1901:
| Pentecostal movement emerges, largely an offspring of the Holiness Movement, focuses on “Spirit baptism” (post-conversion) and speaking in tongues |
1906:
| William Seymour leads the Azusa Street Revival, early instants of Pentecostalism |
1909:
| Scofield Reference Bible, a KJV bible with dispensational interpretation notes |
1910:
| The Fundamentals are published, 12 volume series, mostly apologetic in nature opposing the growing liberal, biblical criticism movement |
1913:
| The “oneness” or “Jesus only” Pentecostals, baptize without recognizing Trinity |
1921:
| Princeton Theological Seminary goes liberal, one of the last mainline seminaries to do so, conservative (Reformed) faculty leave and begin Westminster Theological Seminary |
1922:
| Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, Rome’s teaching that Mary is co-mediator, making her a powerful intercessor in heaven for mankind |
1923:
| J. Gresham Machen publishes Christianity and Liberalism, he argues masterfully that historic Christianity and liberalism are irreconcilable and two distinct religions |
1927:
| Aimee Semple McPherson founds the Foursquare Church; the General Assembly of the Pres. Church in the US says it cannot authoritatively determine what the “essentials” of the Christian faith are |
1934:
| Cameron Townsend founds Bible translator school, soon becomes Wycliffe |
1942:
| C.S. Lewis publishes Screwtape Letters (one of over 40 books published) |
1945:
| Several para-church organizations get their start-up (YFC, YL, Navigators, etc.); Midtribulationnism, belief the church will remain through first half of the Great Tribulation |
1947:
| Fuller Theol. Seminary founded, Oral Roberts begins revival ministry, Dead Sea Scrolls found |
1949:
| Inerrancy Controversy begins, proponents assert that Bible is true in matters of faith, history, ethics, and description of the world |
1950:
| An emphasis on individual, experiential Christianity begins (and is still going), many renewal movements promoting personal spirituality, religious self-help books, and personal study Bibles emphasized |
1954:
| Methodist church begins to ordain women |
1956:
| Presbyterian church begins to ordain women; Jim Elliot is martyred in Ecuador |
1960:
| Charismatic movement (Neo-Pentecostalism), emphasizes sign gifts, it doesn’t make Pentecostalism’s connection between tongues and the baptism of the Spirit |
1961:
| Christian Reconstructionism: God’s OT law incorporated beyond just His moral law |
1962:
| Rome’s Vatican II sanctions laity receiving the cup and vernacular liturgy |
1963:
| Madalyn Murray O’Hair’s Supreme Court victory removes the Bible and prayer from schools |
1965:
| Bill Bright (of Campus Crusade) publishes the Four Spiritual Laws (billion copies) |
1967:
| Fuller Theological Seminary drops inerrancy clause from its doctrinal statement |
1968:
| Jesus Movement begins, a youth-oriented Christian counter-culture movement |
1970:
| Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth; Lutheran church begins to ordain women |
1973:
| Abortion on demand becomes legal in Roe v. Wade; TBN begins with goal of world- wide TV network; PCA forms in response to biblical authority and women’s ordination |
1976:
| Harold Lindsell’s Battle for the Bible |
1977:
| James Dobson founds Focus on the Family |
1979:
| Homosexuality and ordination becomes growing issue for most main-line churches |
1980:
| Women make up 21% of all seminary students in US |
1982:
| NKJV of the Bible and the Reader’s Digest Bible (60% of Bible’s original length) |
1983:
| National Council of Churches releases “inclusive language lectionary” with God referred to as “Father and Mother” |
1987:
| Jim Bakker and PTL scandal |
1994:
| The “Toronto Blessing,” a Toronto Vineyard church attracts 1.2 million over 4 years to ecstatic, uncontrolled experiences; “Casual churches” and “Mega churches” spring up, seeing themselves as providing religious needs and becoming social/cultural centers as well |
1997:
| ERC holds its first Lord’s Day worship service! |