Hearing God's Voice.

Hearing God's Voice.

"The revelatory experience or in common parlance, "hearing God's voice," is prized by Pentecostal-Charismatic Christians for its contribution to spirituality, yet remains one of the most problematic areas of church life. Theological tensions and pastoral fallout have plagued the...

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Bibliographic Details
Superior document:Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies ; v.47
:
Harris, Tania M.
Place / Publishing House:Boston : : BRILL,, 2023.
©2024.
Year of Publication:2023
Edition:1st ed.
Language:English
Series:Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies
Physical Description:1 online resource (308 pages)
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Table of Contents:
  • Front Cover
  • Half Title
  • Series Information
  • Title Page
  • Copyright Page
  • Contents
  • Acknowledgements
  • Author's Note
  • List of Figures
  • Part 1 Introduction to the Revelatory Experience
  • Chapter 1 God Speaks Back: Hearing God's Voice in the Pentecostal Tradition
  • 1 What Do Pentecostals Mean by Hearing God's Voice?
  • 1.1 Experiential, Extra-biblical, Unmediated and "High-Level" Revelation
  • 1.2 Phenomenological Equivalency with the Biblical Experience
  • 1.3 Universal Accessibility Distinct from Specialist Gift of Prophecy
  • 2 The Ministry Impact of Contemporary Pentecostal Revelatory Experience
  • 2.1 Ministry Outcomes
  • 2.2 Pastoral Fallout
  • 2.3 Institutional Instability
  • 3 The Theological Problem of Spirit versus Scripture
  • 4 Neglect in the Academy
  • 4.1 Lack of Connection to the Spirit's Outpouring at Pentecost
  • 4.2 Focus on the Gift of Prophecy
  • 4.3 Rejection of Dream-Visions as a Revelatory Mode
  • 5 Aim of the Study
  • 6 Outline of the Book
  • Chapter 2 Cessationism Meets Continuationism: Four Theological Frameworks for Contemporary Revelatory Experience
  • 1 The Pentecostal Tradition
  • 1.1 Pentecostalism in Australia
  • 1.2 Pentecostal Distinctives
  • 2 The Evangelical Tradition
  • 3 Four Theological Frameworks
  • 3.1 Contemporary Revelatory Experience as Ceased
  • 3.2 Contemporary Revelatory Experience as Phenomenologically Inferior
  • 3.2.1 Acceptance in the Pentecostal-Charismatic Tradition
  • 3.2.2 Alternate Distinctions
  • 3.2.3 Problems with the Phenomenologically Inferior Position
  • 3.3 Contemporary Revelatory Experience as Phenomenologically Equivalent with Scripture as Redundant
  • 3.4 Contemporary Revelatory Experience as Phenomenologically Equivalent with Scripture as Final and Permanent Testament to Revelation
  • 4. Summary.
  • Chapter 3 Bridging the Gap between Theology and Practice: A Study in Three Churches
  • 1 The 'Ordinary Theology' of Revelatory Experience
  • 1.1 Mark Cartledge's Concept of Dialectic
  • 1.2 Jeff Astley's "Ordinary Theology"
  • 1.3 David Martin's Concept of "Rescripting"
  • 1.4 Epistemological Assumptions
  • 1.4.1 The Use of Testimonies
  • 1.4.2 A Critical Realist Epistemology
  • 1.5 An Insider Perspective
  • 2 Study Design
  • 2.1 Data Collection
  • 2.1.1 Semi-structured Interviews
  • 2.1.2 Focus Groups
  • 2.1.3 Participant Observation
  • 2.2 The Sample
  • 2.3 Data Presentation and Analysis
  • 2.3.1 Sociological Analysis
  • 2.3.2 Theological Analysis
  • 2.4 Study Limitations
  • Part 2 Hearing God in Sociological Perspective
  • Chapter 4 From Acquaintance to Partner: The Social Dynamics of Revelatory Experience
  • 1 The Content of Revelatory Experiences among Australian Pentecostals
  • 1.1 Personal and Particular
  • 1.2 New and Previously Unknown Information
  • 2 Charles Glock and Rodney Stark's Taxonomy of Religious Experience
  • 2.1 Glock and Stark's Theory and Other Pentecostal Studies
  • 3 The Sociological Nature of Revelatory Experience
  • 3.1 The Relational Development of Revelatory Experience
  • 3.2 The Disruptive Nature of Revelatory Experience
  • 3.3 Power Shifts in Relational Development
  • 3.4 The Role of Discernment in Maintaining Institutional Stability
  • 3.5 Discernment as an Act of Power
  • 4 Reflection on Glock and Stark's Theory
  • 5 Summary
  • Chapter 5 A World in Continuity with the Early Church: Hearing God in the Local Community
  • 1 Approach to Revelatory Experience in Three Pentecostal Churches
  • 1.1 Introducing Church A
  • 1.1.1 General Approach to Revelatory Experiences
  • 1.1.2 Facilitation and Training
  • 1.1.3 Regulatory Processes
  • 1.2 Introducing Church B
  • 1.2.1 General Approach to Revelatory Experiences.
  • 1.2.2 Facilitation and Training
  • 1.2.3 Regulatory Processes
  • 1.3 Introducing Church C
  • 1.3.1 General Approach to Revelatory Experiences
  • 1.3.2 Facilitation and Training
  • 1.3.3 Regulatory Processes
  • 1.4 The Frequency of High-Level Revelatory Experiences
  • 2 Peter Berger's Theory of World Construction
  • 3 The Social World of Three Churches
  • 3.1 A World in Continuity with the Early Church
  • 3.2 The Language of Pentecostal Revelatory Experience
  • 3.3 Legitimations in the Pentecostal World
  • 3.3.1 Public Rites and Rituals
  • 3.3.2 Testimonies and the Use of Scripture
  • 3.3.3 Formal Teaching and Training
  • 3.4 Regulatory Controls in the Pentecostal World
  • 4 Reflection on Berger's Theory
  • 5 Summary
  • Part 3 A Close Theological Analysis of Revelatory Experience
  • Introduction to Part 3
  • Introduction to Niels Hvidt and the Catholic Tradition
  • Chapter 6 Does God Have Anything More to Say? The Content and Function of Revelatory Experience
  • 1 The Content and Function of Revelatory Experiences among Australian Pentecostals
  • 1.1 Build "Personal Relationship" with God
  • 1.2 A Vehicle of Divine Presence
  • 1.3 Provision of Divine Care and Protection
  • 1.4 Personal Transformation and Sanctification
  • 1.5 Revelation of "God's Plan"
  • 1.6 Mobilisation to Ministry and Mission
  • 2 Niels Hvidt: Christological Content and Function
  • 2.1 Material and Formal Revelation
  • 2.2 The Actualisation of Doctrine
  • 3 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 3.1 The Limits of "New" Revelatory Content
  • 3.2 The Future-Orientation of Revelatory Content
  • 3.3 The Christocentric Function of Revelatory Experience
  • 3.4 The Role of Revelatory Experience in the Development of Doctrine
  • 4 Summary
  • Chapter 7 Hearing God's Voice: Dream-Visions, Voices and Senses
  • 1 Revelatory Modes among Australian Pentecostals
  • 1.1 Voices
  • 1.2 Dreams and Visions.
  • 1.3 Sensory Impressions
  • 1.4 Scripture
  • 1.5 "Creative/Experiential" Use of Scripture
  • 1.6 Teaching via Sermons, Books and Religious Material
  • 1.7 Prophecy
  • 1.8 The Counsel of Others
  • 1.9 Circumstances
  • 1.10 Nature
  • 2 Niels Hvidt: Historic Concepts of Revelation
  • 3 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 3.1 Modes of Revelation
  • 3.2 Legitimacy of Revelatory Modes
  • 4 Summary
  • Chapter 8 Recognising God's Voice: How Did They Know It Was God?
  • 1 The Epistemological Reliability of Revelatory Experience
  • 1.1 Epistemological Reliability of Revelatory Experience among Australian Pentecostals
  • 1.2 Niels Hvidt: the Mixed Nature of Revelatory Experience
  • 1.3 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 2 Discernment Criteria for Revelatory Experience
  • 2.1 Discernment Criteria for Revelatory Experience among Australian Pentecostals
  • 2.1.1 The Scriptures
  • 2.1.2 The Character of God
  • 2.1.3 Emotional Impact
  • 2.1.4 "Otherness" of the Voice
  • 2.1.5 Substantiation of Previously Unknown Information
  • 2.1.6 Secondary Revelatory Experiences
  • 2.1.7 Agreement of Friends, Family and Leaders
  • 2.2 Niels Hvidt: Three Criteria for Discernment in the Catholic Tradition
  • 2.3 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 2.3.1 Scripture and God's Character and Personhood
  • 2.3.2 The Role of the Community
  • 2.3.3 Spiritual Outcomes
  • 3 Responsibility for Discernment
  • 3.1 Responsibility for Discernment among Australian Pentecostals
  • 3.2 Niels Hvidt: Responsibility for Discernment in the Catholic Tradition
  • 3.3 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 4 Summary
  • Chapter 9 Responding to God's Voice: The Faithfulness of God and the Unfaithfulness of Humanity
  • 1 Responses to God's Voice among Australian Pentecostals
  • 2 Niels Hvidt: Experience as Divine Imperative
  • 3 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 3.1 The Response of Obedience.
  • 3.2 Interaction of Divine Fulfilment and Human Free Will
  • 4 Summary
  • Summary: The Theology and Practice of Revelatory Experiences among Australian Pentecostals
  • Part 4 The Relationship of Contemporary Revelatory Experience to the Theology of Scripture
  • Introduction to Part 4
  • Chapter 10 The Communicating Spirit: Inspired Experiences and Inspired Scripture
  • 1 Charles Kraft's Communication Model for Inspiration
  • 2 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 2.1 The Efficacy of Divine Communication
  • 2.2 The Personalised Nature of Revelatory Experiences
  • 2.3 Use of Biblical Narratives as Models
  • 3 Summary
  • Chapter 11 Is This a Trick Question? The Site of Divine Authority
  • 1 James K.A. Smith's Work on Textualization and Orality
  • 2 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 2.1 The Authority of Revelatory Experience
  • 2.2 The Tension between Orality and Textuality in Pentecostal Communities
  • 2.3 The Meaning of the Phrase "Word of God"
  • 3 Summary
  • Chapter 12 The Epistemological Role of Revelatory Experience in Spiritual Development
  • 1 James K.A. Smith's Work on the Epistemology of Pentecostal Experience
  • 2 Rescripting Ordinary Theology
  • 2.1 The Role of Revelatory Experience in Relational and Spiritual Development
  • 2.2 The Element of Divine Authority in Transformation
  • 2.3 The Epistemology of Revelatory Experience and Scriptural Study
  • 3 Summary
  • Summary: The Relationship of Contemporary Revelatory Experience to the Theology of Scripture
  • Part 5 Hearing God's Voice Today
  • Chapter 13 The Theology and Practice of "Hearing God's Voice"
  • 1 Towards a Theology of Contemporary Pentecostal Revelatory Experience
  • 1.1 The Basis for Phenomenological Equivalency
  • 1.2 The Content and Function of Revelatory Experience
  • 1.3 The Process of Revelatory Experience
  • 1.3.1 Hearing God's Voice
  • 1.3.2 Recognising God's Voice.
  • 1.3.3 Responding to God's Voice.

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