Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Inadequate Theology: The Bane of (African) Pentecostalism



Nothing kills like half-truth. Antibiotics are known to constitute lethal weapon against bacteria which cause infections and diseases in humans and animals. 

In fact, the discovery of penicillin was a major breakthrough in the fight against diseases caused by bacteria. However, when the full dose is not taken and for the right period of time, it poses a serious threat. Since it is not potent enough to destroy the bacteria, they in turn are able to now master the drug and so develop resistance to the drug such that subsequent intake of the same drug will have no effect on the particular bacteria. That is why your doctor always insists you take the full dose and to complete the dosage.

Two events that have marked the face of Christianity in the recent history are the Reformation spearheaded by Martin Luther in the sixteenth century and Pentecostalism at the turn of the twentieth century. But for these two interventions, Christianity would be dead or probably half alive today. 

Without any doubt, Pentecostalism has brought a lot of vibrancy, fervency and dynamism to Christianity. Its entrance to the church equation has brought great blessing to the work of Christ. One could say that Pentecostalism is one major thing that delivered the church in Africa from the grip of traditionalism and syncretism.

What is so great about Pentecostalism? It is the rediscovery of the charismata—the gifts of the Holy Spirit. At the time when traditional Christianity told us to forget about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and that they’ve gone with the exit of the last apostle, like a mighty wind reminiscent of the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit shook the church like a tornado in a black church on Azusa Street in 1906. 

With that resurgence, new fire came. Men and women began to go into the territories of the world with new fire and zeal. 

However, Pentecostalism in this part of the world has become notorious for scriptural recklessness. The major reason for this is insufficient theology. Pentecostal ministers have taken to a far extreme the pharisaical notion that being with Jesus (Acts 4:13) is all that one needs to be a minister and a substitute for proper theological education. And this is telling on the kind of doctrines being propounded by many a preacher in our fold. 

Our God is a God of continuity. That is why though the Old Testament has been fulfilled in Christ, it is still kept for us today. That is why our Bible isn’t just New Testament alone. 

Seminary may be regarded as synonymous with cemetery; there are still a lot of treasures we can mine from its grave. Nothing can substitute for a sound theological education. Yet this is what is lacking in modern Pentecostalism. The ways scriptures are broken in many Pentecostal preaching is too terrible to bear for many who are theologically inclined. Doctrines are propounded based on the understanding of the founder/pastor alone. There is no correlation with any authority anywhere. The senior pastor or the General Overseer has the final say on any doctrinal issue. There is no room for any robust debate or rubbing of minds on any issue. Once the senior pastor “receives” it, it is final. There is no recourse to church history. The kind of interactions we see among the church leaders in Acts 15 is lacking in our fold today. Yet, that was a Pentecostal church. 

This is the missing link in Pentecostalism in Africa today. That is why doctrines are different from one Pentecostal church to another. This explains why one church may believe so much in feet washing based on the “revelation” given to the pastor while another may not want to have anything to do with such. Even churches set up their own seminaries or bible colleges to teach or reinforce their own doctrines or what they believe only. As Haris (2010) noted, preaching and teaching are the result of a lack of critical theological methods and critical biblical exegetical skills. 

This is the difference with a sound theology. It helps us to take cognizant of previous revelations by the Holy Spirit. The dictionary defines theology as “an organized method of interpreting spiritual works and beliefs into practical form.” It helps us to know how the previous generations have come to understand the same truth we are battling with. It broadens our perspective, giving us an idea of the previous move of God in the generations past so as to avoid the pitfalls that drown many of our fore runners. Sound biblical hermeneutics helps us to know how the original recipients of a particular epistle understood, and then interpreted it. 

Many church leaders need to take a cue from the great apostle Paul. In spite of his numerous revelations, he still takes time to check with those ahead of him on the veracity of his preaching. 

And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. Gal 2:2

God always builds on previous revelations. That was why Paul instructed the Colossians to look for the epistle he wrote to the Laodiceans and vice versa (Col. 4:16). Good theology helps us to bridge the historical gap between us and the previous generations. 

Every church leader needs to accept the maxim that there’s nothing new under the heaven. That revelation that is so novel to you has been received a thousand times by many men and women of God in the past. How did they manage it? How did they interpret it? How did they apply it? That is what sound biblical theology does. It gives you a proper perspective. Some doctrines that were roundly condemned as heresies are being widely touted by many in our fold today as new revelation, and preached with so much vigor. May the Lord deliver His church from small minds!

Here is my offer: Agreed, not many could afford to go back to school or proper seminary for a thorough learning but everyone can bring the seminary home. Through personal study, online courses, seminars, conferences, every minister can be thoroughly furnished for the good works of teaching and preaching. To be ignorant in the age of information is an unpardonable offence. 

Ref:
Harris, A. L. (2010): For Such a Time as This: Re-Imaging Practical Theology for Independent Pentecostal ChurchesThe Asbury Theological Seminary Series 1. Lexington, KY: Emeth Press.

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