Pentecostals and Nonviolence: Reclaiming a Heritage

Synopsis: Pentecostals and Nonviolence explores how a distinctly Pentecostal-charismatic peace witness might be reinvigorated and sustained in the twenty-first century. To do so, the book examines the nature of the early Pentecostal commitment to nonviolence, and investigates the possibilities that might emerge from Pentecostals and Anabaptists entering into conversation and worship with each other. Contributors engage the arguments surrounding the heritage of Pentecostal pacifism in the United States and then move toward exploring nonviolence and peacemaking as crucial for contemporary Christianity as a whole. Ranging from theology, testimony, and pastoral ministry to interchurch relations, activism, and protest, this diverse collection of essays challenge and invite the whole church to the task of peacemaking while exploring the distinctive, and often neglected, contributions from the Pentecostal-charismatic tradition. Endorsements: "This book reflects and reveals the emergence of an already powerful and potentially monumental development in global Pentecostalism. A growing number of Pentecostals are rediscovering their own early tradition of nonviolent peacemaking grounded in their passionate desire to follow Jesus without compromise. If even a quarter of today's six hundred million Pentecostals would combine Jesus' call to nonviolent peacemaking with the explosive power of Pentecost, the demons would tremble, the Church would flourish, and the world would rejoice. This important book offers exciting clues about how that might happen." --Ron Sider, Founder of Evangelicals for Social Action "It's coming! Pentecostals and Nonviolence retrieves and describes a neglected history of pentecostal peacemaking; and as such, it serves as an important preliminary step to prescribing biblical peacemaking. It's coming! The seeds of such a normative pentecostal vision of peacemaking are being nurtured in this book. It's coming! A prophetic pentecostal theology of peacemaking and social justice so desperately needed for the second largest Christian movement in the world. Maybe it's here! Take up this book, read, and decide for yourself." --Amos Yong, Professor of Theology, Regent University School of Divinity "One name stands out when the subject of pacifism surfaces among Pentecostals today: Paul Alexander. As this book demonstrates, many early Pentecostals took their relationship to the state seriously, but made it clear that on biblical and conscience grounds they were not willing to bear arms or participate in the killing of enemy combatants. Alexander has gathered a first-rate cast of authors to address this issue that has all but disappeared from memory." --Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., Professor of Church History and Ecumenics, Fuller Theological Seminary "Pentecostals and Nonviolence documents . . . and charts a way forward for pentecostal pacifism. One need not be a pacifist (I'm not) or agree with every statement in this book (I don't) to recognize the important challenge it poses to Pentecostals' all-too-easy affirmation of our nation's wars." --George Paul Wood, Director of Ministerial Resourcing, Assemblies of God Author Biography: Paul Alexander is Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Policy at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University and Director of Public Policy at Evangelicals for Social Action in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. His books include Peace to War (2009) and Christ at the Checkpoint (2012).