Well, what is the role of Pentecostalism in the world today?

It was a question put to John Piper in early June at one of his international stops.

He was doing a television interview in Monticevano, Italy, and there he was asked the question.

Here's a field recording of what he said.

The costalism of the world.

Well, it's huge.

I mean, when you think of the awakening of evangelicalism, lovers of the gospel,

lovers of being born again, lovers of Scripture, lovers of the Bible, lovers of evangelism and world missions,

you think of that evangelicalism.

It is decreasing in the Western world to an extent,

at least over the last century, it has hugely decreased, right?

In Europe, which was once the center of evangelicalism today is very small.

Whereas, at the beginning of the 20th century, probably 5% of Africa were evangelical

and today it would be close to 50%, same thing in South America, same in Asia.

But if you ask, what's the nature of that evangelicalism? It's mainly Pentecostal.

So Pentecostalism, that is people, this is my definition, people who are believing in the power of the whole world,

believing in the power of the Holy Spirit, believing that the Holy Spirit does miracles today,

believing that the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12 are still active today.

That kind of people are at the cutting edge of the growth of Christianity around the world.

Now, my caution would be this.

Pentecostalism in many places is a prosperity preaching that identifies Christianity with things will go better for you.

You won't suffer when you're a farmer, your crops will prosper, your wife will never miscarry,

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