Let me suggest five characteristics that help explain the rise of Pentecostal/Charismatic movements throughout the world.
1. White-hot faith. Pentecostalism is a faith that is experienced intensely. God, the Holy Spirit is powerfully in our midst and accessible to everyone. That experience of God creates the energy and drive that launched and fuels the movement.
2. Commitment to the cause. Pentcostalism is clear and confident about its message and agenda for change in the world. They give generously of their time and resources to advance their cause. Pentecostals have high expectations of one another.
3. Contagious relationships. Studies show it’s not the big events that are decisive in Pentecostalism’s dramatic growth. The movement grows because people whose lives are changed tell their friends and family. Recruitment follows pre-existing networks of relationships.
4. Rapid deployment. Charisma is “diffused” throughout the whole movement. Everyone has access to the power of the Holy Spirit. Everybody gets to play the game. Pentecostalism leads the rest of the church in reaching and empowering women, the young, the poor and marginalised for ministry.
5. Adaptive methods. Pentecostalism is both global and indigenous. It’s the same and yet different in Africa, China, Latin America and the West. Pentecostalism is conservative in its theology yet radical in methodology. It lives in the creative tension between the supernatural and the pragmatic.
This is Pentecostalism at its best. Even those who don’t share all their convictions can learn from their example.
3 Comments
Yes but have they changed the world as much as Lutherans ?
Yes the Lutherans have made a great contribution.
They even helped in the emergence of Pentecostalism. A Lutheran renewal movement, the Pietists, contributed to their rise of via Zinzedorf, the Moravians, Wesley, the Methodists and the Holiness movement out of which Pentecostalism emerged.
And let’s not forget Martin Luther who was a pretty hard act to follow.
But I’m not sure if it’s a competition.
Pentecostalism will be more on the increase in the US if it adapts its style to the post-modern. “old Time” pentecost is doomed. There is a new emergence of pentecostals that are taking the message of Christ to the post-modern mind. Some would call them phenomenologists.