“Suffering ... Why Me?”: The Threefold Blessing and Manifold Sufferings in the Pentecostal Theology of Hope of Pastor David Yonggi Cho = “Suffering ... Why Me?”: The Threefold Blessing and Manifold Sufferings in the Pentecostal Theology of Hope of Pastor David Yonggi Cho

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This essay suggests that Pastor David Yonggi Cho’s Pentecostal theology of hope, based on an ingenious Korean contextualization of the classical Pentecostal fivefold gospel and threefold blessing, is a creative synthesis of faith-based, hope-filled attitude that appeals to God’s promises for health and well-being while struggling amidst the calamities of life. Having been born in the aftermath of the sufferings of the post-war Korea, this Pentecostal approach to struggles of life represents an alternative to what is known under the umbrella term Minjung-theology, an option for the more liberal side of the Korean Protestant Church. While fully eschatological in its orientation, Pastor David Yonggi Cho’s theology also endorses the this-wordly aspect of a holistic salvific vision, including spiritual, psychological, and physical restoration as well as divine assistance in family, finances, and social life.
The essay argues that the many criticisms against the alleged prosperity gospel―type of faith proclaimed in the Yoido Full Gospel Church miss the target and do not adequately describe this contextual Pentecostal theology. Based on a careful analysis of Pastor’s key sermons and writings available in English and engaging some other Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal theologians, a constructive Pentecostal theology of suffering is attempted for the sake of the Korean and global Pentecostal movement.