Pentecostalism is a spiritual movement that has a unique place among all the other Christian denominations because of its spirituality. Its spirituality, not only makes the movement a spiritual force but also propels it as a liberative force in the contemporary world. This book explores the very basic and the most important components of Pentecostal spirituality such as the Full Gospel, holiness, baptism in the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, mission, worship, preaching and eschatology and present them as paradigms of liberation and transformation in a world of oppression, injustice, poverty and suffering. It is anticipated that this work would greatly help Pentecostals as well as non Pentecostals to understand and appreciate the liberative spirituality of the movement. It may also be helpful for theologians, Pentecostal observers and students to see the movement in a new light and venture into further research to unravel its liberative potentials.
Dr. Shaibu Abraham holds a PhD in Pentecostal Theology from the University of Birmingham, U.K. and now is on the faculty of India Bible College & Seminary, Kerala. He is the author of books like: Pentecostal Theology of Liberation, The History of the Pentecostal Movement in North India, Pentecostal Christology, and Concise Notes on Systematic Theology. He has also contributed a number of articles in various books and journals. He lives with his wife, Sheena in Kumbanad, Kerala.
Pentecostal movement is considered as a spiritual movement and emphasises the experience of God through the Holy Spirit in its doctrines and life of its members. Pentecostals insist that every aspect of their faith should be according to the experiences that recorded in the pages of the Bible. Religious observers, sociologists, theologians alike appreciate the movement for its experiential nature of spirituality and observe that Pentecostalism has transformed the spiritual outlook of Christianity as a whole. For instance, Harvey Cox, Donald E. Miller, David Martin, Walter J. Hollenweger, Alister McGrath and a multiple of other scholars who are stalwarts in their own areas, agree with the observation that Pentecostal spirituality is actually a move that bring back the original biblical spirituality and bridges the gap of "ecstasy deficit" of the contemporary world. Moreover, they also insist that Pentecostal movement is a liberative movement around the world, particularly in the Majority World. The observation and research by world renowned agencies like, The World Christian Encyclopaedia and The Pew Forum term Pentecostal movement as the fastest growing religious movement of the globe, growing fast in the new mission fields, especially in the third world situations. They assert that the movement is liberating thousands of people from their wretched conditions and transforming them for a better future. Keen observations and researches proved beyond a doubt that, more than systematic programmes or methodological approaches in the context, it is the vibrant spirituality of the movement that results in its magnificent growth and transformation of masses.
Pentecostalism is known as a movement of the Spirit, and its spirituality is fundamentally experiencing God and Christ through the agency of the Spirit. Rather than insisting on ecclesiastical structures and a system of elaborate theological dogmas and written liturgy, Pentecostal movement began as a spiritual movement, emphasising on spiritual elements such as 'born again' experience, 'holiness', experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit', spiritual gifts and so on. These elements of Pentecostal spirituality have facilitated the movement to be a unique entity in the Christendom and attracted millions within its span of hundred years. Its basic Christology (the Full Gospel Jesus the saviour, healer, Spirit baptiser, coming king) preached throughout the world effected transformations in the lives of the suffering masses. Similarly, it spirituality of holiness enabled Pentecostal believers to separate themselves from worldly affairs and move toward the perfect likeness of Christ. As a result of holding the spirituality of holiness, early Pentecostals were ready to sacrifice their worldly possessions and comfort for the sake of new found sanctified experience. Besides, this experience created a new vision of spiritual and social realities and propelled them to act against the oppressive systems like racism, caste system, poverty, slavery and other social and cultural issues. Similarly, the experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit endowed them with power to carry out urgent mission and social ministries which delivered millions. The fervent eschatological expectation of the return of Christ enabled believers to keep themselves holy and prepared and focus on the work of the Kingdom of God.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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