Amos Yong - In the Days of Caesar: Pentecostalism and Political Theology

GENERAL EDITOR

Alan G. Padgett, Luther Seminary

EDITORIAL BOARD

Sally Bruyneel, Bethel University

Young Ho Chun, St. Paul School of Theology

Emmanuel Clapsis, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Gabriel Fackre, Andover Newton Theological School

Justo Gonzales, Hispanic Theological Initiative

S. Mark Heim, Andover Newton Theological School

Patrick Keifert, Luther Seminary

Anne H. King, University of St. Thomas

Anselm Kyongsuk Min, Claremont School of Theology

Michel Najim, St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church

William Placher, Wabash College

J. Randy Sachs, Weston Jesuit School of Theology

Robert J. Schreiter, Catholic Theological Union

John Stackhouse, Regent College

Miroslav Volf After Our Likeness

S. Mark Heim The Depth of the Riches

Telford Work Living and Active

Sigurd Bergmann Creation Set Free

Philip A. Rolnick Person, Grace, and God

Amos Yong In the Days of Caesar

Amos Yong

To

Jamie Smith

Proverbs 18:24b

xiii

xvii

Part I

On Pentecostalism and Political Theology: Setting the Stage

Part II

Pentecostal Intersections with Political Theology: Enacting the Performance

The original idea behind this book came from the prodding of my good friend, James K. A. Smith, who kept asking me when I was going to deal with the uncritical nationalism, consumerism, and political quiescence in many pentecostal circles. Then, the opportunity to engage with these topics in some depth arose when, in the fall of 2007, I received the invitation to deliver the Edward Cadbury Lectures in Theology at the University of Birmingham. I resolved then to work on a pentecostal contribution to the contemporary discussions in political theology, broadly conceived. Thanks, Jamie, for pushing me on these matters. Although I am sure there will be things about which we will disagree in the following pages, it will at least give us much to discuss. In gratitude for our friendship and brotherhood in Christ and the Spirit, I dedicate this book to you.

My thanks also to Allan Anderson at the University of Birmingham, who not only suggested me as Cadbury Lecturer, but also defended the choice to the Department of Theology and Religion of inviting a pentecostal theologian to deliver these prestigious lectures. Members of the Department - including Martin Stringer, David Cheetham, Garnet Parris, Marius C. Felderhof, Sigvard von Sicard, and Werner Ustorf - were kind and hospitable during my two-week stay in March 2009. Those who went above and beyond the call of duty in their hospitality included Edmond Tang, Mark Cartledge, and Frances Young; doctoral students KunJae Yu and Wessly Lukose (and his wife, Joyce); and Raymond Pfister (who was present at each of the eight lectures). Each of these as well as many other students and attendees have contributed to this book, particularly during the engaging question-and-answer period following each lecture. I am grateful finally to Sue Bowen for working out the logistical details of my trip and stay.

Portions of this book and earlier versions of some of the chapters were previously presented in various venues and forums. Thanks to:

Joel Halldorf and Jan-Ake Alvarsson - the former for his role in my being invited to be the Theological Faculty guest lecturer at the Forum for Advanced Studies in Arts, Languages and Theology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, 27 March 2oo8, when I delivered a preliminary version of chapter i under the title, "The Politics of Global Pentecostalism: Serving God or Mammon?" and both for the hospitality shown to me during my stay in Uppsala

Ogbu Kalu (unexpectedly deceased in January 2009), for the invitation as keynote lecturer for the Chicago Center for Global Ministries World Mission Institute, held at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois, 17-18 April 2008, where I presented "Many Tongues, Many Practices: Christian Mission Post-Christendom - From the Center to the Margins and In-Between," an earlier version of what is now parts of chapters 5 and 6 in this book

Mark Gornik and Manuel Vasquez - the former for the invitation to lecture at the "Local and Global: The Changing Church" Conference on World Christianity at City Seminary, New York City, 8 November 2oo8, where I unveiled an earlier draft of chapter 7, "Theology and Global Market Fundamentalism: Pentecostal W(h)ealth, Catholic Social Teaching, and the Quest for Human Liberation," and the latter for his comments in response to my talk that spurred me to develop my thinking on the informal economy

Paul F. Knitter and Serene Jones for their invitation to present my "Principalities, Powers, and Politics: Spiritual Warfare as Pentecostal Political Praxis" (as rough draft of chapter 4) at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, 20 November 2008.

In each case, there were also many insightful questions from members of these vastly disparate audiences that have shaped the final draft of this book.

I am also grateful to the following colleagues for their contributions to various aspects of the research for and writing and rewriting of this book:

Birgit Meyer, for making accessible a few of her more difficult-to-obtain essays and for sharing some of her unpublished and forthcoming work with me