Herlighet uten kors? «Trosbevegelsens» grunnlagstenkning i lys av Martin Luthers theologia crucis

Abstract

During the last three or four decades the so-called «Faith Movement» has made great success in many Christian areas of the world. Traditional churches have been influenced by the «power» of this movement, and a lot of new «Faith Churches» have been established in the US as well as in many European countries. This article gives an analysis of some main elements of the foundational thinking within the «Faith Movement», essentially with reference to the authorship of one of its most central leaders, Kenneth Hagin (1917–2003). This analysis is carried out in critical comparison with corresponding theological points of Martin Luther’s «Theology of the Cross», essentially based upon the reformer’s statements in the Heidelberg-disputation 1518. In this comparative perspective an exciting question is asked: Is the foundational thinking within the «Faith Movement» consistent with the «Theology of the Cross»? The result of the analysis is no: The theology of this movement is inconsistent with the «Theology of the Cross». The «Faith Movement» rather preaches a kind of «Theology of Glory». This result may possibly also call in question whether the theology of this movement is to be placed within Biblical Christianity at all or as a postmodern cult outside.