Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2019
The charismatic stream popularly called the “prosperity gospel” lives uncomfortably on the edge o... more The charismatic stream popularly called the “prosperity gospel” lives uncomfortably on the edge of the Pentecostal movement. Its location is in part due to controversy surrounding its teaching and practices. It is scorned by non-Pentecostals and Pentecostals alike for its apparent shameless appeal to material wealth. The animus against the prosperity gospel by mainstream Pentecostals in particular is judged in part due to weak biblical exegesis, over-claims for results, temptation to greed, and absence of a theology of suffering. This essay is a brief case study of Kingdom Covenant Ministries, Toronto, and its Jamaican founder and pastor, Pat Francis. The purpose is to explore her understanding of the prosperity gospel and how it is lived out in her ministry in Canada’s largest multicultural city. I begin by reviewing the two historical movements which have shaped the prosperity gospel: its Pentecostal roots and neoliberal economics. This will be followed by an overview of Francis’s...
This chapter tells a small portion of the story between Bethel Temple, Seattle, and Gereja Bethel... more This chapter tells a small portion of the story between Bethel Temple, Seattle, and Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI). It discusses the distinctive beliefs and practices taught by Pastor Offiler and Bethel Temple that left their mark on GBI, especially Offiler’s teaching on the Name of God and practice of baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bethel Temple serves as an example of the role of missionaries and travelling ministers in the expansion of global Pentecostalism. Two features marked the newly formed GBI under Senduk’s leadership. The first is that the controversial amalgamation with the Church of God (CG) never threatened GBI's Indonesian autonomy. Second, Pentecostal religion is organized around an experiential faith, focusing on a personal encounter with Christ, culturally appropriate forms of worship, and with an abundance of music and singing. Keywords:Bethel Church; Bethel temple; Church of God (CG); Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI); pentecostalism; Seattle
In this chapter, the author argues that Amos Yong has demonstrated, more than any other Pentecost... more In this chapter, the author argues that Amos Yong has demonstrated, more than any other Pentecostal scholar, a sustained commitment to healing the deep Oneness-Trinitarian divide within the Pentecostal movement. He first reviews the pivotal role of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (SPS) in advancing dialogue. Then, he examines Yong's distinctive contribution to breaking the impasse, particularly through his scholarship and leadership in SPS. Third, he engages the particular texts in Yong's writings that discuss the Oneness-Trinitarian issue, in general, and the filioque controversy, in particular, in order to offer some reflections on Yong's proposal for a world Pentecostal theology. Finally, he draws upon the long tradition of Anglican wisdom to suggest that patient restraint might have prevented the sad schism of 1916. Yong's consistent track record and patient persistence in seeking rapprochement reflects just such Anglican character. Keywords:Amos Yong; Anglican wisdom; Oneness Pentecostals; Pentecostal theology; society for Pentecostal studies (SPS); trinitarian Pentecostals
Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2019
The charismatic stream popularly called the “prosperity gospel” lives uncomfortably on the edge o... more The charismatic stream popularly called the “prosperity gospel” lives uncomfortably on the edge of the Pentecostal movement. Its location is in part due to controversy surrounding its teaching and practices. It is scorned by non-Pentecostals and Pentecostals alike for its apparent shameless appeal to material wealth. The animus against the prosperity gospel by mainstream Pentecostals in particular is judged in part due to weak biblical exegesis, over-claims for results, temptation to greed, and absence of a theology of suffering. This essay is a brief case study of Kingdom Covenant Ministries, Toronto, and its Jamaican founder and pastor, Pat Francis. The purpose is to explore her understanding of the prosperity gospel and how it is lived out in her ministry in Canada’s largest multicultural city. I begin by reviewing the two historical movements which have shaped the prosperity gospel: its Pentecostal roots and neoliberal economics. This will be followed by an overview of Francis’s...
This chapter tells a small portion of the story between Bethel Temple, Seattle, and Gereja Bethel... more This chapter tells a small portion of the story between Bethel Temple, Seattle, and Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI). It discusses the distinctive beliefs and practices taught by Pastor Offiler and Bethel Temple that left their mark on GBI, especially Offiler’s teaching on the Name of God and practice of baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bethel Temple serves as an example of the role of missionaries and travelling ministers in the expansion of global Pentecostalism. Two features marked the newly formed GBI under Senduk’s leadership. The first is that the controversial amalgamation with the Church of God (CG) never threatened GBI's Indonesian autonomy. Second, Pentecostal religion is organized around an experiential faith, focusing on a personal encounter with Christ, culturally appropriate forms of worship, and with an abundance of music and singing. Keywords:Bethel Church; Bethel temple; Church of God (CG); Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI); pentecostalism; Seattle
In this chapter, the author argues that Amos Yong has demonstrated, more than any other Pentecost... more In this chapter, the author argues that Amos Yong has demonstrated, more than any other Pentecostal scholar, a sustained commitment to healing the deep Oneness-Trinitarian divide within the Pentecostal movement. He first reviews the pivotal role of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (SPS) in advancing dialogue. Then, he examines Yong's distinctive contribution to breaking the impasse, particularly through his scholarship and leadership in SPS. Third, he engages the particular texts in Yong's writings that discuss the Oneness-Trinitarian issue, in general, and the filioque controversy, in particular, in order to offer some reflections on Yong's proposal for a world Pentecostal theology. Finally, he draws upon the long tradition of Anglican wisdom to suggest that patient restraint might have prevented the sad schism of 1916. Yong's consistent track record and patient persistence in seeking rapprochement reflects just such Anglican character. Keywords:Amos Yong; Anglican wisdom; Oneness Pentecostals; Pentecostal theology; society for Pentecostal studies (SPS); trinitarian Pentecostals
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Papers by David A. Reed