Thread: Barna states that 1/3 of US is Pent./Charis.
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Old 02-29-2008, 08:50 PM
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James Griffin James Griffin is offline
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Re: Barna states that 1/3 of US is Pent./Charis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TRFrance View Post
The US population is now over 300 million. so according to Barna's numbers, there are over 100 million pentecostals/charismatics in America. To me, these numbers are questionable, to say the least.

Many times, these types of numbers represent the total number of people who are members of churches that are "pentecostal/charismatic/"full gospel" . But many of the people in these churches and denominations have not personally received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

For example, as has been noted on this forum previously, only about 20% of Assemblies of God new-converts are now receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost (http://ag.org/top/news/news_article_...rticleID=9271&). I suspect the percentages are similar in many other "pentecostal/charismatic" churches and denominations that dont preach Acts 2:38 salvation.

Barna's poll technique was valid, he polled individuals and not churches. However I have NO doubt that many on this particular forum would have a different understanding of the words "charismatic" or "pentecostal"


The truth is (even according to Barna) in the US the growth is only about 20% total over the past 10 years. Much can be attributed to non-white increase in membership(only 16% of the country's white Protestant congregations are Pentecostal, compared to 65% of the Protestant churches dominated by African-Americans.) Therefore the numbers are skewed to a degree because of the great influx of Hispanics which tend to lean toward the pentecostal churches. This population is of course growing at a MUCH faster rate than the population at large for example, and would contribute to an overall increase by means of immigration as opposed to conversion.

The criteria Barna used are-do you believe you are filled with HG (and don't most Christians believe they are spirit filled when they are saved?)and it is POSSIBLE for gifts of spirit to operate in this day(not did you personally experience them). By using his definition 36% of all catholics polled deemed themselves charismatic.
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