A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

A History of Christian Doctrine
Opposition and Persecution
The early Pentecostals encountered all kinds of opposition
and persecution. The existing denominations—especially
Holiness groups and Fundamentalists—typically
forced them out, denounced them, ridiculed them as “Holy
Rollers,” and said they were of the devil. Prominent
Holiness leaders said the Pentecostal movement was “the
last vomit of Satan,” “emphatically not of God,” “wicked and
adulterous,” “anti-Christian,” “sensual and devilish.” 37
Others called the movement “heresy” and a “cult.” 38
Pentecostal workers were threatened, beaten, shot at, tarred
and feathered. They were pelted with rocks and with rotten
fruit, vegetables, and eggs. Tents ropes were slashed; tents
and buildings were set afire. Howard Goss explained: 39
36
We could never be sure we were not going to be
injured. Some workers were attacked, some were
beaten, some had bones broken, some were jailed,
some were made to leave town, some were rotten
egged, and some were shot at. We were stoned, but at
least we were never “sawn asunder.”
Church services were disturbed by roughnecks
for many years. Tents, buildings, and sometimes residences
were burned; drinking water was poisoned,
and windows were broken. We were sometimes
threatened by angry mobs or by raging individuals
when some member of their family had been converted.
Often, we had no protection; there were times
when the police chose to close their eyes because we
were the strangers, while the city paid them a salary.
Many of the early Pentecostal preachers sacrificed