Faith Seeking Empowerment

Abstract

This essay explicates Youngsan’s view of providence. Youngsan (Dr. Yonggi Cho) presents a doctrine of providence whose primary goal is the transformation rather than an interpretation of the world. Dr. Yonggi Cho pursues a theology that starts with faith and - instead of being satisfied with securing a correct understanding - reaches empowerment. Hence, “faith seeking empowerment,” rather than “faith seeking understanding,” a classical definition of theology. When applied to his doctrine of providence, this theological orientation focuses on the promise and possibility of overcoming evil in the world, which he vividly describes as a “den of fear.” Concerning traditional issues in the doctrine of providence such as the problem of divine and human causation and God’s authorship of sin, Youngsan does not pay much attention. Although Youngsan faithfully follows the Augustinian free-will defense, it still is not the focus of his doctrine of providence. The most important thing for him is to be empowered by God to become victorious in God’s providential world. The belief in the power to overcome evil and sin and the power to realize God’s providence in world occurrences presupposes a biblical and realistic view of God’s agency. Unlike theologians who led the Biblical Theology movement in the mid-twentieth century, Dr. Cho embraces God’s agency and his actions in history without any conflict with his worldview. In his coherently Pentecostal and supernatural worldview, God actually parted the Red Sea and raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead. These salvific actions performed by God promise the continuation of the same sort of actions in every generation and thus serve as the ground for perpetual hope.