Changing face of world Christianity

When Sarah Palin was tapped by John McCain to be his vice presidential running mate, he turned loose a huge interest in life here in the Matanuska Valley. Reporters from around the world descended upon us. I have personally talked to over 25 reporters and film makers. Our Valley is getting world-wide publicity beyond imagination.

Over much of the past few weeks we have had incredibly beautiful weather. Reporters have ooohed and aaahed. Early snow has made all of our surrounding mountains newly white. The temperatures are refreshingly nippy. Only a film maker from Brazil thought the temperatures were too cool. Alaska tourism should be given a significant boost by the glowing reports that are covering the world.

Of course, every conversation began by centering on our engaging governor. In trying to understand Sarah Palin, paths led reporters to two churches, her present church home, Wasilla Bible Church, and the church that nurtured her for 20 years, Wasilla Assembly of God.

Reporters found that here in our Valley, Fundamentalism and Pentecostalism are mainstream. Traditional denominations like Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Roman Catholics were lesser lights. The vigor of the Pentecostals is especially noteworthy.

What is going on?

The truth is that a dramatic change has taken place in world Christianity during the past century. Church life here in the Matanuska Valley reflects the change. Church historians and sociologists are late in their investigations and writings.

The movement does not have a single figure at which to point. From the perspective of those involved, it is a movement of God’s Spirit, not a movement of human beings.

In an attempt to understand the movement, historians are pointing to a street revival at 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles in 1906. A mighty outpouring of God’s Spirit is reported.

Everyone began speaking in strange tongues and many healings of diseases were reported. The Los Angeles Times ridiculed what was happening and mainstream Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians wanted no part of the strange behaviors.

However, this highly individual, exciting experience of faith has spread and persisted. The movement hit the big time after World War II with the emergence of high-profile evangelists such as Oral Roberts, Jim Bakker, and Jimmy Swaggart. During the last half of the 20th century Pentecostal denominations and churches grew dramatically.

The movement is characterized by individual spiritual experiences, speaking in tongues, faith healings and high emotions. The movement gave birth to a whole new genre of spirited music that has invaded the most staid Christian churches. Participation is almost irresistible.

Scholars, who are now studying the Pentecostal movement, are pointing to an earlier movement in Brazil.

Around the turn of the 20th century a similar outbreak of Pentecostal fervor broke out with the same characteristics— speaking in tongues, faith healings, emotion-filled worship. The two movements, Azusa Street and Brazil, appear to be unrelated. Those inside the Pentecostal movement see it as a well-coordinated movement authored by God’s Spirit.

Dr. Philip Jenkins, a church historian at Penn State University, has become a primary observer of the Pentecostal movement. His book, “The Next Christendom, the Coming of Global Christianity,” was published in 2002. In significant detail he has traced what is happening.

The greatest spread of the Christian faith in history is taking place. The spread is found in the south hemisphere. Central and South America, Africa and Asia are exploding with Pentecostal Christianity. In the south hemisphere the Pentecostal population is approaching one billion.

Along side the growth of Pentecostal Christians in the south hemisphere, Roman Catholics are also growing rapidly. However, it is not the same kind of Catholicism that we know here in America or in Europe. The new Catholicism is being influenced by the Pentecostal movement.

Together, Jenkins predicts that the world population of Pentecostals and Catholics by 2050 will approach three billion.

Both the new Catholicism and the Pentecostals are fundamentalist, rigid and uncompromising. In addition the Pentecostals are apocalyptic and dwell on the return of Christ and the end of the world. Philip Jenkins is asking what these realities will mean for the future of Christianity and for the world.

Here in Alaska we are only asking the meaning of the emergence of Sarah Palin on the world scene.

The Rev. Howard Bess is pastor emeritus of Church of the Covenant, an American Baptist church in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.