What is the Third Wave Movement?

Answer

The Third Wave Movement is a Pentecostal or Charismatic movement that originated in the 1980s. It is also referred to as the “Third Wave of the Holy Spirit” or the “Signs and Wonders Movement.” The term “Third Wave” was coined by C. Peter Wagner, a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary. He labeled it as the “Third Wave” because it marked the third of three distinct Pentecostal/Charismatic movements in contemporary Christianity. The initial wave was the original Pentecostal Movement that commenced in the early 1900s with the teachings of Charles Parham followed by the Azusa Street Revival. The second wave emerged in the 1960s with the Charismatic movement. Within the Charismatic movement, Pentecostal doctrines, teachings, and practices began to extend to non-Pentecostal churches and denominations. This wave brought increased popularity to the “Word of Faith” or “Name It and Claim It” teachings that are still prevalent today.

Subsequently, in the 1980s, another “movement of the Holy Spirit,” purportedly characterized by “signs and wonders,” commenced in the Vineyard Church with the teachings of John Wimber, Mike Bickle, C. Peter Wagner, Jack Deere, and others. Professor Wagner described this Third Wave as “a new moving of the Holy Spirit among evangelicals who, for various reasons, have opted not to align with either the Pentecostals or Charismatics.” Also recognized as the Neo-Charismatic Movement, this Third Wave of Pentecostal doctrine and excess gained significant popularity and gave rise to numerous deviant teachings such as the Toronto Blessing and laughing in the Spirit.

In addition to spotlighting some of the exaggerated practices of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, the Third Wave delves even deeper into its focus on the sensational, including assertions of signs and wonders performed by “modern-day apostles and prophets.”

Key teachings of the Third Wave Movement encompass what is known

As “power evangelism,” the fundamental concept of power evangelism is that the proclamation of the gospel should be accompanied by signs and wonders to elicit a response of faith from people. Advocates of this perspective tend to overly emphasize miracles, speaking in tongues, healing, and prophecy. They overlook the reality that the gospel message itself is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1). Proponents of the Third Wave essentially reject the adequacy of Scripture and assert that God communicates directly through contemporary prophets and apostles. Consequently, they argue that God is providing new revelations today that undercut the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. The teachings of these “new apostles and prophets” are elevated above the clear instruction of Scripture. Similar to all Pentecostal/Charismatic movements, personal experiences hold more weight in determining “truth” than sound doctrine.

The Third Wave represents another movement rooted in personal experiences rather than solid doctrine. Supporters of the Third Wave Movement anticipated the emergence of end-time apostles and prophets who would perform greater miracles than those in the Old Testament or by New Testament apostles. These “new apostles and prophets” were believed to surpass any previous prophets or apostles. This teaching has led to the rise of numerous false prophets within Third Wave congregations.

Since its inception in the 1980s, the Third Wave Movement has triggered numerous counterfeit revivals. As the movement progressed, unscriptural practices such as “laughing in the spirit” became increasingly peculiar. In recent years, some leaders and churches within the Third Wave have started distancing themselves from some of the more abnormal practices and are attempting to return to more traditional Charismatic practices. This wave of Pentecostalism has left behind a legacy of false teachings and harmful practices. Many individuals have been led astray.