Additional information
by Ivan L. Hartsfield (Author), David D. Daniels (Foreword by)
The first of its kind, this seminal work charts the unlikely theological quest for Christian holiness by founder Charles Harrison Mason and the Wesleyan-Holiness Pentecostal tradition known as the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Through fresh research and critical analysis, this book challenges existing assumptions by scholars and reveals how little-known black renewal movements informed Mason's theological understanding and that of the movement. The rich theological resources of this historically marginalized movement are not primarily accessible in academic journals, position papers, or theological treatises. Instead, these resources function as "lived religion," where the theological presuppositions are embedded in primitive worship, ecstatic religious practices, and countercultural distinctives. By unpacking the "lived religion" of this self-professed sanctified church, this book explores how sanctification and the practice of Christian holiness shaped and empowered the COGIC, its people, and its practices in creative and profound ways--resulting in a radical holiness ethic that emerged from an inexhaustible exilic vitality with personal, social, and political implications. Given the challenge of Christian nationalism today, this book provides a framework that informs Christian identity and faithful living for the broader Christian community.
Author Biography
Ivan L. Hartsfield previously served as academic dean and adjunct professor at Northern Seminary. He is an ordained pastor-theologian, church planter, and entrepreneur. He and his wife founded and pastor Thrive Christian Ministries. Ivan is an advisory board member and business director for the Alliance for Black Pentecostal Scholarship. He has authored numerous articles and is heavily involved in planting churches, preaching, and teaching in a global context. Read more from Hartsfield at www.ivanhartsfield.com.
