Review of Wolfgang Vondey, The Scandal of Pentecost: A Theology of the Public Church

Abstract

The bifurcation of theory and practice within theological pursuits has contributed to the privatization of faith since the Enlightenment Era. Such segregation generates individualistic and ahistorical hermeneutical methods. Theological endeavors dependent upon the segmentation of theory and practice produce theological methodologies incapable of supporting theology in the public realm. Wolfgang Vondey advocates in The Scandal of Pentecost: A Theology of the Public Church a robust public theology will require embracing ecclesiological structures whereby Pentecost serves as the primary theological and public narrative. Vondey proposes a repositioning of Pentecost as a public expression of faith, arguing that the prevailing portrayals of Pentecost as a predominantly private affair fall short of capturing the fullness of the Pentecost narrative. Repositioning Pentecost in a public sphere exposes the resistance from those in the marketplace who are unable to harmonize the existing social and religious norms with the claims by the disciples that Christ poured out the Spirit upon all flesh. It is this tension that Vondey classifies as the Scandal of Pentecost.