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Christianity without the Cross: A History of Salvation in Oneness Pentecostalism

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As a former United Pentecostal Church minister, to confess that I read this book with great interest is an understatement. Oneness Pentecostals owe it to themselves to read this book carefully. No history of the Oneness movement as this book documents is available through any Oneness source. I was facinated by the wealth of background information that Mr. Fudge has documented at great length, and by the interviews he held with Oneness ministers and adherents some of who I know personally! And as to the accuracy of the information in this book....Mr. Fudge is right on! The words and writings of well known Oneness pioneers such as H. A. Goss, John Paterson, Andrew Urshan, C.H. Yadon, and G.T. Haywood will amaze the Oneness reader. And this is not just hearsay! Everything is documented.
However, challenges have already been made to the accuracy of some of the information in this book but no quotes or references were given, or any documentation cited. By way of criticism, however, I am not totally comfortable with the main title of this work "Christianity Without The Cross." Contrary to a very large percentage of what Oneness pioneers believed (with whom I agree), most Oneness believers today (with whom I disagree), do in fact equate the "water and the Spirit" of John 3:5 with water baptism in Jesus' Name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues as the new birth, however, they do believe that it is the "Cross of Christ" that makes it possible for repentant sinners to partake of the "water and the Spirit" as they believe it. Great book!

The title of this work serves as a lightning rod. It is bound to be controversial (and a perusal of the earlier reviews substantiate such a conclusion). While the title will almost certainly be objectionable to most members of the UPCI, I submit that it is legitimate so long as one understands a careful distinction the author intends. Dr. Fudge uses the term "the cross" to refer to the preaching of the cross in a Pauline sense. He takes it primarily from Paul's letters, and specifically from 1 Corinthians 1:17-18. As such, the preaching of the cross is the message of salvation by grace through faith in the reconciling death of Christ. While Dr. Fudge says as much in the text of the book, this special nuance is not immediately apparent in the title, while his explanation is not near the beginning of the book. Nevertheless, the fact remains that while members of the UPCI believe in the crucifixion of Jesus as an historical event, they decidedly do not believe in the cross in this special sense as the sole means of salvation. No one, according to them, can be saved according to the Reformation rubric of sola fide and sola gratia. Rather, one is saved by following the UCPI interpretation of Acts 2:38. Given this theological differentiation between "the cross" and the "the crucifixion," it is entirely appropriate to say, as does the title of this book, that the UPCI advocates "Christianity without the cross", even though its members believe in the historical fact of Jesus' crucifixion.

Finally, a work that undoes the myths perpetrated by a Protestant denomination on itself and its adherents. I was amazed to read what many Oneness Pentecostal "pioneers" really believed... which runs contrary to the histories written by themselves post-merger. The two groups that merged in 1945 (PCI and PAJC) did NOT believe in the absolute necessity of oneness theology, baptism, nor the sign of "tongues" for salvation, as is purported in said "histories." This book, the result of MANY interviews and obviously tedious, painstaking research (it is profusely footnoted)sheds light on the history of a movement that self-claims to be "the true" bride of Christ. Names of good men, often pushed aside in the mythologized histories created by the UPCI are finally given their due, as major more mainline evangelical contributors to a union of Pentecostals gone awry in the past 3-4 decades. They did NOT all believe as the UPCI does today, and they were not the exclusive band of believers they are portrayed to be by their current UPCI biographers. As a former member and minister of this denomination, I can only say thanks to the author for unraveling the web of misrepresentations and letting the facts shed light on these formerly unchallenged revisionist self-histories. Although the title initially seems a bit harsh, it seems more appropriate after a thorough read.

This book confirms what I have always believed about the Oneness Movement. It is "another Gospel" (Gal. 1:6-9) that preaches "another Jesus" (I John 2:22-23). While these godly people are sincere and, I believe, have a genuine experience with the Lord, it is certainly not because of the message they preach, but because of their love and devotion to the Lord (who has never made "correct" theology a basis for acceptance by Him). They are like the Ephesians in Acts 19 who received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit after confessing, "we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost". The theological errors of the Oneness Movement in general and the United Pentecostal Church specifically are summarized in Fudge's book in an excellent and scholarly manner:
1. Their denial of the Holy Trinity.
2. Their failure to preach the true Gospel message that we are saved by grace through faith alone in Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
3. Their insistence that they alone have the truth and that all Trinitarians are going to hell.
That which surprised me most about the book was the fact that the "founders" of the Oneness movement such as H.A. Goss who were excluded from the Assemblies of God for these aberrant beliefs, never took the "hardline" doctrinal view that is now espoused by the United Pentecostal Church. In fact, they referred to the Trinitarians they had once associated with as "their brethren." How could they do any other? It was Trinitarians who won them to the Lord, baptized them in water, and led them into the experience of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit! The so-called "revelation" of the Oneness of the Godhead was a sad and mistaken notion of Frank Ewart and Glenn Cook trying to explain their insistence on baptizing people in the name of "Jesus only." I long for the day that the Oneness Movement will repent of their doctrinal errors and be reunited with the mainstream of Christianity and their Pentecostal brethren they now refuse to accept. We love you and want to welcome you back home.

As a pastor who once taught college courses I was struck by the author's comprehensive endnotes and references. While one can always offer a counterpoint on a given topic, it is hard to refute a point when it is backed up with so many references. Fudge doesn't hide behind rumors or innuendos; he states his case and provides the references for one to go find it out for yourself. That is academic scholarship!

Also as a former UPCI minister I had the good fortune of coming into the UPCI under a pastor whose father was a UPCI General Official, and his family goes back to early Pentecost pioneers. In talking at length with my UPCI pastor I learned some of the inside story of the UPCI and its merger with the PCI and PAJC. I also learned the "legalist" way of salvation and some of the skullduggery that goes on behind the scenes of the UPCI.

I see Fudge's book as a point by point indictment by God of the UPCI's works-salvation theology (?). Their incessant demand of their standards of holiness, dress, and behavior replaces Justification, Sanctification, and Grace. While the word "Grace" is used from their pulpits, its meaning has a different connotation than what traditional Christianity believes. Sadly, Grace and truth only comes by THEIR doctrine. Outside of their doctrine, there is no Salvation. I have heard some pastors say there are other organizations one can belong to and make it to heaven but they don't really believe it!

Perhaps the most troubling--Fudge points out--is a good number of early Pentecostal pioneers and present UPCI pastors do not have any advanced education in systematic theology, hermeneutics, eschatology, apologetics, and so forth. Much of what they believe--they say--comes strictly by "revelation of God!" They shun critical thinking and analysis and often violate established rules of textual criticism to make their point. This is why there is so much variation in their doctrine. While the UPCI voices they are united, in practice they are not. Within the UPCI one can hear there are seven-steps to salvation, or six-steps to salvation, or three steps to Salvation and on and on.

The hemorrhaging of ministers that began when the "loyalty oath" was passed by the UPCI General Conference continues. I was told by a well placed source that about 125 ministers have recently left the UPCI. Perhaps the most notable minister to abandon the UPCI is Dr. Bob Sabin. Sabin was the UPCI's point man along with Gen. Supt. Nathaniel Urshan when the UPCI was invited to appear on the John Ankerberg show alongside Dr. Walter Martin and E. Calvin Beisner. The Golden moment in support of Fudge's thesis occurred when Dr. Martin asked Gen. Supt. Urshan "am I your brother (in Christ)." Urshan tried his best to deflect and dodge the question. Fortunately Martin did not let him off the hook and Urshan admitted indirectly the answer was NO! It was that encounter along with the "loyalty oath' that led Bob Sabin to leave the UPCI and explore the wonderful world of God's Grace with no legalism attached.

Fudge owes no one an apology. His work stands up to critical scrutiny. His detractors can only shoot the messenger: but his message is true.

When people think of the UPC, they immediately think of Holiness Standards, Jesus Name baptism, and Oneness theology. However, it has not always been this easy to describe Oneness people. The United Pentecostal Church (UPC) formed in 1945 with the merger of two organizations: Pentecostal Church, Incorporated (PCI) and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PAJC). The main difference between the organizations was the interpretation of the New Birth. Both organizations subscribed to Repentance, baptism by immersion in Jesus' name and receiving the Holy Spirit (Ghost) by glossolalia (speaking in tongues, or babbling incoherently). However, the largest faction of PAJC believed this three-step formula was required to enter heaven and avoid hell fire, whereas the PCI largely believed that one was justified at repentance and that water baptism and spirit filled glossolalia were not necessary to avoid hell fire. The merger language was very carefully chosen to bring these two groups together to agree on the fundamental doctrine. The phrase "full salvation" was the magic term that the PAJC interpreted to mean that the three steps were necessary, whereas the PCI position could interpret "full" to mean something more than mere "salvation" which to them was achieved at repentance. "Full salvation" to a PCI was indeed the three-step formula, but not defining for one's eternal destiny. Such was the agreement at the merger that ministers would not contend over this issue to the destruction of the new body called UPC. The problem appears to be that official publications of the UPC do not wish for many to know about the PCI tradition within the organization.

However, there was much contending for their own views, in rebellion against the merger agreement through the years by those who's views were the three-step Acts 2:38 formula or hell fire. As time progressed, this former PAJC faction became increasingly fanatical in their position and began to shove PCI ministers out of leadership positions. An effective propaganda campaign began to convert the PCI strongholds of the Pacific Northwest, the North Atlantic and Tennessee. By the beginning of the 1980's, the PCI position of moderation on the New Birth was effectively destroyed. The fanatics took over the organization and presided over a few purges through the years that reached its climax in 1992 with the Westberg Resolution aimed to kick out ministers that were "weak on the doctrine" which is a code word for those of the old PCI persuasion. Several distinguished men left the organization like Robert Sabin and C. H. Yadon. The official word from the organization was that the 1992 resolution did not affect many people. However, other sources reveal that several thousands of ministers left the organization over this resolution. Fudge shows that this resolution was passed without proper notice beforehand and without proper parliamentary procedure according to the UPC constitution.

The UPC might be called a relatively secretive organization; this book is sure to ruffle the feathers of a few who wish for this information to remain private. Dr. Fudge is a researcher that one must take seriously. There are tons of footnotes and tons of referenced interviews with current and former members. Current leaders of the UPC cannot leave this book in silence. One disturbing fact is that at one point, the UPC headquarters banned Fudge from doing research in their Historical Center in July 2000 unless he turned over his manuscript, the list of all people he contacted for interviews, and his interview tapes. Fudge declined this ridiculous demand and plowed forward with research from other sources.

Fudge also shows that the current interpretation of "Holiness Standards" is a relatively recent development in the organization: the practice of women wearing only dresses, women with uncut hair, and the prohibition of jewelry. Early leaders of the organization had wives with cut hair, jewelry and wore slacks because it was not an issue until later.

Now, the organization is obsessed with a narrow ideology: (1) 'Jesus' is the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit in addition to the name of the Son of God, (2) Jesus Name baptism and evidence of the Holy "Ghost" with speaking in tongues (glossolalia, or babbling under emotional ecstasy) are necessary to avoid hell fire, and (3) Holiness Standards are increasingly necessary to "stay" saved from hell fire. The first is an obvious heresy in Christianity and in some quarters defines this group outside of the definition of "Christian." The second and third are strange developments, although not unique in Christianity, but are indeed things that make this group fringe and largely ineffective. The title of the book comes from evidence that the organization is interested primarily in dunking people under water in Jesus Name baptism, getting them to talk in tongues, and then to move on to the next convert without ever introducing people to the message of Calvary - the Cross. Their message, for the most part and in most cases, is not the gospel, but a misinterpretation Acts 2:38 plus a few things here and there.

This book is a godsend to those of us who might have been part of UPC. It explains many of the strange things that happened over the years, the details of which the leadership wished to keep secret. It is as if Fudge looked at his research material and said to the UPC, "Thou hast been weighed in the balances and have been found wanting." Then he wrote this book as a "balance" to all the propaganda. Anyone thinking of joining the UPC or who might be new to the UPC should read this book to determine if this is a fellowship that a Christian should associate with and then make a proper determination on the merits. Those already UPC might also find this book useful for similar means.

If this book has sparked an interest in the United Pentecostal Church, you may be interested in checking out a web site which in part addresses some matters in the UPC. http://www.spiritualabuse.org

There is also a small section on history there, with a little information about this book by Thomas Fudge.

This book may be one of the best documented books dealing with the UPC, with a great many footnotes to back up what is shared. This is not the first historical book Fudge has written. He doesn't simply make statements and leave people wondering if the infomation was taken out of thin air. It is interesting to note that the UPC appeared to have tried to hinder his research. There are things in this book which the average UPC member/attender may not know.

I have a friend who has gotten involved with the UPC and I have done quite a bit research on the UPC. I thought that this book would help me to get a more solid understanding of the UPC and its beliefs and practices. I wasn't disappointed.
this book was very eye opening for my personally. I found it to be very well documented and I liked that it drew from interviews and Oneness writings rather than just rumor. This book is well worth reading both for Oneness believers and for those, like me, who just want to have a better understanding of the beliefs and practices of the UPC. The only problem I had with this book was all the footnotes. I found myself getting bogged down and by the end, I just skipped most of the footnotes. I was impressed with how well documented all the information was. The author doesn't expect his reader to just take his word for things. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you, Dr. Fudge, for providing an excellent perspective on the historical significance of the PCI. It was refreshing to see another point of view about the UPC.

On another note, I find it interesting to see parallels between the UPC, the Jehovah's Witness, and Latter Day Saints organizations. All three believe they and only they have the truth. Directions come from headquarters. Doctrines are not questioned by the ministry or laity. All have their documents (books, manuals) to support their beliefs. Members who leave are ostracized. Members are not permitted to have any association with Christian organizations. Members are required to give their complete allegiance to the organization. All have come into existence within the past two centuries. All are performance based religions. Maybe its just coincidental!

As one who spent his life in the UPC and who has a father and other relatives who are and were officials in the organization this book goes along way to explaining the facts as they are in the UPCI. I cannot tell you the last time I heard a sermon on the benefits of the cross, justification by faith, the sinfullness of man, or many other important doctrines of the church and I think if UPC members were honest most would say that has been their experience. What you do hear is a barrage of self-help sermons, talks on outward standards of dress, and a three part magical save-yourself formula of salvation. All Christ has done is to make it possible for you to save yourself. He doesn't actually save anybody. Now the officials in St. Louis will deny that this is their position but this is the way that it is practiced in most UPC churches. I have heard it done this way for over forty years.

Again, I believe that most members of UPC churches would be able to attest to this fact and Dr. Fudge has given MUCH food for thought.