So, surveying pentecostal worship and spirituality James suggests that the following features characterize the pentecostal worldview (what follows are quotations, emphases in the original, from page 12):
1. A position of radical openness to God, and in particular, God doing something differently or new...No doubt, if you have experience with pentecostal or charismatic traditions, you might have some questions or comments about this list. Two quick points. First, I don't think James is trying to be comprehensive. And second, this list has an aspirational quality about it. These features represent what the pentecostal and charismatic worldview should and could be.
2. An "enchanted" theology of creation and culture that perceives the material creation as "charged" with the presence of the Spirit, but also with other spirits (including demons and "principalities and powers"), with entailed expectation regarding both miracles and spiritual warfare.
3. A nondualistic affirmation of embodiment and materiality expressed in an emphasis on physical healing...
4. ...[R]ooted in an affective, narrative epistemology.
5. An eschatological orientation to mission and justice, both expressed in terms of empowerment, with a certain "preferential option for the marginalized."
Regardless, this list does do an excellent job in capturing what I've found distinctive and valuable at Freedom Fellowship, the charismatic community I worship with.
Radical openness to God. Enchantment. Embodiment. Affective. Narrative. An eschatological orientation regarding justice. Tthe preferential option for the poor.
In the coming posts I'll be working through these features in more detail.
