What is the difference between Assembly of God and Jehovah's Witnesses?

Answer 1

There are many differences; UPC does not believe in the Trinity, UPC does not believe in baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; UPC does not believe in women wearing pants; UPC believes the only evidence of baptism of the Holy Ghost is speaking in tongues. These are only some of the differences.

Answer 2

The General Council of Assemblies of God churches was formed in order to better unite many independent Pentecostal churches in the United States. Basically the Assembly of God churches teach Pentecostal beliefs. Some Pentecostal churches participated in joining, and others did not. (Back in 1914). On a personal note, I was raised in the Pentecostal Church, but it was very small and now my entire family attends an Assemblies of God church. Too my knowledge, there is no difference......but an organizational one. Faith wise there is no difference; the way the Assemblies of God work, they are more of an organization, but the Gospel is the same

Answer 3

The Assemblies of God (AG) are essentially a large Pentecostal group. The differences between the Jehovah's Witnesses and this group are basically the same as the differences between them and most other charismatic church movements:

*Source: All quotes from The Fourth General Council of the Assemblies of God "Statement of Fundamental Truths" October 1916 " (see related links below)

**The AG believe in the present day spiritual gifts such as divine healing and prophecy.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe such first century miraculous gifts ended with the last of the Apostles.

**The Assembly of God members believe in "speaking in tongues" as a manifestation of Holy Spirit

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in present day miraculous speaking in tonges and hold that what is practiced in such charasmatic churches is far removed from the first century model.

**AG is Trinitarian; they hold that God is [quote]"one Being of three persons"[end quote].

JWs believe God to be one being of one person consisting of the Father alone and thus reject the trinity as unscriptural. -- Ibid p.1 item 2 section (a)

**Assemby of God members believe Jesus to be in a "godhead" in which [quote]no person in the godhead either exists or works separately"[end quote] -- Ibid. p 1 item (2) section (d)

Jehovah's Witnesses hold Jesus to be a separate created being, unequal to his Father Almighty God.

**The Assemby of God members believe in a visible return of Christ to reign on earth

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in an invisible return of Christ to reign from heaven.

Additional:

Jehovah's Witnesses perform a door-step ministry to help their neighbors and others.

I've never had an Assembly of God member come to my door to offer to help me spiritually.

Answer 4

Assembly of God is a "Trinitarian" denomination of the Pentecostal / Holiness faith. Other Pentecostal denominations are Church of God and Church of God of Prophecy, as well as many other Full Gospel independent non denominational Churches under many different names of their own choosing. Examples would be Spring Hill Pentecostal Church or Holiness Tabernacle. "Oneness" Pentecostal denominations such as the Apostolic Church or the United Pentecostal Church, and some other Jesus Name Only groups teach that the name "Lord Jesus Christ" is (THE NAME - not -THESE NAMES) of the Father (Lord), Son (Jesus), and Holy Ghost (Christ), which is to be used in baptism (immersion). Compare Jesus' instructions for baptism in the Gospels with the Apostles method (Acts 2:38), and remember that Jesus often spoke in parables. So teaching that God is only 1 single person (being) manifested as Father (God in Heaven), Son (God in Christ), and Holy Ghost - (Christ in You) NOT 3 separate persons in 1 God (Trinity). Oneness vs Trinity - I AM THAT I AM vs WE ARE THAT I AM. Since the word TRINITY isn't in The Bible I tend to agree with the Oneness groups, although I'm not sure of every body's theology, PERSONALLY, my understanding is that God in Heaven, the Father, is spirit (Holy Spirit), is 1 person not 2. He was manifested - not incarnated - in Jesus (Son of God - not God the Son). Jesus being the second Adam - made in the Image of God - as the express image of the invisible God has come in GOD'S NAME and is recognized as God. "I can of my own self do nothing, but what I see the Father do, that I do also for it is not I that do these things but it is my Father in me". "I and the Father are One for He is in Me and I am in him, even so I pray that the Father and I can come into you and you can come into Us so that We may become ONE even as I and my Father are ONE". God in Christ and Christ in You, the hope of Glory. God is One Spirit, the Father (Holy Ghost), in Jesus, and the Church instead of three people as one God. Most Pentecostals as a general rule believe in Holiness (conservative life style and dress) as opposed to Charismatics who most Pentecostals consider to dress and act like clowns. Pentecostals and Charismatics both believe in Tongues, Prophecy, Miracles and Divine healing.

Answer 5

The Assemblies of God is the largest, fastest growing Pentecostal denomination in the world. The Assemblies of God holds traditional Pentecostal views including baptism of the Holy Spirit and the speaking in tongues. So, in reality there is no difference between a Pentecostal and the Assemblies of God both have the same believes.

Answer 6

Today there is very little difference between the two churches. You would find their beliefs and worship services almost identical. Both are Pentecostal denominations which means they believe in a post-salvation experience called the Baptism with the Holy Ghost where the believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks in tongues. Originally, the Church of God comes from a Holiness Movement background and put great emphasis on a crisis experience in the believer's life of deeper surrender and consecration to God in Holiness known as sanctification which was a doctrine taught by John Wesley and the early Methodists. They taught that you needed such and experience after being saved before you could be a candidate to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They taught three experiences: Salvation, Sanctification, and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Assemblies of God on the other hand, coming from a Baptist background taught only two experiences: Salvation and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. They believe that sanctification is a gradual experience in growth throughout the entire life of the believer and not a specific crisis experience after salvation. Today in the Church of God, both views exist now with the majority of people now believing the way the Assemblies of God have always believed. Another difference between the two churches was that the Church of God believed and practiced "foot washing" (just like Jesus washed the disciples feet after the Last Supper) as and ordinance alongside Communion and water baptism, whereas the Assemblies of God never did. This practice still exists in the Church of God, but it is becoming less and less frequent and common in many places. The principal difference today between the two denominations is the form of church government. The Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn) has a centralized, or episcopal type form of government while the Assemblies of God has a congregational form of government and each local church is autonomous within the fellowship of the Assemblies of God (I have attended both denominations for many years)

Answer 7

Though both are Pentecostal, the UPC is Oneness and follows the apostolic teaching, while Assemblies also follow the Bible, but believe in the Trinity.

Answer 8

Assembly of God Church falls under the umbrella of Pentecostal, like several others such as Church of God and Apostolic.

Answer 9

Pentecostal and Assembly of God are generally referred to as the same thing.