Pentecostalism and Anti-Intellectualism
Although I no longer consider myself a Pentecostal, I have spent about half of my life belonging to Pentecostal churches and, despite the problems I have with several areas of Pentecostal theology, I think there is much that non-charismatic evangelicals can learn from their Pentecostal brothers in Christ. I especially value the fervor for missions and evangelism and the desire to live a life completely in submission to God that I see in many of my Pentecostal friends. One thing, though, that has always bothered me about Pentecostalism is its almost universal (at least in my experience) lack of emphasis on systematic theology and the life of the mind in general. I was very pleased, therefore, when I came across this interview from Christianity Today. The interview is with Rick Nanez, an Assemblies of God minister and missionary to Ecuador, who wrote the book Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?. In the interview, he critiques the prevailing anti-intellectualism and is honest about why Pentecostalism is especially vulnerable to it, although it is definitely a problem for much of today’s Church.
This man has my whole-hearted support, appreciation, and prayers for his work. We all stand to benefit from the increase of more logical and biblical ways of thinking.
(HT: The Christian Mind)