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

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

Why not form part of, we as the people of God, form part of the Mayoralty, the State government, [or be a] Deputy in the Legislative Assembly or in the Senate. This is our purpose now, to become involved with them [those in politics] in one way or another to preach them the Gospel.

Mariela points out that a Christian might be able to remedy the corruption of the political system.

Why not? Yes he can, because that Christian is illuminating within the darkness, where there is so much corruption. Since this person is driven by God, he can help that within the corruption there can be change.

Fabio, who works as an office assistant in the state government argues that involvement in politics could be useful for Pentecostals.

Yes, the Christian should participate in the things of government. Not in corruption; the government is always full of corruption, but rather to do good for the people, above all for Christians who are forgotten by the government. It would be good for hermanos, Christians, to become advisors, become mayors, governors, the head of neighborhood associations. Because tomorrow [for example], we might arrive to ask for a permit and we would have open doors.

The permit he mentions refers to the permission Pentecostals must obtain, often with difficulty, from municipal governments to hold their outdoor campaigns. Having political power and connections would be useful, in his view, not only to do good for the people (especially hermanos) but because it could facilitate what is really relevant: the task of evangelization.

Religiously-motivated action aimed at changing social conditions is generally not emphasized. Nevertheless, the idea of being under the control of a God who may "work through mysterious ways," means that God-directed social action is indeed a possibility. Andres said the following regarding Christian involvement in politics.

. . . We Christians do not need to get involved in politics. But God, in his infinite mercy could make a Christian president. Why? Because [let's say] God wants to transform this country; because [let's say] God wants to do away with the injustice and wants justice to begin to be practiced . . . .

He argued that a Christian could change the country by placing just people in important positions: "But this could only be done through prayer to God, with God telling me what to do, who to put [in office]."

To further examine the Venezuelan Pentecostal frame, I tried to portray as against God's will an event I knew these Pentecostals would be largely against: the government's kicking people out of their self-constructed shacks (ranchos) and destroying them. The intention was to see if the Pentecostal frame contained resources for religiously-motivated, radical social action against something they define as sinful. I asked the following question:

What should the Christian do if the government is acting clearly against the will of God?, for example if the National Guard came and started knocking down ranchos. Could a Christian go out and join a demonstration?