a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

like ‘dialogue,’ ‘liberation’ and ‘humanization.’ 42 In his Missiological
Encyclopedia, Jongeneel discusses the differences between ‘missiology from
above and missiology from below’. According to him, ‘Spirit-centred missiology’
is a ‘missiology from above’ and ‘context-centred missiology’ is a ‘missiology
from below.’ 43 A contextual missiology of the Spirit includes both these
missiological aspects, ‘from above’ as well as ‘from below,’ as this model takes
into account the Spirit experiences of the community as well as their contexts,
both local and global. This model attempts to keep a balance between the
changing situations of the community as well as their Spirit experiences, as both
have their own influence in shaping the theology of Pentecostals.
6.2. Theological Reflection
Although there is unprecedented growth in the movement, Pentecostal missiology
is still developing. As the editors of Called and Empowered observed,
‘Pentecostal missiological literature has not kept pace with the explosive growth
of the Pentecostal churches worldwide.’ 44 However, it seems that what has
developed thus far shows that a Pentecostal missiology should be contextual. For
Pentecostals, theology is not acceptable without practice and, therefore, only a
practical and pragmatic theology will work for them. Since its inception,
Pentecostal theology has emerged out of practice and experience. Stephen Parker
42 Jongeneel and Engelen, ‘Contemporary Currents,’ 447.
43 Jongeneel, Philosophy, Science, and Theology, 181. He also includes many other missiologies
like God-centred, Christ-centred and church-centred missiologies as ‘missiologies from above.’
44 M.A. Dempster, B.D. Klaus, and D. Petersen, ‘Editor’s Introduction,’ in Called and
Empowered: Global Mission in Pentecostal Perspective, ed. M.A. Dempster, B.D. Klaus, and D.
Petersen (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1991), xv.
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