An Unfair Critique of Pentecostalism: Did Jesus Wear Designer Robes?
The Global Conversation, a partnership between Christianity Today and The Lausanne Movement, features Redeeming Prosperity by one Peter L. Berger, which is actually a response to an article by one Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu titled Did Jesus Wear Designer Robes?
The article portrays “The Prosperity Gospel” as a “co-extensive” of the Pentecostal community:
Its message can be simply stated: Material betterment will be the result of faith. Asamoah-Gyadu, along with many commentators in Africa and elsewhere, interprets this message as a distortion of Christian faith, an unholy mixture of Western materialism and traditional magic. As to those who preach the message, they are exploiters of the poor, latter-day successors of the salesmen of indulgences, whose excesses sparked the 16th century Protestant Reformation: “As soon as the coin hits the collection plate, a soul jumps out of purgatory.”
Peter L. Berger observes:
The Pentecostal community is vast, according to some estimates (which lump it in with the broader group of charismatic Christians) containing some 600 million adherents worldwide. It would be surprising if there were no differences within this enormous population.
Berger went on to point out that adherents of the prosperity message are “a small minority within the mass of Pentecostals” (read full article…).
Now we must convince the unsuspecting that Jesus didn’t actually wear designer robes.
I think John had the special robes. Jesus just had a special shirt.
Chuck, I wonder what made the shirt “special”?
Adam Clarke: Our Lord was now in the grand office of high priest, and was about to offer the expiatory victim for the sin of the world. And it is worthy of remark that the very dress he was in was similar to that of the Jewish high priest. The following is the description given of his dress by Josephus, Ant. b. iii. c. 7, s. 4: “Now this coat (χιτων) was not composed of two pieces, nor was it sewed together upon the shoulders and sides, but it was one long vestment, so woven as to have an opening for the neck; not an oblique one, but parted all along the back and breast; it was also parted where the hands were to come out.” A little before, the same author says, that “the high priest had a long robe of a blue color, which hung down to the feet, and was put over all the rest.” It is likely that this was the same with that upper garment which the soldiers divided among them, it being probably of a costly stuff.”
I think, however, I’ve confused John with James the Just.
Thanks, Chuck. You’re the man. But there’s the irony: Jesus was about to give his all – unlike our modern day peddlers.
I’m a Pentecostal and quite satisfied in that … and I’ve never sat under a pastor who taught a prosperity doctrine. There was a guy in California, but I left that church for that and many other reasons.
Maybe its not as prevelant in US Pentecostalism?
You mean he didn’t wear designer robes?
I bet he does now!
BT,
Good for you. Perhaps it’s not as prevalent.
Peter,
You mean he was waiting for BT to leave?
the important part of the essay is the statement that the prosperity gospel people are only a small small segment of the Pentecostal tradition – most oar Christ centered Spirit filled people who want nothing to do with the prosperity gospel.
ps, according to stats, Pentecostal churches are the only ones with any present significant growth in the American church.
Brian,
Yes, that statement was the stand ou one for me as well. So what is behind this significant growth?
Pentecostalism speaks to people in their situations – especially the disempowered or disenfranchised (the poor and the oppressed) – they go from powerless to empowered by the Holy Spirit who then enables them to have the ability to overcome their dismpowered or disenfranchised situation… simply put, the Pentecostal message (properly dictated) speaks to people where they are at.
ps. Pentecostalism has effectively moved it loci from the US to the Southern Hemisphere (Asia, SA, Africa, India, Etc) as has much of the concentration of Christianity. It’s not just “the white man’s religion” any more.
Pentecostalism as a whole is not understood by most people. (Ex. when you walk into an AoG, then a Word of Faith they both have a different feel). People just make generalizations based on their perceptions of televangelists and fail to see the richness and depth in pentecostal/charismatic theology.
Speaking to the people more so than other denominations?
Well, I’ve been following the growth of Christianity in Africa. But I’ve also heard of Pentecostalism’s growth England.
Kevin,
It was quite educational for me to learn that the Prosperity peddlers were just a small minority of the denomination.
yes, I think more than other denoms, especially overseas.
Well, one of the critiques of Pentecostalisms is that it appeals more to the poorer and therefore Third World nations. Perhaps because of what you outlined above.
Hey it’s been a while, this is a little off topic, but the International House of Prayer University in Kansas City has been experiencing an outpouring of the Holy Spirit for about a week now. It’s being streamed every night from 6pm to midnight central time at Ihop.org.
There are some similarities to the Lakeland Outpouring, but much calmer and with a much more stable leadership. No Bam’s or knocking people down. A lot of worship, prayer and testimonies of healing and salvation.
Yes, it’s been a while. But it is always good to have a praise report. God knows that we need an outpouring. Be bless.