Orthodox Extremist Equals Charismatic Revival to Liberation Theology
By Julio
Severo
Does
Liberation Theology equate with a charismatic revival? No way. In fact, the best
opposition to Liberation Theology has come from charismatic, Pentecostal and
neo-Pentecostal Christians.
Yet,
enemies of charismatic revivals will use any excuse to attack what the Holy
Spirit is doing in our days. Recently, a radical Orthodox Christian in an
article entitled “Liberation Theology — a KGB Invention?” said:
“This
is where everything comes full-circle, and really shows that everything that
seems opposed is really of the same! It certainly explains a lot, and also
offers a solid ground for understanding what we have noted since the beginning
– that the current Moscow political and religious authorities are trying to
take Orthodoxy down the road of charismatic revival, by posing as the saviours
of Christianity from under the rule of a Western (or Muslim) dictatorship, thus
appearing as the liberators of humanity from under the rule of the coming
ruthless ‘antichrist.’ This subject has been most written about on our website
and much can be found about in our past articles.”
This nonsensical
criticism was posted in the website Orthodox
Views.
When
the author says that Liberation Theology being created by the KGB “certainly
explains a lot,” he seems to suggest that the Charismatic Movement also was
created by the KGB. By the way, according to a conservative Catholic source in
Brazil, Liberation
Theology ideas were present in the Catholic Church before the birth of the
Soviet Union and its KGB.
What
does the Charismatic Movement have to do with the KGB and Liberation Theology?
Nothing. Nevertheless, the radical Orthodox author insists that “current Moscow
political and religious authorities are trying to take Orthodoxy down the road
of charismatic revival.”
Presumably,
in his view, what these authorities are doing is as wicked as Liberation
Theology.
I
know this radical traditionalist religious modus operandi. (By radical traditionalist
I mean mostly “cessationist” people. For more information, see this link: http://bit.ly/1OX58vq) When
traditionalist Protestant Brazilians say, even in their theological essays
published in the United States, that there are spiritual problems in the
Brazilian Church, largely they mean charismatics, Pentecostals and
neo-Pentecostals and their (lack of) theology.
Even
the Lausanne Movement, in its meetings in Brazil influenced by these
traditionalist Protestants, only addresses these “problems.” Incredibly, the Lausanne
Movement met in Brazil in 2014 to discuss Pentecostal problems when its leader,
Rev. Valdir Steuernagel, comes from a Lutheran denomination where Liberation
Theology is rampant, and gay theology is tolerated. The
most prominent gay theologian in Brazil is a theology professor in
Steuernagel’s denomination.
The
real problem in the Evangelical Church in Brazil is the Theology of Integral
Mission, which is the Protestant version of Liberation Theology.
Whether
radical Orthodoxies or Protestants, they need excuses to attack charismatics,
Pentecostals and neo-Pentecostals, and now do they want to use KGB and Liberation
Theology, which is rampant among Catholics, Protestants and Orthodoxies, as an
additional pretext?
If,
as the radical Orthodox complainer said, “the current Moscow political and
religious authorities are trying to take Orthodoxy down the road of charismatic
revival,” this is just wonderful!
If
they really advance in this road, they will be able to help Christianity in
Russia to survive pro-sodomy Western politically correct dictatorships and
Muslim dictatorships.
The
charismatic and Pentecostal movement in Russia is not new. In fact, it has greatly
blessed the United States, by playing a significant or prominent role in the
famous Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California.
And,
yes, a charismatic revival can save Russia. Before the Turkish Islamic genocide
against Armenian Christians, a
Russian Pentecostal boy received prophetic warnings that Christians
should flee Armenia and Turkey. Those who believed in the prophetic warning were
saved. Those who disbelieved were destroyed by Islamic Turkey.
The
Orthodox Church, whose priests are married and have families, has no pope. It
split from the Catholic Church 1,000 years ago. Russia is today the largest
Orthodox Christian nation in the world.
Radical
Orthodoxies should stop criticizing what the Holy Spirit is doing to save
Russians.
If actually
“the current Moscow political and religious authorities are trying to take
Orthodoxy down the road of charismatic revival,” they should be encouraged, not
discouraged, in this spiritually victorious road.
Portuguese
version of this article: Extremista
ortodoxo iguala reavivamento pentecostal com teologia da libertação
Source: Last Days Watchman
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