protestant denominations, such as Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism.
Puritan Movement (16th-17th century)
The Puritan Movement, which arose in England, sought to further reform the Church of England. Puritans emphasized personal piety, biblical literalism, and the importance of individual conversion.
This idea of “individual conversion” was what led to what we know today as “born again”.
Pietism (17th-18th century)
Pietism, emerging in Germany, focused on personal spiritual growth, devotion, and social justice. Pietists emphasized the importance of individual experience, Bible study, and community.
The concept of “individual experience” was what gave birth to what we know today as being filled with the Holy Ghost. Unfortunately, the most wicked people in the church are the very ones who claim to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Evangelical Revival (18th century)
The Evangelical Revival, also known as the Evangelical Awakening, swept through Europe and North America. This movement emphasized personal conversion, evangelism, and the authority of Scripture. Key figures included Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John Wesley.
This concept of “personal conversion, evangelism” was what gave birth to alter calls and streets-to-streets evangelizing. And it doesn’t matter if the person is spiritually equipped or not.
A thing more of sending a soldier to the war front without a weapon and a shield to protect himself or herself.
Methodist Movement (18th century)
The Methodist Movement, founded by John Wesley, emerged in England. Methodists emphasized personal holiness, social justice, and evangelism. This movement gave rise to the Methodist Church.
This movement was what gave birth to what we know today as “personal holiness”. Before then, being holy was never a requirement for anyone to serve God.
But still, I must make it clear to all that for anyone to be declared holy or made holy up to God not up to what you do or don’t do.
Anyone can pretend to be holy and still be a Kidnapper like “Evans” or a ritualist like the gospel singer who killed his girlfriend for money ritual.
Holiness is not what you practice; holiness is what God make happen in our lives even without us knowing that it has taken place.
These movements transformed the Christian landscape, shaping the development of various denominations and theological traditions, and leaving many people brainwashed.
But those eras are just the foundation eras.
Evangelical Revivals (18th-19th century)
The Evangelical Revivals in Europe and North America emphasized personal conversion, evangelism, and Bible study. This laid the groundwork for the development of various Christian movements.
Scripture Union (1867)
Scripture Union, founded in 1867, aimed to promote Bible study and evangelism. This movement emphasized the importance of Scripture and personal faith.
Holiness Movement ( late 19th century)
The Holiness Movement, emerging in the late 19th century, emphasized the pursuit of spiritual holiness, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
This was the era that gave birth to speaking in tongues. I will never forget my Dad’s friend’s second wife. Who was feeling bad that she couldn’t speak in tongues.
Then one day during Bible study in the church, while the prayers were going on so many people started speaking in tongues. She too started saying, Suzuki, Toyota, Nissan.
Suddenly, everyone started looking at her including those who were supposedly lost in the spirit speaking in tongues.
Kenneth Hagins never spoke in tongues and his works are still making an impact even after his death. Labour to make an impact and never to impress anyone.
Azusa Street Revival (1906)
The Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California, marked the beginning of the Pentecostal Movement. This revival emphasized the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues.
Charismatic Movement (1960s-1970s)
The Charismatic Movement emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, emphasizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including healing, prophecy, and tongues. This movement crossed denominational lines, influencing various Christian traditions.
Pentecostal Movement (early 20th century)
The Pentecostal Movement spread rapidly worldwide, giving birth to various Pentecostal denominations. This movement emphasized the baptism of the Holy Spirit, often accompanied by speaking in tongues.
The Pentecostal Movement was what laid the foundation for church business plc. However, its full potential was not realized until when it was later merged with the prosperity teachings.
It is important to note that the Prosperity Movement, also known as the Prosperity Gospel or Health and Wealth Gospel, has its roots in the early 20th century.
Essek William Kenyon (1867-1948)
An American evangelist and pastor, Kenyon is often considered one of the earliest influencers of the Prosperity Movement. He emphasized the importance of positive confession and faith in achieving spiritual and material prosperity.
F.F. Bosworth (1877-1958)
A Pentecostal evangelist and pastor, Bosworth built on Kenyon’s teachings and emphasized the connection between faith, healing, and financial prosperity.
Oral Roberts (1918-2009)
An American televangelist and pastor, Roberts is often credited with popularizing the Prosperity Movement in the mid-20th century. He emphasized the importance of “seed faith” (giving money to receive financial blessings) and the connection between faith and healing.
The biggest and most scandalous teachings ever.
Kenneth Hagin (1917-2003)
An American Pentecostal pastor and evangelist, Hagin founded the Rhema Bible Training Center and emphasized the importance of positive confession, faith, and the authority of the believer.
In 1947, Oral Roberts held his first healing crusade, which marked the beginning of his emphasis on faith healing and prosperity.
From the 1950s to the 1960s, Kenneth Hagin and Oral Roberts begin to popularize the Prosperity Movement through their teachings, writings, and television ministries.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, the Prosperity Movement gains momentum, with the rise of televangelism and the establishment of megachurches.
It is worth noting that it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact date or person responsible for starting the Prosperity Movement, but Oral Roberts and Kenneth Hagin are often credited with popularizing its teachings and principles in the mid-20th century.
Apostolic Movement (late 20th century-present)
The Apostolic Movement, also known as the “New Apostolic Reformation,” emerged in the late 20th century. This movement emphasizes the restoration of apostolic ministry and governance in the church, often with a focus on charismatic gifts, church planting, and evangelism.
Key features of the apostolic movement include:
Apostolic leadership
Emphasis on apostolic ministry and governance in the church.
Charismatic gifts
Encouragement of spiritual gifts, such as prophecy, healing, and tongues.
Church planting
Focus on planting new churches and expanding the kingdom of God.
Evangelism
Emphasis on evangelism and spreading the Gospel message.
The apostolic movement has been influenced by various factors, including the Pentecostal and charismatic movements, as well as the writings of modern apostolic leaders.
My stand.
The system of the church is only making the church and the Christians to we only move in a circle and are not growing downward and upward.
Isaiah 37:31, And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
To grow downward and bear fruit upward you must escape and set yourself free of all and every religious movement that makes you keep going in circles rather than being grounded and rooted in God.
As Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 3:17–19 “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Do you know what Jesus Christ said about individuals who are not bearing fruits?
In Matthew 7:19–23 Jesus Christ said, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
I know that the prosperity preachers had turned this into evangelism and told millions of people that to bear fruits is to evangelize and invite people to the church, but that is not true.
Anyway, Jesus Christ went further to say, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
What does it mean to bear fruits?
One, to bear fruits in life, we must first be rooted in God and in His plans and purpose for our lives.
Jesus Christ confirmed this in John 14:20, “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”
He went further in John 5:19–20 “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.”
Until we find ourselves in the plans and purpose of God for mankind, there is no way we can do what God designed us to do here on earth.
Religions and all the movements here and there are just distractions away from the purpose of God for your life.
To be fruitful, we must first be rooted in God and in His purpose for our lives.
To be fruitful is to know what we are called to do.
One, we must be passionate about our purpose in life.
Jesus made this clear in John 4:34–35 “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”
Two, we must know the area of life and creation we are assigned to.
Jesus Christ made this clear in Matthew 15:24 “But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Three, we must love everyone equally without discrimination of any kind.
Jesus Christ made this clear in Matthew 22:36–40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
He did not stop there, He went further in Matthew 5:43–48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Without strong love in our hearts for humanity, we cannot make an impact in life and I’m not talking about lip service love but real and true love.
If we like, we can sleep in the church from January to December all our lives and convert everyone in the world to Christianity. If that is not the purpose of God for our lives, we are a failure.
If Jesus Christ the son of God can be so conscientious of His purpose here on earth and fulfil the same; I see no reason why anyone cannot do the same.
Enough of us being tossed around with doctrines of Men.
Apostle Paul warned against this in Ephesians 4:14 “…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,…”
Even Jesus Christ warned against the same in Matthew 24:24–26 “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.”
We must be moved by God and not by religion, doctrines of movements created by Man.
May the Lord grant us wisdom.
Sam Adeoye
0803 772 3500
