Book
Critique on Allan Anderson
Anderson, Allan: AnIntroduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press,
2004)
Allan Anderson, An Introduction to Pentecostalism has
given wonderful facts about the history and theology of Pentecostalism. The
author of this book really shows an introductory to Pentecostalism and even
gets to the point of global charismatic movement throughout the world. He has
demonstrated that the wonderful work of the Holy Sprit in different countries
and even people recognized the fastest growing Holy Spirit movement in the
world today. Anderson divided his book into two sections and which gave a lot
of information about the Charismatic movement and the theology of
Pentecostalism. The first section of this book is talking about “Historical
Development of Pentecostal Distinctives,” which gave the historical background
of how Pentecostalism movement was started in each country (19-183). The second
section of this book is talking about “Pentecostal and Charismatic Theology in
Context,” which give a picture of understanding of the Spirit-filled Christians
(187-286).
The good things about this book is Anderson collects much
information about the uprising of Pentecostalism in different countries. He
started from North America and goes on explaining to the countries like Latin
America and the Caribbean, Europe, African, Asia, Australia and the Pacific
(39-123). As I read Anderson perspective
on Pentecostalism, I could feel how each and every country received the
Pentecostalism movement and how it was initiated. In addition, Anderson had put
great efforts on collection all this information in detail. He explains about
the different concept from scholars of Pentecostalism at the very beginning of
this
book that the primary defining
characteristic of US Pentecostalism (initial physical evidence), in the other
words speaking in tongues. This was named as a classical Pentecostal group of
people. Anderson tried to explain from that narrow perspective into global
perspective which is for a believer who is authentically experiencing the Holy
Spirit in different ways (10).
I got some clue about the history of Pentecostalism from
our class teaching from Dr. Joel that “we many times think that all of the
theology comes from the west and even the upraising of Pentecostal movement of
our countries but it was not that so. We do have our own theology and upraising
moment of Pentecostalism.” Likewise, Anderson tried and help us to understand
the broadway perspective of Pentecostalism that where people can experience of
the Holy Spirit (14).
When I read about North American Pentecostalism, I could
sense a little bit about authorial intent or author's intention that he would
like to say about Pentecostalism. Anderson intention was speaking in tongues as
the initial act of baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for all the people, but
people should not also neglect the work and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Anderson tried to be balanced and stayed
in between of Charles Parham and Seymour view. Charles was the one who
developed the North American classical doctrine of speaking in tongues as the
initial act of spirit baptism. William
Seymour was Charles’s disciples who becomes a great leader after him and also
“who repudiated Parham’s ‘initial evidence’ doctrine and was later himself
rejected as leader by white Pentecostals, who were unable to allow a sustained
role for black leadership (41).” Then by giving these two example of great
leaders, I guess Anderson concluded his opinion with these two guys that the
vital important of Azusa Street revival (Seymour) and “the formative period of
North American Pentecostalism should be seen as its fundamental essence and not
merely as its infancy (39-45).” I really would like to reflect on this point of
view that I agreed with Allan Anderson point of view is here. It is true that
speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of Sprit baptism is not for all the
believers and even it has nothing to do with the salvation as well. If you say
that speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of spirit baptism, then what
about for some believers who never spoke in tongues in their lives and yet they
were spirit – filled and did a mighty thing for the Lord? Can we say that they
are not really filled with the Spirit or even being saved? The reason why I
raised this question was all the New Testament believers were not speaking in
tongues. I think my question is attached to the point of theology of the Spirit
in this book that “if there is one central and distinctive there in Pentecostal
and Charismatic theology, then it is the work of the Holy Spirit (187).” Yes,
this is exactly what I really know about the theology of Pentecostalism. It has nothing to do with the ‘initial evidence’
(speaking in tongues) with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and even in term of
getting saved. However, this book continues on explaining about Classical
Pentecostalism teaching about “consequence and subsequences by referring to the
book of Acts, especially the Day of Pentecost Experience (Acts 2:4), the
experience of the Samaritans (Acts 8:4 – 19), Cornelius (Act10:44-8), and the
disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7) as the normative model for all Christians
(191).” Furthermore, under the topic of ‘the debate on spirit baptism’ draw my
attention to ponder upon these issues. In Pentecostal group there were
distinctive doctrine of their belief system. For instance, the doctrines of
consequence and subsequences. Some people are in the group of the theology of
Dunn and some people are withholding to the belief of Pinnock that water
baptism symbolized Spirit baptism as well (192-193). When I look at all those
debates and explanation, I realized how important of the speaking in tongues
is. Hence, I know and I strongly believe that speaking in tongues is a great
importance for all of the believer and it is the empowering of the Holy Spirit,
but I do not believe that speaking in tongues is an initial evidence for the
believer. In the other words, the believer may speak in tongues when they
baptize with the Holy Spirit and even believer may not speak in tongues also
when they baptize with the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, there are nine of
the gifts of the Holy Spirit in general and speaking in tongues is one of the
gifts. I still wonder about this fact that why people would like to emphasize
on this gift alone and not the others? This is just that question that I had in
my mind and nothing to do with the doctrinal statement. However, I found an
answer in the next following topic of this book. Anderson answered at this
point that “the Spirit causes people to receive the Spirit, to prophesy, speak
in tongues, heal, exorcize demons, have vision and dreams, live holy lives –
and generally the Spirit directs the life and worship of these churches, the
leader of all its activities. (197)” Anderson explicitly explains about the
theology of the Spirit in such a way that I have to agree with him because his
theology of the Spirit make sense to me and above all it is compatible with the
Bible. I have no doubt believing the Bible rather than believing the other
doctrinal statements or their ways of teaching, but Anderson explains well in
this particular topic. I agreed with his theology and belief system of
Pentecostalism.
What more shall I say about his book? He had started with
a good historical development of Pentecostal distinctive and introduced to a
rise of Pentecostalism from different parts of the world and then come to the
section of Pentecostal and Charismatic theology in context and started to
explain about the theology of the Spirit. He did not stop there, but he
continues on explaining about Mission, evangelism and eschatology of
Pentecosatlism. I came to realize that “Pentecostalism is the fastest growing religious
movement in the twentieth century and it is now found in almost every country
in the world (206).”
The uniqueness of this book is the comparison between
Pentecostals and the Bible. This makes me to give full credit to Anderson on
this particular area because he is not afraid to display the belief system or
theology of Pentecostalism to the whole world. When I read this particular
topic, Pentesostalism is based on the Bible which is so encouraging for us to
follow to their belief system about God and the Bible. When we look up from
their point of view about the Pentecostalism, we can fully understand how
Pentecostals and Charismatic people believe in the Bible.
This book is a great book and I really recommend to all
the believers to read and understand about what is it all about of
Pentecostalism. Furthermore, this book is a recommendable textbook for
Pentecostal and Charismatic theology and I suggest that all of the Bible
college and seminary students should have a copy of this one because it will help
them to understand more about Pentecostalism especially in their study and even
to their personal knowledge as well. On the other hands, it is also a
recommendable textbook for professors, lecturers and teachers of the Bible
College and seminary because it will help them to explain more about the
Pentecostalism by using this book. In facts, I was really happy about reading
historical background of my own country and I am sure that the same thing will
happen to those who will read this book and come to the point that where they
can see and understand about the historical background of their own Pentecostal
movement in their countries.
In conclusion, I really would like to convey my special
thank to Dr. Joel the one who allows me to critic of this particular book. In
order for me to say something about this book, I have read a lot and try to
understand what the author trying to say to people or to me. I have to confess
that I could not understand about everything that what the author wanted to
say, but I got some important information and know more knowledge about the
Pentecostalism. I am really happy and satisfied to make a book critic on this
book called “an Introduction to
Pentecostalism” by Allan Anderson.
By Gabriel
댓글
댓글 쓰기