The Spirit of Freedom: Pentecostals, The Bible and Social Justice

AbstractThis paper briefly considers something of what the Bible has to say about the role of the Holy Spirit in social justice, observing that the Spirit creates, refreshes, renews and restores; that his presence brings, and inevitably results in, freedom; that he holds together and builds both our community and our individual character; that as the source of our wisdom and inspiration, he provides the intellectual and emotional resources we need for the task entrusted to us; and that as the source of our power he anoints us and equips us for that service. These distinctive aspects of the role of the Spirit which relate directly to the area of social justice and the fact that the role of the Spirit in liberation is such a fundamental part of his ministry suggest that Pentecostal theology should have something to say on such issues, and that Pentecostals should feel passionately about social transformation, despite their poor record on such issues in the past.