CPTJ Archive | Volume 12 – Essays on a Theology of the Word
Title
Aimee Semple McPherson and the “This Is That” Character of Pentecostal Preaching
AAron Friesen
Abstract
The “this is that” hermeneutic employed by Aimee Semple McPherson in her colorful and dramatic preaching sought to connect hearers directly with the text and characters of the Bible, helping them to see themselves in the light of scriptural narratives. It fails to meet standards of modern hermeneutics which depend heavily on a historical-critical approach. But perhaps in its failure it challenges modern interpreters to rethink how to engage the affective imaginations of hearers of Scripture and help them find their place in the drama of God’s redemptive work.
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Aaron Friesen (PhD, University of Wales) serves as Co-Lead Pastor of CItySalt Church in Eugene, OR. He is a member of the St. Hildegard Fellowship of the Center for Pastor Theologians.
