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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Superior document: | Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies ; v.47 |
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Place / Publishing House: | Boston : : BRILL,, 2023. ©2024. |
Year of Publication: | 2023 |
Edition: | 1st ed. |
Language: | English |
Series: | Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies
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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.