January 2014 – Daniel Tomberlin

January 24, 2014July 9, 2014

What Football Taught Me about the Mission of the Church

Several years ago I was visited by my friend, Nikolay, who is a pastor in Bulgaria. I wanted him to experience life in the American south, which includes Friday night high school football. This was the first time Nikolay had attended an American football game. As the game progressed I noticed that Nikolay seemed to be somewhat unimpressed, even uninterested. I asked, “What do you think of American football?” He replied, “I guess I could enjoy it if I understood what was happening.”

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January 14, 2014January 15, 2014

Pentecostals are Intuitively Sacramental

In Pentecostal Sacraments I have suggested that Pentecostals are intuitively sacramental. In other words, even though most Pentecostals do not have an informed sacramental theology, nonetheless they encounter the presence of God in the various sacramental observances.

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January 7, 2014December 15, 2014

Doubt, Faith, and the Grace of God

In my research and writing on Pentecostal sacramentality I have come to appreciate the tension between ex opere operate and ex opere operantis. Please bear with me. The classic Catholic understanding of sacraments is that they convey God’s grace ex opere operate, that is, by virtue of the act. The faith of the recipient is not required. As long as the sacrament is properly administered and grace is not resisted, grace is conveyed. The classic Protestant understanding of sacraments is ex opere operantis, that is, by virtue of the work. Grace is conveyed because of the faith of the recipient and/or the celebrant.

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