A Theology of Encounter
Keith Warrington
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Copyright © Keith Warrington, 2008
Keith Warrington has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the Author of this work.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-10: HB: 0-567-04442-4
PB: 0-567-04452-1
ISBN-13: HB: 978-0-567-04442-6
PB: 978-0-567-04452-5
1 In Pursuit of Pentecostalism
2 The Quest for a Pentecostal Theology
8 Healing, Exorcism and Suffering
A number of issues are important to an appreciation of the purposes of this book and its presentation of Pentecostalism in particular. It is not to be viewed as a systematic or historical theology or a comprehensive presentation of all that Pentecostals believe.1 Such an enterprise would need to cover more topics and there would be a great deal of overlap with other books exploring theology. Many of the beliefs of Pentecostals are also shared by other believers and they have been the cause of reflection and exploration by many other authors. To repeat that which has already been offered elsewhere is of little value, especially when the topics have been covered in depth, quality, objectivity and scholarship. At the same time, it may be concluded that there are already sufficient books exploring theology; one dedicated to Pentecostal theology may be an unnecessary luxury. However, it is the objective of this book to focus on a Pentecostal theology which is defined by distinctive elements of Pentecostal belief and praxis but especially by an undergirding Pentecostal philosophy.2 This exercise has been based on a desire to explore issues relating to the major emphases of Pentecostals—encapsulated by the framework of Jesus, Saviour, Healer, Baptiser, Sanctifier and Coming King. Topics related to these emphases and others that are of central importance in current Pentecostalism will be the focus of the book. The fundamentally important doctrines of God, the Bible and the Church are inevitable additions to the above topics as are the issues relating to personal spirituality and ethics. The provision of a broader discussion of the Spirit (as compared with the sections referring to Jesus and the Father) is largely due to the volume of literature written by Pentecostals exploring his character and function.
The emphasis of this book is ...
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About Pentecostal Theology: A Theology of EncounterPentecostals (traditionally) do not think theologically so much as they think practically. This book will present Pentecostal theology as well as the particular style of Pentecostal thinking and praxis that makes it different. Pentecostalism is not just distinctive because of its belief base but also because of the worldview it owns. The latter is based on a certainty that a religion that does not work is not worth much. Consequently, they look for expressions of life and vitality in their faith. These dominate, rather than an expression of the cerebral, though this is changing. Nevertheless, the sense of the immediate, the God of the now not the distant past, underlie how they do theology. Pentecostal theology tends to be seen through the eyes of people, not theologians; through the community, not traditions (though they have them); through their faith and worship, not ancient creeds. It is a theology of the dynamic, seen through the lens of experience. It is a functional theology that exists to operate; to incorporate an experiential dimension. Pentecostal theology does not operate as other theologies which often only detail a list of beliefs; it does this but also and (more) importantly, it explores them in the context of praxis. Thus, this volume incorporates praxis as part of the enquiry relating to theology. |
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