"Letting God govern": supernatural agency in the Venezuelan Pentecostal approach to social change

Sociology of Religion, Fall, 1998 by David A. Smilde

Reina explained in concrete terms how this could happen. She had been telling me how she often wondered how there could be so much poverty in the world amidst so much wealth.

I say to God 'Why don't you touch these people? Touch their hearts so that they can help the poor.' But then we see that behind this who is plotting is Satan. He has made man's heart like it is. And that's why sin has increased and the world is like it is. God doesn't want this anymore. The true idea of God is unity, peace, love, that we all love each other. And that is the function of all of us as the people, the Church of God, to spread the Gospel, the Word of salvation, the Word of love. So that people come to the way of God. And he who is bad, let God renew him and make him a good creature, beautiful and full of love.

Involvement in Secular Social Action

But does the agency component of the Pentecostal frame include politics? While Latin American Pentecostals have often been viewed as apolitical, recent research has shown that this view is, at minimum, exaggerated (Garrard-Burnett and Stoll 1993; Clean/and Stewart-Gambino 1997). I asked the respondents, "Can a Christian form part of the government, as a senator, judge, or mayor?" A couple of them indeed answered in the negative. "I don't agree with that [Pentecostals participating in politics], in my personal opinion. Maybe it is because in this country there is so much corruption that it makes me fear that an hermano(12) is going to become contaminated," said Dalia, a twenty-two-year old woman who has been a Pentecostal for almost two years and teaches Sunday school. Flor, a thirtyfive-year-old mother of two and Pentecostal for three years, responded:

It's not good for a Christian to be involved in politics because then he would be more dedicated to politics . . . He would apply himself to solving the problems of others, and he would forget about God.

Thus the primary concerns are that such activity would involve an hermano in corruption or lead him or her away from concentrating on what is really relevant: his or her dedication to the Lord. Such concern is perfectly logical if the world's problems derive from separation from God. Becoming involved in politics only to lose focus on God or be swept into corruption would be like cutting off one's head to stop a bloody nose.

Most respondents, however, acknowledged the danger while supporting, in varying degrees of enthusiasm, Pentecostal involvement in politics. Fernando said: "I am totally for this idea. The Christian can [engage in politics] as long as he doesn't participate in acts of corruption . . . ." Maria acknowledges the danger of politics but says it can be done for those who are mature in their faith. "[Participating in politics], if the person is not well with God, corrupts. You have to be really firm with God . . . ."

The same religious frame guides the potential political activities these Pentecostals imagine. Beyond generally looking for political patronage for fellow hermanos, their either would try to evangelize politicians and the public sphere, or work politically to facilitate their evangelistic goals. Put differently, Pentecostal politics normally becomes either a form of religious action, or a form of religion-oriented action. Elena, a pastors wife, said: