Play, Tongues, and Liberation Power
- Theology
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2021
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Publisher's Description
The recent Pixar animated movie Soul illustrates what happens when we are caught up into something. The movie uses the common language of being "in the Zone." Another word for this is being in the state of "play." Spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues are about normalizing a regular way to enter the zone or play of the Holy Spirit in a way that then empowers us for the rest of non-play life. Pentecostalism has exploded around the world, in part because people have direct encounters in play that empower them to act in new ways. This short work explores the nature of play and what happens in "the Zone."
Endorsements (6)
“Most of us in the church have at one time or another been captivated by the mystery of the spiritual gift of tongues. This book will move the conversation forward in how we understand and engage with this most interesting gift of the Holy Spirit. Shel Boese is fresh, researched, and thoughtful, and I am most grateful for his contribution.”
“Shelby Boese leads us down out of the ivory tower of theological intellectualism into the playground of spiritual awakening, where speaking in tongues can open the way for Spirit-led imagination, insight, and freedom. In a time when intellectual skepticism and ideological battles abound, Boese’s insights provide a much-needed callback to a childlike relationship with God, and the importance of tongues to a disciple-making community.”
“Boese offers a bold contribution to the exciting field of contemporary Pentecostal theology. . . . Under Boese’s insightful analysis, speaking in tongues—far from emerging as an academic embarrassment—is recognized as one of the ‘foolish things’ that confounds the worldly-wise: a divine gift that offers communal prophetic power wrapped in the appearance of weakness. As a fellow pastor-theologian, I highly recommend this book!”
“I found this work to be fascinating, creative, and a profound contribution to the field of both Pentecostal studies and postmodern thought. . . . A creative and persuasive argument and very well written. . . . Enjoyable to read for its contemporary relevance and uniqueness of argument.”
“By attending to noncognitive dimensions of language, Boese reimagines ‘speaking in tongues’ as a gift of the Spirit which sustains ‘play’ for the purpose of mystic union, prophetic empowerment, and liberation. It is a creative and powerful reappropriation of the ‘old line’ Pentecostal/charismatic distinctive to reinvigorate the life and Spirit-led witness of the local church. Boese has important things to say to pastors and theologians alike, whether or not you claim the Pentecostal/charismatic tradition as your own.”
“We need a book that offers a fresh look at the gift of tongues as it relates to God’s in-breaking kingdom over against the oppressive forces in our world today who seek to confine our imaginations. Few resources have offered a focused look at how this gift isn’t some mere oddity in Christian faith, but integral to the church’s formation in Christlikeness and mission. I hope to hold Shelby Boese’s book in hand as a guide in these areas of Christian faith.”
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