Schisms within Congolese Pentecostalism Towards a Biblical Response
Major upheavals in Christianity, such as the reformation and various revival movements, have been characterised by schisms—a reality that also extends to the Pentecostal movement in the Congo. The increase of splits and division among churches that hold to a high view of the Spirit, in the Congolese...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
Published: |
2021
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In: |
Missionalia
Year: 2021, Volume: 49, Pages: 42-59 |
IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament KBN Sub-Saharan Africa KDG Free church NBG Pneumatology; Holy Spirit RB Church office; congregation |
Further subjects: | B
Charismatic
B Unity B DR Congo B Schisms B CEM B Division B Pentecostal B Katanga B Spirit |
Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
Summary: | Major upheavals in Christianity, such as the reformation and various revival movements, have been characterised by schisms—a reality that also extends to the Pentecostal movement in the Congo. The increase of splits and division among churches that hold to a high view of the Spirit, in the Congolese context, has become a great concern for both Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal Christians. In this paper, the sacerdotal prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 17) and the communal life of the first Pentecostal congregation (Acts 2) serve as the bases for developing a biblical response to the challenge of schisms among Pentecostal/Charismatic churches in Lubumbashi, Congo. This paper demonstrates some of the causes behind the schisms in both the biblical (1 Corinthians 1 and 3) and Congolese contexts, while underlining a biblical response to this continuous malaise. It employs Osmer’s (2008) model as a framework of reflection. Coming from an insider’s perspective, this paper contributes to the conversation around denominational schisms within the Pentecostal churches in both central and southern Africa. |
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ISSN: | 2312-878X |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Missionalia
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.7832/49-0-408 |