Dr. Couch, what is the difference between a Pentecostal and a Charismatic?
Some of the differences have to do with practice and not doctrine. The
Charismatics are "modernized" Pentecostals. The Jim Bakkers had a
Pentecostal heritage but "came out of the closet" with Tammy Fay wearing
make up and dressing extremely flashy. Many Pentecostals still believe
in no makeup and dress in sackcloth and ashes! Doctrinally they are the
same as far as I can tell. However, the Pentecostals really dislike the
teaching that you can materialize what you want to just saying it. The
name it and claim it thing!
I had a distant relative who was Pentecostal, who disliked Charismatics. He thought they were too showy.
He felt if he sinned he would lose his salvation. He lived constantly in fear, studied the Bible only
on the surface because he repudiated "the learning" of the Scriptures. I was influencing him and believe
he was changing doctrinally. In a short time he would have given up his false tongues speaking, but
he passed away before that happened. It was a terrible thing to see how shallow he was in terms of
scriptural study. They all are. He had a lot of problems in his life, which they all do, though they
try to deny this lest they lose their salvation.
Two of the best Bible teachers in America were charismatic, whom I will
not name. They both have authored many, many books.
You would know the names right off if I mentioned them. Before I met
them they had given up their tongues speaking.
I asked them why and they answered, "Because of the study of the Word of
God. They saw what we were doing was wrong,
was emotional and not biblical!" Sitting around the dinner table they
would "speak" in tongues to show how they could turn it off and on at
will!
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch,
