Releasing the Captives for the Kingdom: The Challenge of Developing a Pentecostal Theology of Social Justice in the North American Context

Abstract

<p>This thesis offers a contribution to the development of a North American Pentecostal theology of social justice. It examines the nature of the early Pentecostalism and its approach to social issues as well as the subsequent diminishment of attention given to them. This thesis argues that Pentecostalism abandoned its early social emphasis in part due to their self imposed submission to Fundamentalism and later to the new Evangelicalism. As a result, Pentecostals never developed on their early social impulses and failed to create a theology of social justice. This thesis responds to that lacuna by arguing for the holistic nature of the gospel which includes social action in the mission of the Church and is thus applicable to the Pentecostal theology of Spirit empowerment for service. The Kingdom of God is then presented as the necessary theological concept to understand meaningful social change within history. Through such an approach Pentecostals can develop a truly Pentecostal theology of social justice using their own history and theology as resources.</p>