Overview

Fewer subjects have generated intense debate in Christian thought and practice than sacraments. A reductionist view of the term ""sacrament"" often causes this debate and engenders tension between the so-called ""sacramental"" and ""non-sacramental"" churches largely based on whether one views the Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper as ordinances or as sacraments (means of encountering God). Drawing from the theological view that Christ is the primordial sacrament of the encounter with God, this book posits that all believers are sacraments of an encounter with God. This claim has ecumenical import. Conversion, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Empowerment, Gifts, and Fruit of the Spirit, Worship, Testimonies of Triumphs or Sufferings, Eschatological Hope, etc., enable believers to manifest the Spirit. Pentecost inaugurated all believers as both macrocosmic and microcosmic sacrament(s). The notion of sacramentality of believers intersects with the theological triad of Orthodoxy, Orthopraxy, and Orthopathy.

Full Product Details

9781666706291

Table of Contents

Reviews

The theology of sacrament has been the sine qua non of so-called High Church worship practices since antiquity. Catholic, Orthodox, and Episcopal churches have a rich tradition of theological reflection on the meaning of the various sacraments. The Eucharist, for example, which is a weekly celebration for many Catholic and Protestant churches, has been the subject of ongoing christological and ecclesiological discussion and research. Despite the deep sacramental roots within these 'older church' traditions, the significance and meaning of sacrament have been given little attention in Pentecostal theological circles. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Mbanyane Mhango . . . seeks to offer Pentecostal pneumatological insights to sacraments grounded upon orthodoxy, orthopraxy, and orthopathy. This book is well overdue! --Clifton R. Clarke, Lecturer, Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Birmingham, United Kingdom Mbanyane Mhango's important work in the loving ministry of the Holy Spirit in the community of God is a groundbreaking text that revitalizes our understanding of the sacramentality of the church. This book should become a standard for faithful theological education. --Corne J. Bekker, Dean and Professor, Regent University School of Divinity Generally, Pentecostals are not too keen on talking about the sacraments. Mhango makes the sacraments so alive and relevant in the lives of believers that one would want to know more about the sacraments. He maintains that since believers manifest Christ in the presence of the Spirit in their lives, believers themselves are sacraments of God's Spirit in Christ. This is a significant contribution to scholarly discussion on the subject. --Opoku Onyinah, Cochair, Empowered21 Scholars Consultation

Author Information

Mbanyane Mhango has a PhD from Regent School of Divinity and is president of Pentecost Biblical Seminary in Wayne, New Jersey. He is an ordained minister of the Church of Pentecost.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available