Christ-Centered: The Evangelical Nature of Pentecostal Theology

by Robert P. Menzies

Publisher:

Cascade Books

, 2020

Overview

Pentecostals are often portrayed as emotional people who are driven largely by experience. In Christ-Centered, Menzies argues that this caricature misses the fact that Pentecostals are fundamentally “people of the book.” Although Pentecostals encourage spiritual experience, they do so with a constant eye to Scripture. The Bible, and particularly the book of Acts, fosters and shapes pentecostal experience. Additionally, Pentecostals are defined by their emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. At its heart, the pentecostal movement is not Spirit-centered, but rather Christ-centered. The work of the Spirit, as Pentecostals understand it, centers on exalting and bearing witness to the Lordship of Christ. Menzies develops these themes by examining the origins, biblical foundations, and missional orientation of the modern pentecostal movement. He concludes that, in spite of contradictory messages from some in fundamentalist pews and the pentecostal academy, Pentecostals are and have always been solidly evangelical.

Key Features

• Serves as a call to remember the links that have always bound together Pentecostal believers and their Evangelical brothers and sisters
• Explores the strong convictions that birthed the Pentecostal movement and continue to form its foundation
• Seeks to provide a clearer understanding of Pentecostal Theology by reflecting on its origins, its foundations, its trajectory and its future

Contents

Part I - Pentecostal Theology: Its Evangelical Origins

• R. A. Torrey’s Enduring Theological Legacy: The Pentecostal Movement

Part II – Pentecostal Theology: Its Evangelical Foundations

• Baptism in the Holy Spirit: A Prophetic Empowering
• Glossolalia: Paul’s Perspective
• Signs and Wonders: Celebrating God's Kingdom

Part III - Pentecostal Theology: Its Evangelical Trajectory

• Jesus. Intimacy, and Language
• Missional Spirituality: A Pentecostal Contribution to Spiritual Formation

Part IV - Pentecostal Theology: Its Evangelical Future

• The Nature of Pentecostal Theology: A Response to Kärkkäinen and Yong

Praise for Christ-Centered

Menzies rightly reminds us that Pentecostals are people of both word and Spirit, all the more evangelical in mission because we are pentecostal in experience. That is our history and our grassroots identity, from which we are severed only at our own peril. This book’s message is crucial at a time like this, when both some evangelicals and some Pentecostals seem reluctant to embrace our shared heritage and mission.

Craig S. Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary

Here, a notable pentecostal scribe . . . cuts a mediating path between extremes of fundamentalism and ecumenism to substantiate the essential evangelical nature of Pentecostalism ever since its origin. The book augments Menzies’ earlier publications, firmly establishing him among leading pentecostal theologians. . . . A pentecostal missionary-author, you could say, after the order of Lesslie Newbigin.

Russell P. Spittler, Fuller Theological Seminary

In Korea, Pentecostals have been at odds with evangelicals, particularly with regard to the work of the Spirit. Both groups are largely unaware of the close ties that unite them in their basic Christian beliefs. I am confident that Christ-Centered will help both parties better understand each other and how much they have in common.

Dongsoo Kim, Pyeongtaek University

Product Details

• Title: Christ-Centered: The Evangelical Nature of Pentecostal Theology
• Author: Robert P. Menzies
• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Print Publication Date: 2020
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 166
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Pentecostalism; Evangelicalism; Bible. N.T. › Theology; Jesus Christ › Biblical teaching; Holy Spirit › Biblical teaching
• ISBNs: 9781725267824, 9781725267831, 9781725267848, 1725267829, 1725267837, 1725267845
• Resource ID: LLS:CHRSTCNTRDVNGTH
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-11-27T19:30:40Z

About Robert P. Menzies

Robert P. Menzies is Lecturer in New Testament and Director of the China Studies Program at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, Baguio City, Philippines.