-
The Reformed-Wesleyan Divide
Reflect on these questions and share your thoughts:
- Out of the two views on sanctification presented here, which do you believe makes better sense within the broader framework of Pentecostal theology? Which better fits within the Pentecostal worldview we have discussed thus far in the course?
- Do you believe that doctrinal division over issues like sanctification made the splintering of the Pentecostal movement into disparate denominations inevitable? Or could this have been avoided? Explain your reasoning.
-
1 Reply
-
I believe that the Wesleyan view of sactification fits better within the Pentecostal worldview. Maybe I’m biased, because that is also my view on sanctification, but the Pentecostal emphasis on the power of the Holy Spirit aligns because that is essentially what Wesleyan sanctification is all about. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, the ongoing process, that sanctifies us. We encounter the Living God repeatedly, not just once.
I also personally believe that the splintering of Pentecostalism was inevitable, whether it would have been due to this issue or another issue. Pentecostalism is a fairly new movement, at least in terms of being a distinct denomination, and any time something grows, especially this fast, there will be growing pains. The way that we interpret the Bible, the way that we form our theology, it is highly personal even if we may pretend it is not. Things like church trauma, legalism, personal testimony, cultural backgrounds, and exponentially more factors will all impact our beliefs. It is not easy to get a big group of people to agree on what to order for dinner, let alone how to practice an entire faith.
Log in to reply.