Pentecostal power: Discipleship as political engagement

Pentecostalism has often been accused of being withdrawn from social and political concerns due to, amongst other things, a dual emphasis on personal salvation and individual discipleship. In this paper, I suggest that far from simply being an inwardly ecclesial occupation, the process of ‘making disciples’ is a political activity that impacts public life, that is the life of communities and nations. While some Pentecostals may be reluctant to see discipleship in political terms, I will argue that the history of the movement testifies to the work of the Spirit as being political. I will suggest that in Pentecostalism we see a political movement of the Spirit that opposes unjust structures within the church in order to usher in spiritual, social and political liberation for those beyond the church. I will consider the unique contributions Pentecostalism makes to political engagement through its development of conscious leaders and disciples from typically underprivileged communities. I will end with a reflection on facing conflict particularly in the area of ethnic and cultural difference which continues to be a theological and political challenge for Pentecostals and churches more broadly.