Power Pentecostalisms
Bad theology harms people. Sometimes they see that what they have been taught doesn't match up with the truth. Often, they reject God because of it. My own church has taken on the task of counseling such seekers.
We especially need to recover and discover anew the priesthood of all believers, and the primacy of canonical and historical interpretation of the Bible, while never forgetting who we are as Latin Americans. Only then can we begin to speak of a Latin American biblical theology.
Milton Acosta is professor of Old Testament at Biblical Seminary of Colombia in Medellín, Colombia. He studied as a John Stott Ministries–Langham scholar at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. This article is underwritten by a generous grant from John Stott Ministries.
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Related Elsewhere:
Christianity Today has a special section about Pentecostalism on our site. Previous articles on Latin America include:
Latin American Evangelicals' Life Just Got Harder | Pat Robertson's assassination call is more than just an ill-considered remark. (August 24, 2005)
Pope Urges New Effort To Curb 'Sects' in Latin America | "Pontiff alludes to Protestants as serious problem, calls for resolute pastoral action in reevangelization." (April 1, 2001)
Latin America: Engaging the Culture | Latin Americans begin to master mass media as a way to reach out with the gospel. (November 17, 1997)
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Lucas Albrecht
Very good text and reflection on the theme, thank you! I'm going to translate it into portuguese and share with our brothers here in Brazil, if there's no problem? Blessings, in Him Pastor Lucas André Albrecht Campus Chaplain/Parish Pastor The Lutheran University of Brazil (Ulbra) Canoas, RS, BRAZIL. pastorlucas@ulbra.br
Johann
Pentecostalism is a bizarre, heretical cult. In Latin America, the Pentecostals have managed to be even more bizarre and heretical. Who are their converts but a mass of poor, uneducated peasants, who were bribed into their churches with material goodies and an automatic family- exactly like what they do in the USA with our own uneducated peasants in Wal-mart country. These sects will not retain the allegiance of these people- cults never do. I believe that once their sub-par music loses its lustre, they will return to the one true Church from which they fled- the church Christ established- teh Catholci Church.
Johann
Pentecostalism itself is a cult. The Pentecostalism popular in Latin America has managed to make this bizarre movement even more heretical and ridiculous. What do you expect from poor, uneducated peasants who are desperate for material goodies? It's the same story in our own country, with our own uneducated peasants in Wal-mart country. I think with time, Latin America, as well as the rest of the world, will awake from this fever and return to the one true Church that Christ established- the Roman Cathlic Church.