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Books > Christianity > Protestantism & Protestant Churches > Other Protestant & Nonconformist Churches > Pentecostal Churches
In Middle-Class Pentecostalism in Argentina: Inappropriate Spirits
Jens Koehrsen offers an intriguing account of how the middle class
relates to Latin Americas most vibrant religious movement. Based on
pervasive field research, this study suggests that Pentecostalism
stands in tension with the social imaginary of the middle class and
is perceived as an inappropriate lower class practice. As such,
middle class Pentecostals negotiate the appropriateness of their
religious belonging by demonstrating distinctive tastes and styles
of Pentecostalism. Abstaining from the expressiveness,
emotionality, and strong spiritual practice that have marked the
movement, they create a milder and socially more acceptable form of
Pentecostalism. Increasingly turning into a middle class movement,
this style has the potential to embody the future shape of
Pentecostalism.
While there are many diatribes against the modern Word of Faith
Movement and as many defenses of it, little scholarly work has
investigated, analyzed, and compared and contrasted modern faith
teaching with earlier evangelical writers. Only Believe is such a
ground-breaking book written for non-specialists and scholars.
Among its many accomplishments, Only Believe . . . * theologically
engages both the teachings of the Word of Faith Movement and their
critics, examining from the unique viewpoint of the elliptical
nature of truth the counter-polarities of faith teaching and
practice; * traces the origins of faith teachings such as
revelation knowledge, logos and rhema, point of contact, seed
faith, faith as a law and a force, covenant rights and inheritance,
positive confession, and attitudes toward doctors and medicine
through the church fathers, mystics, reformers, Pietists, Puritans,
and the 19th-century Wesleyan, Keswick, and Higher Life holiness
and healing movements; * draws upon the faith teachings and
practices of a wide variety of theological and denominational
backgrounds: Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian/Reformed,
Episcopalian/Anglican, Lutheran, Congregationalist, holiness,
Brethren, Catholic, Pentecostal/charismatic, and many others; *
highlights positive, balanced principles and models of faith of
respected evangelical leaders, guiding the reader away from
questionable teaching and practice and yet encouraging a walk by
faith that is both strong and sound; * contains a treasure house of
preaching, teaching, Bible study, examples of faith, and research
material.
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