Not Simply a Set of Beliefs; It’s an Experience!
At the very beginning of Global Pentecostalism: The New Face of Christian Social Engagement authors Miller and Yamamori state: “Pentecostalism is not simply a set of beliefs; it’s an experience.”[1] In this one sentence they sum up the whole of the book and in many ways, the reason for the growth of the Pentecostal movement, and it’s new found social engagement—although I would hold that Pentecostal social engagement is not new.
I was given this book by a friend of mine several years ago, and I have not had the opportunity to read it until now. My friend is not from a Pentecostal tradition; they found the book to be both interesting and enlightening and wanted to know what I thought. And so to my friend in Prague, I apologize it’s taken me so long. My thoughts about the book are briefly these. Global Pentecostalism gives fair and respectful treatment to the worldwide Pentecostal movement. The book is interesting and insightful.
To begin, as a Pentecostal myself, I appreciated the authors’ addressing the myths about Pentecostalism. As in any faith tradition, there is a view from the inside and a view from the outside. From my (inside) experience it can seem like Pentecostalism is one of the most misunderstood expressions of faith in the evangelical world. I can’t speak for an outside view because I am a fourth generation Pentecostal. I can, however, state that on more than one occasion I have found myself in a situation where I had to argue—hopefully with some vigor and persuasion—that speaking in tongues is not a demonic expression and that the presence of the Holy Spirit is life-changing and empowering! In this light, I would state that there is “’ something more’ than just humanly generated activity in Pentecostalism.” [2]
There are other misconceptions. For example, Pentecostal “worship services are [not] always populated with people being slain in the spirit, speaking in tongues, prophesying, and having their crutches thrown away by faith healers. Pentecostals are [not] lower-class marginalized people for whom religion is an opiate. Pentecostals are [not] so heavenly minded that they are no early good.” [3] And, I might add, that they do not always allow their eschatology concerning the imminent return of Christ and a new heaven and new earth to hinder their response to the present needs of the world, social or otherwise. [4] But the narrative of myth is a powerful force, though not always negative. The effort to defend Pentecostalism against the myth has both strengthen the resolve of Pentecostal leaders and brought clearer thinking to Pentecostal scholars concerning Pentecostal theological and its missiological underpinnings.
Personally, I am not thrilled about the term Progressive Pentecostalism. Not because of any political connotations,[5] but simply because of the fact that Pentecostals have been involved in church planting, church growth, building schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, programs to fight drug addiction, adult training programs, feeding, clothing, building churches in addition to the core value of reaching people with the message of the Gospel for at least 100 years.
It seems to me that it can’t be any other way. Because Pentecostalism is an experience, it is not something that one wants to keep to themselves. There is a strong, centrifugal-like force that compels Pentecostals to be part of changing the world. That change begins with preaching the gospel and then includes ministry of every kind, including compassion ministry. [6] I agree that Pentecostals approach the world with a holistic view that says, the power of the Holy Spirit can change the heart, soul, mind, spirit, body, communities and culture and we want to be a part of that. Miller and Yamamori call is “Holistic Ministry.” [7] Pentecostals call it merely…normal life in the Spirit! It’s what you do if you are a Pentecostal.
I too would say that the authors give fair treatment to the Pentecostal church in its global state. The problems of growth are always challenging. Pentecostal eschatology can cause Pentecostals to focus on the distant or not so distant future, instead of the here and now. In addition, based on the Pentecostal understanding of a personal relationship with Christ, and the personal experience of the Holy Spirit, Pentecostals tend to focus on reaching and serving the individual and not larger groups. [8] Although I would argue that this is not the case with the Assemblies of God as the theme of the Assemblies of God World missions is: “Every Tribe, Every Nation.” The Assemblies of God now have 67 million worldwide adherents and continues to grow. [9]
Of course, the Assemblies of God is not the only Pentecostal movement in the world. Each movement is different in their own way. The uniqueness may be a strength as it mirrors the vastness of the Kingdom of God. But the one thing that brings Pentecostals together is the experience of the power of the Holy Spirit. Though Pentecostals are often misunderstood, are facing the challenges of growth and social engagement, I am proud to be a Pentecostal. “Pentecostalism is not simply a set of beliefs; it’s an experience.” [10]
- Donald E. Miller and Tetsunao Yamamori. Global Pentecostalism: The New Face of Christian Social Engagement. 1 ed. University of California Press, 2007, 14.
- Ibid., 4, 20.
- Ibid., 20,21.
- Ibid., 125.
- Ibid., 2
- https://agwm.com/mission-statement.html, accessed November 28, 2017.
- Donald E. Miller and Tetsunao Yamamori. Global Pentecostalism, 59-67.
- Ibid., 182.
- https://ag.org, accessed November 28, 2017.
- Donald E. Miller and Tetsunao Yamamori. Global Pentecostalism, 14.
About the Author
Jim Sabella
8 responses to “Not Simply a Set of Beliefs; It’s an Experience!”
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Jim, the think I liked about this book (and your post) is that it confronts the “bad rap” that Pentecostals sometimes get about being TOTALLY focused on experience and not caring for good theology or ministry. The book certainly shows an abundance of ways that Pentecostals put their faith into action.
By the way, I saw this article today and thought of you and Chip.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/matt-chandler-being-reformed-and-charismatic-feels-like-being-an-orphan-we-need-both-207397/
Amen, brother.
“but simply because of the fact that Pentecostals have been involved in church planting, church growth, building schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, programs to fight drug addiction, adult training programs, feeding, clothing, building churches in addition to the core value of reaching people with the message of the Gospel for at least 100 years.”
I think the authors did a great job proving their point about the movement of Pentecostals today, but I have over 30 posts on my blog site of just women who went as missionary teachers, doctors, and translators in the late 19th century. I would say that the holiness movement was important for putting the love for people into their hearts. Dry theology, for its own sake, left out the whole emotional or feeling side of people. It also, in my opinion, created a class of intellectual elites.
Truth to tell, holistic ministry goes all the way back to Jesus and the church has done better or worse at it at different times. It’s exciting to me to see that more churches are embracing a holistic approach and global! Isn’t that why we are studying at PS?
Jim,
I didn’t realize you were a Pentecostal. Of course, I don’t label people by their denomination but their character. I love your last statement “not just on beliefs but it’s an experience.” It has been and still is a wonderful journey to experience your warm and caring nature.
Thanks for sharing an “insider” perspective! I wonder if the authors’ choice of Progressive Pentecostal was influenced by them not being insiders; I wonder what term they would have chosen if they were Pentecostals themselves.
Yes Jim, this thrilled and inspired me too about the Pentecostal movement: “but simply because of the fact that Pentecostals have been involved in church planting, church growth, building schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, programs to fight drug addiction, adult training programs, feeding, clothing, building churches in addition to the core value of reaching people with the message of the Gospel for at least 100 years.” It’s such a beautiful combination when we minister to the mind, body, and spirit of an individual and Pentecostalism does a good job implementing this. Although I would argue, this appears to be the mission of Christianity and I love the spirit and heart of Pentecostalism.
On another less serious note, Pentecostalism is such a challenging word to spell! As much as I have typed this word, I have never spelled it correctly. It might be my sub-conscious covertly rebelling against the label of this word, and secretly wanting Christianity to embody the values of Pentecostalism. Grateful for spell check…I misspelled it again!
Thanks Jim for your “Pentecostal perspective”. I really appreciated it. (Yes, I misspelled it for the last time.).
Jim great reflections! I agree that pentecostals have gotten a “heavenly minded no earlthy good” rap for decades. Most of us within the tradition know that is not true. I am glad this book highlights what has taken place on a global level but I too do not like the label progressive pentecostalism. We are just bearing witness to the Spirit of God in all areas of our lives. That is what we have all been called to do.
I was really looking forward to reading your take on this book, Jim! Your statement, “There is a strong, centrifugal-like force that compels Pentecostals to be part of changing the world,” exactly describes the Pentecostal people who have influenced my life! Although my grandmother was part of the UMC for most of her life, her roots in the Assemblies of God shaped her and taught her to rely on the compelling force of the Spirit.
Like you (and Christal mentioned this in her post as well) mentioned, I’m not sure that anyone inside a Pentecostal tradition sees the need to add the Progressive label, but the delineation by the authors really helped me (as an outsider) to set aside my memories of eschatology revivals that I “got” to endure when staying with my Pentecostal friends and refocus on what the essence of Pentecostalism is (or at least was meant to be). I appreciate your drive to defend that and your enthusiasm for your tradition!
Jim,
I so loved reading your perspective on this book!
I was really looking forward to it and you didn’t disappoint!
If I was smart I would have read your post before I wrote mine, as you said so well, and so succinctly what I was trying to highlight – ‘ Pentecostalism is not simply a set of beliefs; it’s an experience’ This leaning into the experience – and the feelings and emotions that make an experience memorable and powerful is central, I think, to what is going on her.
Thanks again!