It seems quite appropriate that a week before I fly out to South India I have just finished reading Michael Bergunder's excellent study of Pentecostalism in South India. At the end of the book he lists all 200+ people whom he interviewed as part of his study - after that much talking he must know something!
I was particularly interested in the ways that Pentecostalism has become contextualised within a Hindu context. Whereas in Africa Pentecostal churches sometimes appear as if they just landed last week from Pheonix Arizona, Indian Pentecostalism is very Indian - dare I say Hindu? Bergunder claims that, "the Pentecostals have taken over the demonology of popular Hinduism, with some slight differences", and "it is above all in their view of the causes of misfortune that south Indian Pentecostals come close to popular Hinduism". My years of pastoral ministry in Britain also suggest to me that it is when British Christians face misfortune that they too come fairly close to the gods of their pagan European religions.
Are we all really 'in the hands of the gods' or can we like suffering Job find a greater freedom in God?
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Mark, it seems very clear that different cultures express their faith in very different ways, and I guess "pentecostalism" or, God's Spirit moving in people's lives-when this is the real article, will be very different in different places. I am always a bit suspicious of stuff that just seems to emulate another culture. I remember how disappointed I was hearing boring old methodist hymns (no disrespect intended) being sung in the Ivory Coast when I was there in 1977! What a change happened when the people sang their own melodies!! The Spirit did move! I guess things have moved on a pace since then...and I have since met a few Ivorians here in the UK. We have so much to learn from other cultures and I revel in that. I just hope we can also maintain a genuine identity as the Spirit continues to move in people's lives as at Pentecost. Looking forward to hearing about your travels in India. Mark
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