A Full Gospel church is a Christian church that emphasizes the fullness of the gospel message as revealed in the Bible. The term “Full Gospel” reflects the belief that the Holy Spirit is still actively working in the world through spiritual gifts, signs, wonders, and miracles. Full Gospel churches teach that the baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian ministry and service. They also place a strong emphasis on the experiential dimension of faith, not just intellectual assent to biblical doctrines.
Core Beliefs
Here are some of the core beliefs in Full Gospel churches:
- The Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God.
- Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers for ministry.
- The gifts of the Holy Spirit, like speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing, are still active today.
- Divine healing for the physical body is provided in Christ’s atonement on the cross.
- The imminent second coming of Jesus Christ.
- Water baptism by immersion.
In summary, Full Gospel churches take a literal approach to Scripture and believe in the present-day supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. They teach that Spirit baptism provides power for evangelism and to minister in the spiritual gifts described in the New Testament.
History
The origins of the Full Gospel movement can be traced back to the holiness revival in the late 19th century and the subsequent Pentecostal movement which emerged in the early 20th century. Some key figures and events:
- Charles Parham – One of the founders of Pentecostalism, he ran a Bible school in Kansas where students spoke in tongues in 1901.
- William Seymour – Led the Azusa Street Revival from 1906-1909 in Los Angeles, which helped spread Pentecostalism.
- William Durham – Promoted the Finished Work doctrine around 1910, teaching that sanctification is progressive after conversion.
- Aimee Semple McPherson – Founded the Foursquare Church in 1927, which became a major Pentecostal denomination.
- Oral Roberts – Pioneered tent revivals and prosperity teachings in the post-WW2 healing revival.
- Demos Shakarian – Founded the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International in 1951.
- David du Plessis – Promoted unity among Pentecostals and charismatics from the 1940s-1980s.
These figures contributed key ideas and institutions that shaped the emerging Full Gospel movement. Full Gospel teachings then spread to mainline Protestant and Catholic churches from the 1960s onward during the Charismatic Renewal.
Distinctive Practices
Full Gospel churches feature a number of distinctive practices and spiritual experiences:
- Spirit baptism – The practice of praying for members to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, often accompanied by speaking in tongues.
- Faith healing – Praying for divine healing of sickness and deliverance from demonic oppression.
- Prophecy – Members giving personal words of prophecy for exhortation and edification.
- Dream interpretation – Leaders interpreting dreams as divine revelations about a person’s calling or future.
- Visions – Prophetic visions experienced during prayer, worship, and while asleep.
- Miracles – Reports of supernatural miracles, like instant physical healings during services.
- Spiritual warfare – Identifying and casting out demonic spirits influencing people’s lives.
- Speaking in tongues – Praying in unknown languages as prompted by the Spirit during worship.
- Slain in the Spirit – Falling down when prayed over as the Spirit’s power overwhelms the body.
These kinds of pneumatic experiences are seen as confirming the reality of God’s supernatural power. Full Gospel theology teaches that these practices should be actively cultivated in the church today as they were in the New Testament era.
Worship Style
The worship style in Full Gospel churches tends to be expressive, lively, and focused on creating an atmosphere for encountering God’s presence. Some typical features include:
- Extended times of congregational singing and praise, sometimes accompanied by clapping or dancing
- Spontaneous singing in tongues during worship
- Prophecy and words of knowledge shared publicly
- Time at the altar for prayer ministry
- Healing testimonies during the service
- Minimal liturgy or religious ritualism
- Casual and contemporary atmosphere
- Use of visual arts like banners and crosses
- Altar calls and invitations for Spirit baptism
The worship service is seen as a divine encounter where the Spirit manifests through charismatic expressions like tongues, healing, and prophecy. Extended singing and praise creates an atmosphere where people can respond to the Spirit’s spontaneous leading.
Church Government
There are distinct varieties when it comes to church governance models among Full Gospel churches:
- Pastor-led – The senior pastor provides primary vision and leadership for the church.
- Elder-led – A board of elders makes major decisions in submission to Scripture.
- Congregational – Members vote on major decisions, budgets, and selection of pastors.
- Episcopal – Global denominations like Foursquare operate under bishops and superintendents.
- Apostolic network – Relational networks where churches align with an apostolic leader.
While specific leadership models vary, Full Gospel churches share a common emphasis on the present-day leadership of the Holy Spirit. There is an expectation that leaders should exemplify mature Christian character and evidence the gifts of the Spirit. Latitude is given for leaders to guide the church through subjective discernment and prophecies they believe come from the Holy Spirit.
Outreach and Social Concern
Full Gospel churches actively engage in various forms of evangelism, missionary work, and social concern:
- Door-to-door evangelism in local communities
- Television, radio, and internet broadcasting
- Print and digital publication ministries
- Fundraising for international missionary work
- Short-term missionary trips
- Church planting networks
- Compassion projects like medical clinics, schools, feeding centers
- Recovery programs for drug/alcohol addiction and domestic abuse
- Crisis pregnancy centers and orphan/foster care initiatives
At the same time, some Full Gospel churches have been criticized for proclaiming a prosperity gospel that promises health and wealth, while doing little to address root causes of poverty. There is a range of social engagement depending on the church. But active evangelism remains a priority for Full Gospel fellowships.
Associations and Networks
There is tremendous denominational diversity under the broad Full Gospel umbrella. Some of the major Pentecostal denominations include:
- Assemblies of God
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
- International Pentecostal Holiness Church
- Church of God (Cleveland, TN)
- Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
- Church of God in Christ
- Vineyard Churches
- Calvary Chapel
In addition to denominational structures, Full Gospel churches often participate in inter-church ministerial associations, church planting networks, theological training institutes, and parachurch organizations focusing on areas like youth, men’s/women’s groups, compassion ministries, and evangelism.
Conferences like The Send and Together gather tens of thousands of Full Gospel believers across generations for worship and ministry activation. Global leadership networks like Empowered21 promote unity and vision among Pentecostals worldwide.
Prominent Full Gospel Megachurches
Some notable large Full Gospel churches and their founding pastors include:
- Yoido Full Gospel Church (David Yonggi Cho, Seoul, South Korea)
- Faith Family Church (Jerry Savelle, Crowley, TX)
- GraceLife Church (Jimmy Evans, Plano, TX)
- International Pentecostal Holiness Church (Garland, TX)
- Joel Osteen Lakewood Church (Houston, TX)
- Cesar Castellanos Domínguez International Charismatic Mission (Bogota, Colombia)
- Redeemed Christian Church of God (Enoch Adeboye, Lagos, Nigeria)
- Christian Cultural Center (A.R. Bernard, Brooklyn, NY)
- Christian Faith Center (Frederick K.C. Price, Los Angeles, CA)
- Kenneth Copeland Ministries (Newark, TX)
These large congregations are led by famous pastors who via books, broadcasts, and internet ministries have influenced millions through their Full Gospel teachings.
Prominent Issues and Controversies
As a diverse, growing movement, various controversies and concerns have emerged among Full Gospel churches over the years:
- Prosperity gospel – Critics say teachings on wealth and healing promise more than Scripture does.
- Lack of education – Pentecostal pastors often lack seminary training in biblical languages and theology.
- Charismatic chaos – Excesses like barking in the Spirit or prophecy on demand.
- Unaccountable leadership – Founder-led networks afford leaders excessive power and privilege.
- Scandals – High profile failures among major televangelists and healing revivalists.
- Exclusivity – Claims of being an elite renewal movement can breed spiritual pride.
- Nontrinitarian sects – Groups that reject orthodox Trinity doctrine.
- Demonology – Overemphasis on demonic activity as source of human struggles.
- Women in ministry – Debate over appropriate leadership roles for women.
- LGBTQ issues – Disagreement over ethical parameters for sexually active gay members.
These areas remain topics of lively debate. And there are certainly examples of error and excess. Nevertheless, most Full Gospel pastors emphasize biblical integrity and accountability in pursuing genuine revival.
Conclusion
Full Gospel churches encompass a wide assortment of denominations and networks within global Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity. They share core beliefs in salvation through faith in Christ, baptism in the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues, present-day gifts of the Spirit, divine healing, and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.
Full Gospel theology emphasizes experiential faith and supernatural spiritual gifts as vital for the church’s worship and ministry. Services tend to feature extended music worship and time at the altar to receive prayer and spiritual refreshment. Governance models vary, but spiritual discernment through contemporary prophetic words are a distinctive aspect. These churches actively plant new works, undertake missionary activities, and engage in compassion ministries depending on the gifts and vision God gives their specific congregations.
