Suggestions for Further Reading

Postmodernism, The Church, and The Future
A Pneuma Review discussion about how the church should respond to postmodernism

♦ Rick Wade, “Confident Belief: What Does it Mean to Know Truth?” PneumaReview.com/confident-belief-what-does-it-mean-to-know-truth/

Please add your comments, questions, and suggestions below.

Executive Editor, Raul Mock, asked some questions of a recent subscriber.

What you have been studying lately?

Lately, I have been studying church planting and church growth strategies.  I’ve been studying Pentecostal & Charismatic history in the last two-thousand years, Revivals through history especially modern ones (Shearer Schoolhouse, Welsh, Topeka, Azusa Street, etc.).  Also, I am doing an expository study of the Sermon on Mount.

What topics or conversations have inspired you or irked you recently?

I have been inspired recently of sudden re-interest in the Azusa Street Revival. I have been interested in Azusa for years and it’s nice to see it getting so much attention lately. I have been irked by conversations about Pentecostals & Charismatics are becoming institutionalized. I have been irked by secular news stories about Pentecostals & Charismatics and about some of our fallen leaders.

If you could sit down with a group of theologians and Bible teachers, what questions would you want to ask?

Where are we going as a movement? If we are going in a wrong direction, how do we get back on the right path. If we are going in the right direction, how do we maintain? I know the obvious answer is to trust and obey the Lord through the power of the Holy Ghost, and live a Spirit-filled life, keeping that in perspective what can we do as individuals, as churches, and as denominations.

Thanks for you time.

God bless you in Jesus’ name,

Pastor Ben

Glenn Schwartz, “A Cure for Handicapped Churches: Reflections on Dependency in the Christian Movement” Mission Frontiers (May/June 2007), pages 26-28.

Long-time missionary and missiologist Glenn Schwartz says that “the alternative to donor-driven missiology is a change of assumptions on which missionary church-planting is done. Except in areas where humanitarian aid is essential for survival, outside aid should be given careful consideration” (28). Schwartz urges a reconsideration of the idea of “rich” western church continuing to give to “poor” global churches with no strings attached. “Dollars alone will not create healthy churches” (28).

http://www.missionfrontiers.org/2007/03/200703.htm [link not working as of Aug 1, 2014]

“Sub-biblical Transformation: Organization-speak threatens to blind us to the church’s unique glory” Christianity Today (June 2007).

Talking about transforming our culture or city is trendy, but this editorial from Christianity Today questions this as being an unbiblical pursuit.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/june/19.27.html

Kerby Rials, “Eastern Exodus: Some Protestant leaders are leaving their evangelical roots for Catholic and Orthodox churches. What’s behind the trend?” Ministry Today (May/Jun 2007).

This article allows many to tell their story of how they have left Evangelicalism and mainline Protestant churches to join or rejoin Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. Their stories often turn on the lack of both ancient tradition and an encompassing doctrine of the church in the denominations they have left. However, statistics demonstrate that this exodus is also steadily going the other way, from Orthodox and Catholic to Protestant churches. The drift towards Rome, or further east, has some Evangelicals convinced this is a consequence of ongoing ecumenical efforts and compromise on doctrine.

http://www.ministrytodaymag.com/display.php?id=15101

Welcome to our ten-year anniversary issue. Publication of the Pneuma Review began with the Fall 1997 issue.

In celebration, we would like to say thank you to the many people that have contributed of their writings during these fruitful years.

Peter Althouse, Jeffrey Anderson, Kenneth J. Archer, French L. Arrington, Francisco Arriola, Roscoe Barnes III, John R. Belcher, Gary Best, Winfield Bevins, Walter R. Bodine, James A. Borland, David Bradnick, Steven J. Brooks, Daniel A. Brown, Malcolm R. Brubaker, David Burns, Terry Butler, Robert Cooke, David Crabtree, Danny Daniels, John Datema, Peter H. Davids, William L. De Arteaga, Jeff Doles, Dony K. Donev, D. William Faupel, David Kyle Foster, Robert L. Gallagher, J. Lee Grady, Robert W. Graves, Gene L. Green, Gary S. Greig, Wayne Grudem, Carl J. Halquist, David Harvey, Brent Helming, James Hernando, Grant Hochman, H. Murray Hohns, Kirk Wesley Hunt, Eddie L. Hyatt, John Paul Jackson, David Johnson, Rick Kamrath, Craig S. Keener, Paul L. King, Mike J. Knowles, John Lathrop, Edgar R. Lee, Dave Livermore, Gary Loy, Joel McClure, Francis and Judith MacNutt, Ronald M. Messelink, John R. Miller, Jeffrey Niehaus, Graham Old, Paul Paino, William J. Pankey, Andy Park, Michael D. Peters, Jim Purves, B. Keith Putt, Aldwin Ragoonath, James Railey, Joe Randeen, Dave Redden, Tony Richie, Patricia Riley, Richard M. Riss, Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., Mike Rogers, Jon Ruthven, W. Simpson, Bob Sorge, Kevin N. Springer, Michael Sullivant, Vinson Synan, Larry L. Taylor, Matthew K. Thompson, David Trementozzi, Richard Twiss, Wolfgang Vondey, Derek Vreeland, Brian White, Don Williams, J. Rodman Williams, Kevin M. Williams, Philip Yancey, and Amos Yong.

Please click on their names to go directly to their author page.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

Editor Introduction: Postmodernism, The Church, and The Future

Suggestions for Further Reading

Postmodernism, The Church, and The Future
A Pneuma Review discussion about how the church should respond to postmodernism

Readers have suggested the following as places to find good articles online for further reading on this important subject.

• Crystal Downing, “Yolking With Postmodernism: Where is postmodern culture headed? Two recent films, Chicken Run and The X-Men, suggest a neo-Romantic turn” Books & Culture (October 9, 2000). http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/webexclusives/2000/october/oct09.html
• Scot McKnight, “Five Streams of the Emerging Church” Christianity Today (February 2007). “Key elements of the most controversial and misunderstood movement in the church today.” http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html
• “Pluralism & Postmodernism” Numerous links and lectures critical of postmodernism: http://www.rctr.org/coplur.htm [link unavailable as of October 22, 2014]
• Henry H. Knight III, “Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Postmodernism” Catalyst Online. http://www.catalystresources.org/issues/252knight.html [link unavailable as of October 22, 2014]
• Rebecca Jaichandran, “Pentecostal Spiritual in a Postmodern World” AJPS 6:1 (2003), pages 39-61. http://www.apts.edu/aeimages/file/ajps_pdf/03-1-rjaichandran.pdf [updated October 22, 2014]
  Abstract from the original paper: “This paper seeks to understand Post Modern thought and expressions. An attempt will be made to determine whether Post Modernism has influenced Pentecostal Spirituality like it has done to fashion, literature, art, architecture, television and culture. It then seeks to examine the extent of this influence in order to see how we as Pentecostal theologians would look at this influence—as a threat or an opportunity.”
  Reader Comment: “Although I strongly disagree with many of the assumptions and propositions made by this paper, I think it represents what many Pentecostal pastors think about postmodernism and why they are afraid of it. — TS”

from the editor’s desk

In the Spring 2007 issue we announced that Kevin M. Williams would begin a new series investigating the person and work of the Holy Spirit in the Hebrew Scriptures. Kevin has expressed to the editorial committee the difficulty in researching this theologically-heavy subject. Due to his present schedule, he has asked for an indefinite delay for this project. He has said that there are other studies he may be more prepared to bring to us soon.

Also in the Spring 2007 issue we began including thumbnail portraits of our contributors. As much as I like this concept, we have found that our current printing process cannot deliver a good representation of the images our writers have provided.

You are invited to have your voice heard. Please write and tell us what you are studying, what you have been discussing with your friends, what has encouraged you. I hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the discussion on the church’s response to postmodernism

In the love of the Father,

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

The Kingdom and the Power. The Pneuma Review has received permission to reprint chapters from this important work that asks: “Are Healing and the Spiritual Gifts Used by Jesus and the Early Church Meant for the Church Today?” The Fall 2007 issue will continue this series with “Power Ministry In The Epistles: A Reply to the Evangelical Cessationist Position” by Walter R. Bodine.

John Lathrop interviews John Paul Jackson.

John Paul Jackson discusses prophetic ministry and its place in churches today.

Join in the Discussion How should the church respond to postmodernism?

As North American culture has become increasingly postmodern, some church leaders have perceived this shift to be a threat and others an opportunity. The Pneuma Review is putting together a diverse panel to discuss how the church should respond to postmodernism.

The editorial committee hopes to continue to explore questions and comments from readers. Will you send your response?

Some of the book and periodical reviews you will see:

• Amos Yong reviews Don Garlington’s In Defense of the New Perspective on Paul: Essays and Reviews (Wipf and Stock, 2005), summarizing for readers what this new perspective on Paul is and why scholars continue to disagreed about it.
• Pastor/scholar Tony Richie reviews The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church (Zondervan, 2005) by Pastor Gregory A. Boyd.

Pastor Jack W. Hayford, with over a half-century of pastoral ministry, wants to encourage believers and especially pastors to move beyond seeing the first experience of speaking with tongues as a climax or seal of evidence for a required proof. Rather, “as a commencement into an abiding practice.” “So while I have always practiced, taught and led people to expect to speak with tongues when they are ‘baptized with the Holy Spirit’ (see John 1:33; Acts 1:5), I have urged that expectation as a welcoming of the Spirit’s enablement to enlarge my worship of God Almighty.”

http://www.jackhayford.com/tongues101.pdf

http://www.ministrytodaymag.com/display.php?id=14738

Ted Olsen, “What Really Unites Pentecostals?: It’s not speaking in tongues. It may be the prosperity gospel” Christianity Today (December 2006).

Research from the October 2006 survey from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life points to many things besides glossolalia that Pentecostal/charismatics agree on worldwide. “It is true, as this magazine has been saying since its inception, that Christians in the West need to listen to Christians in the majority world. Those Christians will mostly be Pentecostals.”

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/december/16.18.html

Patrick Sherry, “The Beauty of God the Holy Spirit” Theology Today 64:1 (April 2007), pages 5-13.

In order to encourage the development of a theology of beauty, Professor Sherry offers a historical introduction to the connection between the Holy Spirit and beauty. He considers why beauty is rarely discussed by theologians and makes a case for why a theology of beauty is vital today.

Suggestions for Further Reading

Postmodernism, The Church, and The Future
A Pneuma Review discussion about how the church should respond to postmodernism

Although there are numerous scholarly papers that have been written on the subject of the church and postmodernism, here are some that readers have suggested.

♦ Stanley J. Grenz, “Beyond Foundationalism: Is a Nonfoundationalist Evangelical Theology Possible?”

http://www.luthersem.edu/ctrf/Papers/1998_grenz.pdf [as of Oct 14, 2014]

♦ D. Lyle Dabney, “The Church as a Community of (Un)Common Grace: Toward a Postmodern Ecclesiology”

http://www.luthersem.edu/ctrf/Papers/1997_Dabney.htm [as of Oct 14, 2014]

♦ “Mere Mission” N.T. Wright talks about how to present the gospel in a postmodern world, in an interview with Tim Stafford. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/january/22.38.html [as of Oct 14, 2014]

In addition to this, you may listen to Calvin College’s January Series 2007 lecture by N. T. Wright summarizing his book Simply Christian by going to this address: http://www.calvin.edu/january/2007/ram/20070105.ram [unavailable as of Oct 14, 2014]

Please add your comments, questions, and suggestions below.

Quentin Schultz

In a recent meeting I attended, expert communicator Dr. Quentin Schultz reminded us that all followers of Jesus are called to be servant communicators. All of us are part of the story that God is telling in the world, the story of His love, power, and forgiveness that is embodied in the life of Jesus. Intentionally participating with God in telling that story has much to do with the laying down of our lives, becoming a servant.

In an age where image and power are glorified we are called to humility and surrender. Paul said, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor 2:4, NKJV).

Father, teach us the lessons of obedience and humility. Forgive us for putting ourselves in the center and lamely taking credit for what you have done in and through us. Open our eyes to see the world as you see it and lay down our lives as Jesus showed us. Empower us today to live and tell that story so that Jesus may be lifted up.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor