What Has Mercersburg to Do with Azusa?

Abstract

Pentecostalism and Mercersburg theology may appear to have little in common with one another. Pentecostalism primarily started as a grassroots movement among underprivileged Christians within the Holiness tradition, while Mercersburg theology was a cosmopolitan school of thought that emerged from within the ivory tower of Reform academia. These two movements possess strong socioeconomic, theological, and practical differences, and some may answer that they have little common ground. After all, until now Pentecostalism and Mercersburg theology have existed and thrived in relative seclusion from each other. This essay, however, initiates a dialogue between these two movements. I propose that numerous similarities exist between Pentecostalism and Mercersburg theology. Furthermore, a consideration of their theological distinctives may act as a catalyst for fruitful interaction.