Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Restoration: Multidisciplinary Studies from a Pentecostal Perspective

by Mittelstadt, Martin William; Sutton, Geoffrey W.

• ISBN13: 9781608991945
• ISBN10: 1608991946
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-08-01
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub

Summary

Although history is replete with tales of revenge, Christian forgiveness provides an alternate response. In this volume, Pentecostal scholars from various disciplines offer their vision for forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration. The essayists offer long-overdue Pentecostal perspectives through analysis of contemporary theological issues, personal testimony, and prophetic possibilities for restoration of individual relationships and communities. Though Pentecostals remain committed to Spirit-empowered witness as recorded in Luke-Acts, these scholars embrace a larger Lukan vision of Spirit-initiated inclusivity marked by reconciliation. The consistent refrain calls for forgiveness as an expression of God's love that does not demand justice but rather seeks to promote peace by bringing healing and reconciliation in relationships between people united by one Spirit.

Author Biography

Martin W. Mittelstadt (PhD, Marquette University) is Associate Professor of New Testament at Evangel University. His publications include The Spirit and Suffering in Luke-Acts (2004) and Reading Luke-Acts in the Pentecostal Tradition (2010). Geoffrey William Sutton (PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia) is Professor of Psychology at Evangel University. He is a consulting psychologist, lecturer, and author. He contributes articles on faith and psychology for various journals, and serves as a director on the International Board of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies.

Table of Contents

Series Preface	p. ix
List of Contributors	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Introduction: Pentecostal Perspectives on Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Restoration	p. xvii
A Theological Perspective
Pentecostals and the Gospel of Peace: Spirit and Reconciliation in Luke-Acts	p. 3
Literary Perspectives
Pentecostals, Postmodernism, and The Shack	p. 25
Art Imitates Life: Literary and Life Lessons about Death and Forgiveness	p. 43
Historical Perspectives
The Azusa Street Revival and Racial Reconciliation: An Afro-Pentecostal Perspective	p. 65
I'm Sorry, My Brother: A Reconciliation Journey	p. 89
From Forbidden Fire to a Different Spirit: A Pentecostal Approach to Interfaith Forgiveness and Reconciliation	p. 107
Psychological Perspectives
The Psychology of Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Restoration: Integrating Traditional and Pentecostal Theological Perspectives with Psychology	p. 125
Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa: A Pentecostal Perspective	p. 145
A Sociological Perspective
Public Acts of Forgiveness: What Happens When Canadian Churches and Governments Seek Forgiveness for Social Sins of the Past?	p. 177
An Educational Perspective
Learning Forgiveness and Reconciliation: A Model for Education for Peace in Rwanda	p. 199
Epilogue	p. 215
Modern Authors Index	p. 231
Subject Index	p. 236
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