Beyond Pentecostalism : the crisis of global Christianity and the renewal of the theological agenda

345 Pages·2010·2.26 MB·English

by  Vondey

James K. A. Smith and Amos Yong, Editors
PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will provide a forum for exhibiting the next
generation of Pentecostal scholarship. Having exploded across the globe in the
twentieth century, Pentecostalism now enters its second century. For the past
fifty years, Pentecostal and charismatic theologians (and scholars in other
disciplines) have been working "internally," as it were, to articulate a distinctly
Pentecostal theology and vision. The next generation of Pentecostal scholarship
is poised to move beyond a merely internal conversation to an outwardlooking
agenda, in a twofold sense: first, Pentecostal scholars are increasingly gaining
the attention of those outside Pentecostal/ charismatic circles as Pentecostal
voices in mainstream discussions; second, Pentecostal scholars are moving
beyond simply reflecting on their own tradition and instead are engaging in
theological and cultural analysis of a variety of issues from a Pentecostal
perspective. In short, Pentecostal scholars are poised with a new boldness:
• Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal scholars was careful to learn the
methods of the academy and then "apply" those to the Pentecostal tradition,
the next generation is beginning to interrogate the reigning methodologies
and paradigms of inquiry from the perspective of a unique Pentecostal
worldview.
• Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal scholars was faithful in applying
the tools of their respective trades to the work of illuminating the phenomena
of modern Pentecostalism, the charismatic movements, and (now) the global
renewal movements, the second generation is expanding its focus to bring a
Pentecostal perspective to bear on important questions and issues that are
concerns not only for Pentecostals and charismatics but also for the whole
church.
• Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal/ charismatic scholars was
engaged in transforming the anti-intellectualism of the tradition, the second
generation is engaged in contributing to and even impacting the
conversations of the wider theological academy.
PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will bring together both high-profile scholars
and newly emerging scholars to address issues at the intersection of Pentecostal
ism, the global church, the theological academy, and even broader cultural
concerns. Authors in PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will be writing to and
addressing not only their own movements but also those outside of Pentecostal/
charismatic circles, offering a manifesto for a uniquely Pentecostal perspective
on various themes. These will be "manifestos" in the sense that they will be bold
statements of a distinctly Pentecostal interjection into contemporary discussions
and debates, undergirded by rigorous scholarship.
Under this general rubric of bold, programmatic "manifestos," the series will
include both shorter, crisply argued volumes that articulate a bold vision within a
field as well as longer scholarly monographs, more fully developed and
meticulously documented, with the same goal of engaging wider conversations.
Such PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS are offered as intrepid contributions with
the hope of serving the global church and advancing wider conversations.
PUBLISHED
Frank D. Macchia, Justified in the Spirit: Creation, Redemption, and the Triune
God (2010)
James K. A. Smith, Thinking in Tongues: Pentecostal Contributions to Christian
Philosophy (2010)
Wolfgang Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism: The Crisis of Global Christianity and
the Renewal of the Theological Agenda (2010)
The Crisis of Global Christianity and the Renewal of the Theological Agenda
Wolfgang Vondey
WILLIAM B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING COMPANY
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN / CAMBRIDGE, U.K.

To the
Society for Pentecostal Studies
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xi
INTRODUCTION: Pentecostalism and Global Christianity in
the Late Modern World i
i. The Crisis of Theology in the Late Modern World 2
2. Integrating Pentecostalism in the Christian Agenda 8
3. Revisioning the Theological Landscape 13
I. Beyond Reason: Theology, Story, and the Crisis of the Imagination
i. The Crisis of the Imagination 17
2. The Pentecostal Story and the Revival of the Imagination 26
3. Theology as Play of the Imagination 34
2. Beyond Scripture: Sola Scriptura, Word of God, and the Crisis
of Revelation 47
i. The Crisis of Revelation 48
2. Classical Pentecostalism and the Word of God 57
3. The Play of Spirit, Word, and Community 66
3. Beyond Doctrine: Trinity, Oneness, and the Crisis of the
Creed 78
1. The Crisis of the Creed 79
2. Oneness Pentecostalism and the Articles of Faith 88
3. The Reformulation of Doctrine and the Play of God 98
4. Beyond Ritual: Structure, Liminality, and the Crisis of the Liturgy
1. The Crisis of the Liturgy 110
2. The Development of the Liturgy in Classical Pentecostalism 119
3. The Liturgy as the Structure of Play 129
5. Beyond Church: Ecclesiality, Culture, and the Crisis of
Christendom 141
1. The Crisis of Christendom 142
2. Classical Pentecostalism and Post-Christendom Ecclesiology 150
3. Church as the Playground of Cultures 159
6. Beyond Orthodoxy: Pentecostalism, Renewal, and the Crisis of
Play 171
1. The Crisis of Play 172
2. The Institutionalization of Classical Pentecostalism 182
3. The Renewal of the Theological Agenda 191
POSTSCRIPT 202
Notes 204
Name Index 261
Subject Index 264
The research and writing of Beyond Pentecostalism involved a large number of
individuals, friends, colleagues, scholars, and institutions. Any omission in these
acknowledgments is regrettable and entirely my responsibility, but perhaps
unavoidable. Instrumental in giving me a solid foundation in Pentecostal faith
and praxis as well as in theological research were the faculty and staff at the
Church of God Theological Seminary, now called the Pentecostal Theological
Seminary, in Cleveland, Tennessee. I am thankful for the spiritual formation and
academic rigor of my teachers, who in one way or another have left their mark
on this project. Also deserving special attention is the faculty at the theology
department of Marquette University for directing my thoughts from my
preoccupation with internal Pentecostal debates to broader theological concerns
that address the theological academy at large. The Society for Pentecostal
Studies has been a remarkable place to join together the variety of these
ecumenical voices in and beyond the Pentecostal community that form the
seedbed for this project. I am indebted to the many opportunities the members of
the Society have given me to interact with and learn from the talented proposals
and discussions at the annual meetings.
The completion of research and access to the resources of international and
archival material were made possible through a generous contribution of the
Lilly Theological Research Grants program, 2009-2010. This grant allowed me
to process the rich array of documents on Pentecostalism made available by,
among others, the Asian Pentecostal Society, Bund Freikirchlicher
Pfingstgemeinden, David J. du Plessis Archive, European Pentecostal
Charismatic Research Association, European Research Network on Global
Pentecostalism, Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, Hal Bernard Dixon
Pentecostal Research Center, Holy Spirit Research Center at Oral Roberts
University, International Pentecostal Holiness Church Archives, Pentecostal
Charismatic Theological Inquiry International, United Pentecostal Church
Historical Center, and the Regent University Library.
The Ph.D. program in Renewal Studies at the School of Divinity of Regent
University has been formative in crafting my ideas in the context of a global
theological agenda. Students and faculty have repeatedly engaged the ideas of