THE IMPACT OF PENTECOSTALISM ON CHRISTIANITY IN NIGERIA

The Pentecostal movement in Nigeria, has impacted on Christianity in many and varied ways. To some, the movement is a welcome development, seeking to rescue Christianity from the state of “spiritual impotence” which it had relapsed into over the years to a religion that is able to address mundane and spiritual concerns. To others, it is nothing, but the commercialization of religion. The focus of this study is to critically examine the impact of this religious phenomenon on the Christian faith in Nigeria. Historical and analytical approaches were the methods adopted for this work. The findings have shown that the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria has brought vibrancy, flavour, verity and vitality to the Christian faith. The paper therefore recommends that scholars and orthodox churches should be more pragmatic and objective when addressing the issue of Pentecostalism in Nigeria.

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