William L. De Arteaga, “Glenn Clark’s Camps Furthest Out: The Schoolhouse of the Charismatic Renewal” PNEUMA: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies 25:2 (Fall 2003), pages 265-288.

The author of Quenching the Spirit (Creation House, 1996) says that the CFO had a significant impact on the Charismatic Renewal of the 1960s and 1970s, even though it has been overlooked by most historians of the Pentecostal/charismatic movement because of its early connections with non-Christian theology.

S. David Moore, “William J. Seymour: The unlikely catalyst of the Azusa Street revival can still teach us what it means to be authentically Spirit-filled.” Ministries Today (May/June 2005), page 48.

This first installment of “Pentecostal Pioneers: 100 Years of Azusa” promises to be a year-long historical retrospect to celebrate the April 2006 Centennial of the Pentecostal/charismatic movement. Moore writes, “As [Seymour] observed the racial bigotry of those who claimed to have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, with tongues-speech as proof, he gradually adjusted his view on ‘Bible evidence,’ putting the emphasis on the fruit of the Spirit as the most important evidence that one was Spirit-filled. He would still believe speaking with tongues was a genuine and significant gift from God, one that could be a sign of the Spirit’s empowerment but not the sign. … For Seymour, Spirit baptism was fundamentally an anointing from God to evangelize a world in need of Christ.”

“World Christianity: Western Culture, Missions, and the (Real) Future of the Church” Cutting Edge 9:1 (Spring 2005), pages 2-5.

Jeff Bailey interviews Philip Jenkins, author of The Next Christendom: The Rise of Global Christianity (Oxford University Press, 2002), to ask how church planters need to see their role in light of the world’s changing realities. “The best prophecy I came across when I was researching my books was from Saint Vincent De Paul, who said, ‘Jesus said his church would last until the end of time. He never mentioned the word “Europe.” The church of the future will be the church of South America, Africa, China and Japan.’ If you take Japan off the list, that’s a very prescient comment for someone writing in 1640!” (5).

Full issues of the journal are available from Vineyard USA at: www.vineyardusa.org/site/task-forces/church-planting/cutting-edge-magazine [updated September 25, 2014]

Stanley J. Grenz, “What Does It Really Mean to Be Postmodern?” Enrichment (Summer 2005), pages 112-114.

Stanley J. Grenz (1950-2005)
Image: stanleyjgrenz.com

Professor Grenz completed a six-part series on postmodernism and the church for the Assemblies of God Enrichment journal before his unexpected death on March 12, 2005. This series offers an excellent introduction to what a postmodern church might look like, and this article discusses what a postmodern church would value as well as showing some mistaken understandings of what it means to be postmodern.

Image: Chalffy Chan

from the editor’s desk

Unlike some critics of the Pentecostal/charismatic movement, those of us in the broad movement know that many diverse views are held by those who recognize the Holy Spirit’s activity today. Many controversial issues and shades of emphasis keep the movement from being any kind of monolith. Only the core doctrines of the orthodox faith and the empowering of the Spirit offer a unifying center to the movement. As we lift up Jesus together, there is much we can learn from each other as we discuss the truth in love.

It is with this perspective in mind of learning from each other that the editorial committee is considering a number of topics to discuss in the journal. We would like to hear from you, our readers. What subjects you have been studying recently that you would like to see a point and counter-point dialogue about? What issues have you been chatting about with friends and peers?

Please use our contact page to reach me or the editorial committee with your suggestions and comments.

May you this issue to be an encouragement and blessing.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

Curtiss Paul DeYoung, Michael O. Emerson, George Yancey, and Karen Chai Kim, “All Churches Should Be Multiracial” Christianity Today (April 2005), pages 32-35.

This excerpt from United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation as an Answer to the Problem of Race (Oxford, 2003) is a summary of the biblical argument made by the book. The article is followed by a forum of four pastors—black, white, Latino, and Asian—responding to this thesis.

The article was available online (at the time of printing):

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/004/22.33.html

The forum entitled “Harder than Anyone Can Imagine” was found here:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/004/23.36.html

Enrichment (Winter 2005)

This issue of the journal for Assemblies of God ministers has the theme of “Pentecost: Empowerment for Life-changing Ministry” and is full of numerous articles on the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Articles include “Pentecostal Ministry in a Postmodern Culture” by Howard Young; “They Spoke with Tongues and Prophesied” by Roger Stronstad; marks of a Pentecostal life and church; a new model for presenting the classical Pentecostal doctrine of initial evidence; and historical glimpses of Pentecostal forerunners.

At the time of printing, information about this issue, including several full articles, was available online at:

http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200501/

Jack W. Hayford, “The Apostolic ‘Right Stuff’” Ministries Today (Nov/Dec, 2004), pages 98, 96-97.

Pastor Jack does not have a problem with apostleship today, but he does have deep disagreements with so-called apostles who are not meeting the biblical requirements of being one. He says character and servanthood tell us more about someone’s “apostleship” than their title or accomplishments.

At the time of this writing, this article was available online at this URL: http://www.i-m-f.org/rightstuff.htm [inactive as of Oct 20, 2014].

Some of the content you can expect to see in our next issue.  

Spiritual Ecstasy: Israeli Spirituality in the Days of Jesus the Messiah, by Kevin Williams

Kevin Williams takes a break from his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew to talk about what the Pharisees of the New Testament era really believed about the supernatural. Were they mystics? Did some Pharisees believe themselves to be prophets? Did they all reject Messiah when he appeared?

Rightly Understanding God’s Word: Context of Genre continues with a study of the type of inspired literature found in the teachings of Jesus, the gospels, letters to churches and individuals, and prophetic passages. Learn important principles for approaching God’s Word: reading, teaching, and doing what it says.

One of the book and periodical reviews you will see:

Wolfgang Vondey reviews Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen’s The Doctrine of God: A Global Introduction. A Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Survey.

On behalf of the editorial committee, I would like to express my gratitude to the numerous individuals that make the ministry of the Pneuma Foundation possible. We deeply appreciate the many pastors, scholars, leaders, and thinkers that regularly contribute to the publications of the Foundation. I hope that it will not be seen as presumption to say that we value their partnership with us in the ministry of leading our public to a greater understanding of God’s Word.

Special thanks to these individuals for their friendship and contributions to the Foundation: Dave Johnson, Wayne Grudem, Craig Keener, Todd Hunter, Peter Althouse, Murray Hohns, Amos Yong, Allen Anderson, David Roebuck, Larry Taylor, John Edmiston, Francisco Arriola, Paul Elbert, Vincent Cheung, Geir Lie, Lee Grady, Jon Ruthven, Rodman Williams, Dony Donev, Robert Graves, Stan Myers, Wolfgang Vondey, Yesunatha Das, Jim Purves, Graham Old, Paul King, Mike Knowles, William De Arteaga, Eddie Hyatt, Steve Brooks, Ken Archer, French Arrington, James Railey, John Datema, C. J. Halquist, Orpha Vega, Matthew Thompson, Rick Kamrath, Paul Ramsaroop, Edgar Lee, Derek Vreeland, Mel Robeck, Bill Faupel, W. Simpson, and Mike Rogers.

Some of these individuals you already know as authors of articles appearing in our publications. Others are forthcoming writers and friends that encourage and contribute in other ways.

Thank you for your participation with us in the exciting journey of following Jesus.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

Messianic teacher Kevin Williams continues his Messianic Foundations Series. In part 18 of The Secret Codes in Matthew: Examining Israel’s Messiah, Yeshua asks his examiners a question, “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?”

Pastor Daniel Brown studies biblical repentance, encouraging us to lose our folklore and gain insight about this misunderstood gift from God.

Rightly Understanding God’s Word: Context of Genre by Craig S. Keener continues with a study of laws in the Bible, Biblical prayer and songs, proverbs, and romance literature. Learn important principles for approaching God’s Word: reading, teaching, and doing what it says.

Winfield Bevins presents the heritage of John Wesley that may be found in Holiness and Pentecostal movements in “Wesley and the Pentecostals.” This study is a chapter from his book Rediscovering John Wesley published by Pathway Press.

Some of the book and periodical reviews you will see:

Murray Hohns reviews Sharing the Truth in Love by Sri Lankan Evangelical Ajith Fernando

Peter Althouse opens up Pentecostalism: The World Their Parish by David Martin

James Purves reviews a recent book by Ian Stackhouse, The Gospel-Driven Church: Retrieving Classical Ministry for Contemporary Revivalism

Ernest B. Gentile, “You Can Have A Personal Pentecost: The baptism in the Holy Spirit is nothing to fear. It’s God’s gift for all Christians.” Charisma (October 2004), pages 76-78.

Ernest B. Gentile

This short essay is an excellent introduction for the Christian to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Representing the Pentecostal/charismatic tradition, Gentile does argue for initial evidence: “It seems logical to affirm tongues as the initial evidence of Spirit baptism from a [biblical] historical perspective” (page 78).

www.charismamag.com/site-archives/554-charisma-channels/spriritled-living/3244-you-can-have-a-personal-pentecost [link active as of June 24, 2014]

Don Scribner, “A Model for Determining the Most Needy Unreached or Least-Reached Peoples” Mission Frontiers (Nov-Dec 2004), pages 6-13.

Mission Frontiers (www.missionfrontiers.org) invited the director of Joshua Project (www.joshuaproject.net) to explain a new model for prioritizing people groups least reached with the good news of Jesus’ revolutionary story. Instead of a simplistic on/off toggle saying reached/unreached, this model takes into account Christian presence (or response to the gospel), population, development of their country, and the availability of ministry tools (such as legal distribution of Bibles). This article includes significant charts detailing ranking by country, people cluster, and response to evangelism as well as a spreadsheet of 233 least-reached peoples.

www.peoplegroups.org/Documents/26-6-joshua-project.pdf [full article available as of June 24, 2014]

Paul L. King, “A Historical Survey of Belief and Practice regarding Deliverance of Demonized Christians” Refleks 3-1 (2004).

Paul King

Historian Paul King summarizes the controversy of whether or not Christians can be demon possessed. He begins with Tertullian and other early church leaders’ beliefs and practices, discusses Reformation leaders’ views, and concentrates on 19^th-20^th Century views. King is co-author of Binding and Loosing: Exercising Authority over the Dark Powers (Christian Publications, 1998) with K. Neil Foster and is therefore no stranger to this subject or its importance for church leaders. He concludes: “While there are some Pentecostals, evangelicals and charismatics who do not believe that Christians can be demonized, the preponderance of documentation throughout church history, both theologically and experientially appears to lean toward the belief that Christians can in some way be afflicted in varying degrees by demonic forces” (64-65).

Messianic teacher Kevin Williams continues his Messianic Foundations Series with the seventeenth chapter in a series on the Gospel of Matthew. Kevin will examine more of Jesus’ leadership and identity in the parables, taught as the days of his execution and resurrection draw near. Be sure to read every installment of this unique commentary on the Gospel to the Hebrews.

Professor James Hernando writes about “John the Baptist and the Prophetic Spirit of Pentecost” in an article sure to challenge you with the urgency and mandate of prophetic preaching.

First Nations leader Richard Twiss reflects on principles of unity and difference in an essay taking thoughts from the book Whose Religion Is Christianity? The Gospel beyond the West, by Lamin Sanneh.

The Spring 2005 issue continues the study of Biblical interpretation with Professor Craig Keener. In “Context of Genre: Narrative” begins to lead us through an examination of the different genres of Scripture by looking first at narratives. What are the differences between allegory and parables? Are there dangers to finding doctrine in narratives? The Rightly Understanding God’s Word series will refresh your study of the Bible and deepen your appreciation for this special revelation God has given to us.

Some of the book and periodical reviews you will see:

Robert Graves will be reviewing: The Speaking in Tongues Controversy: The Initial, Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit Debate by Rick Walston

Murray Hohns reviews The Expansion of Christianity by Timothy Yates

James Purves reviews Serve the Community of the Church: Christians as Leaders and Ministers by Andrew D. Clarke.

Mike Knowles reviews Practical Theology: Charismatic and Empirical Perspectives by Mark L. Cartledge

Wolfgang Vondey looks at Max Turner’s revised edition of The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts in the New Testament Church and Today.  

Jim Montgomery, “Incarnating Jesus Christ includes the Supernatural” Dawn Report 54 (June 2004), pages 1-2.

Jim Montgomery, founder of DAWN (Discipling A Whole Nation), writes: “While the west sees only occasional sprinkles of the miraculous power of God, much of the rest world is experiencing a downpour. To truly live out the life of Christ in a community we cannot ignore this fundamental aspect of his ministry on earth.” Montgomery goes on to chronicle numerous examples of the supernatural ministry of the Spirit revealing Jesus to people around the world.

James R. Hall, “When Healing Doesn’t Come: People who live with chronic illness or physical challenges need compassion, not condemnation” Charisma (July 2004), pages 56-57.

Trusting God to be faithful while taking a journey through chronic illness is not any easier when would-be counselors tell you it must be your fault. “Full gospel” pastor James Hall says that “a disabled person needs encouragement and understanding more than anything else” (page 57). Encouragement is particularly needed when prayed-for healing does not come quickly and God’s answers seem distant.

In the sidebar, “When Sickness Hits . . . TRUST GOD” by Chris Maxwell, believers are admonished to be honest with God by using a journal and making David’s Psalms personal. “Your honest writing isn’t negative confession. It allows God to turn your mourning into dancing.”

Kevin Williams continues his Messianic Foundations Series with the sixteenth chapter in a mini-series on the Gospel of Matthew. In the coming issue, Kevin will be looking at the final week of Jesus’ life on earth with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and how even then he was meeting Jewish expectations of the coming Redeemer.

When the Gospel writer John used the word anointing, did he mean something different from how other New Testament writers used the term? Robert Graves writes for the Winter 2005 issue: “The Johannine Anointing: Focusing on Truth”

The Winter 2005 issue continues the study of Biblical interpretation with Professor Craig Keener. “Using Cultural Background” continues the lesson of studying the historical backdrop in which the scriptures were written and first read. Numerous passages will be interpreted by Professor Keener in this study to give you some working examples that will help you learn better how to interpret God’s Word.

Some of the book and periodical reviews you will see:

First Nations leader Richard Twiss offers a unique perspective in a review essay of the book Whose Religion Is Christianity? The Gospel beyond the West, by Lamin Sanneh.

Skip Jenkins will be reviewing the recent article “Whither Pentecostal Scholarship? The overlap between ‘people with the Spirit’ and ‘people with Ph.D.’s.’” by Arlene M. Sánchez Walsh that appeared in Books & Culture (May/June 2004).

Graham Old writes an extended review of the anti-charismatic book The Healing Promise by Richard Mayhue.

Wolfgang Vondey reviews Gift & Giver: The Holy Spirit for Today by Craig S. Keener.