Dance or Die

by Pilli, Toivo; Randall, Ian M.

• ISBN13: 9781606085998
• ISBN10: 1606085999
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-04-01
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub

Summary

This book focuses on the changes in the identity of Estonian Evangelical Christian-Baptists (ECB) during the Soviet years, 1945-1991. The author analyzed the influences that affected the life and self-understanding of the ECB churches in this most northernmost of the three Baltic countries. External pressures from the Soviet atheistic state and the internal dynamics of Estonian ECB churches are both considered and analyzed. Comparisons are drawn, which show both the similarities with the wider Evangelical world and uniqueness of a local Baptist identity. The book, based on extensive use of archive and other primary source materials, makes an especial contribution to the important emerging field of the study of Evangelicals in Eastern Europe.

Author Biography

Toivo Pilli is Lecturer in Estonian Church History, Baptist Theological Seminary, Tartu Estonia.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Acknowledgements	p. xiii
Abbreviations	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
The Beginnings of Estonian Free Churches	p. 1
The Focus of This Study	p. 5
Sources and Method	p. 7
The Structure of This Study	p. 10
Conclusion	p. 11
External Pressures on Identity
Adjusting to New Patterns: 1945-1959	p. 15
A Prelude to 1945	p. 16
The Formation of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in Estonia	p. 20
Estonian Evangelical Christians-Baptists and the Atheistic State	p. 25
The UECBE and the AUCECB	p. 31
Church Life, the Role of the Union Office and Leadership	p. 34
Merger of Local Churches	p. 38
Theological Distance Learning Courses: 1956-1960	p. 42
Conclusion	p. 44
From a Thunderstorm to Still Life: 1959-1972	p. 47
From Khrushchev to Brezhnev	p. 47
Keeping the Positions	p. 53
Identity and the Loss of Numbers	p. 57
The Echoes of the All-Union Split in Estonia	p. 60
The Senior Presbyter and His Team	p. 65
Some Influences through the Iron Curtain	p. 71
Conclusion	p. 74
Light at the End of the Tunnel: 1972-1985	p. 77
Peaceful Resistance	p. 78
Maintaining Identity through Literature and Music	p. 84
Evangelistic Efforts	p. 90
Christian Youth Work Revived	p. 95
Between State and Church: Senior Presbyter Robert Võsu	p. 100
Conclusion	p. 103
Opening Doors: 1985-1991	p. 105
Changes in Soviet Religious Policy	p. 105
Estonian Baptists, the State and Society	p. 108
Theological Education	p. 113
Publishing Activities	p. 119
Work among Children and Youth	p. 120
Proclaiming the Word	p. 122
Social Work	p. 127
Organisational Changes and Challenges	p. 129
Conclusion	p. 133
Internal Dynamics of Identity
Ecclesiological Perspectives: Unity out of Diversity	p. 137
Personal Conversion and the Believers' Church	p. 138
Voluntary Church, Committed Members	p. 140
Baptism of Believers: A Prerequisite for Church Membership?	p. 145
The Lord's Supper: Open or Closed Table?	p. 153
Worship and Ministry in Local Congregations	p. 157
Conclusion	p. 161
Word and Spirit: A Creative Tension	p. 165
A Search for Stability in the Word	p. 166
Understanding and Applying the Word	p. 170
Preaching the Word, Trusting the Spirit	p. 176
Holy Spirit - Power for Spiritual Life	p. 180
Manifestations of the Spirit	p. 183
Conclusion	p. 188
A Common Goal: Evangelism and Mission	p. 191
An Evangelistic Vision Inherited from the Past	p. 192
Revivalist Theology	p. 196
The 'New Birth' as a Central Theological Concept	p. 200
Personal or Campaign Evangelism?	p. 203
Lifestyle Evangelism and Servant Spirit	p. 208
Evangelism of the Church or Mission of God?	p. 212
Conclusion	p. 216
Bearing Fruit: Challenges in Ethics	p. 219
A Sanctified Life - From the Inside Out	p. 220
Ethical Life in the Midst of Persecution	p. 224
Christ-like Discipleship	p. 228
Church Discipline and Christian Ethics	p. 234
Virtue Ethics and Rule Ethics	p. 239
Conclusion	p. 245
Conclusion	p. 249
Estonian Baptist Identity: External Influences	p. 249
The Internal Dynamics of Identity	p. 254
The Wider Context	p. 259
Conclusion	p. 262
Bibliography	p. 263
General Index	p. 287
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