An Appraisal of Vengal Chakkarai’s Christology and its implication for the United Pentecostal Church of North East India towards other denominations in Christianity

An Appraisal of Vengal Chakkarai’s Christology and its implication for the United Pentecostal Church of North East India towards other denominations in Christianity

Statement of the Problem

There is a misconception of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit among the member of the church. Due to this, there is less unity towards other denominations in Christianity.

Elaboration of the Problem

During the Revival Movement in Mizoram, the work of the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the rapid growth of the very church named the United Pentecostal Church of North East India. During those days, majorities of the churches were Presbyterian Church of India and Baptist Church of Mizoram, whereas the waves of awakening revivals in different places at different periods had brought various issues within the Mizo Society. One of the problems was the misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit and its works within the church.

There was a thought concerning the work of the Holy Spirit, which is available to receive only by the actual member of the church among the Mizo Society, which resulted in an idea of the distinction between believer and non-believer within the church. As a result of which, some members were even tortured, despised, and banished by the church administration. In addition to that, some failed to obey the discipline of the church as well. The majority of the people thought that the phenomenon of the work of the Holy Spirit was to measure the spirituality of a person as well as to recognize the being genuine Christianity within the different denominations in Mizoram. Therefore, making the dialogue between denominations to other denominations is quite tricky within the church members. Since it was the first experience of the work of the Holy Spirit by the Mizo Society, which had been considered as vital for the distinction of believers and non-believer in different denominations, the understanding of gathering together with such people is impurity for the church. Those people who claimed themselves as the dwelling of the Holy Spirit could not find a place within the church and thus form the new church basing on the Holy Spirit as the center for being Christianity.

This result, the affiliation of the church within the World Council of Churches or any other ecumenical interrelation like Bible Society, becomes an unenthusiastic approach. I hope that if there is a proper denominational dialogue within Christianity, this kind of issue could be lessening day by day.

According to Chakkarai’s Christology, the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ himself, which seems to have similarities with the teaching of the oneness doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, what would be the center for being Christianity? Does the Holy Spirit limit the dwelling place according to the distinction existed as different denominations? If so, then why? If not, then in what way should we treat the other denominations within the circle of Christianity? If we could have the same center of thought for being Christianity, would there be a proper dialogue to work together for the Mission of God? For all these reasons, we need to have research on an appraisal of Chakkarai’s Christology to have a denomination dialogue within Christianity.

Importance of the Problem

Since it is tempting to regard the tradition higher at the expanse of Biblical tradition, we must be courageous enough to remove things that are not Biblical and look for better things from the Bible itself. If the Holy Spirit could dwell according to the denomination of the church, then the Church has to emphasize more on this phenomenon as the center of being Christianity. This will consider whether the Holy Spirit is limited to someone’s denomination; a person or church as a whole, or whether it is vital for all the denominations in Christianity. If there is no limitation, then what will be the alternative to replace this understanding of the Holy Spirit for denomination dialogue? I believe that this research will be helpful for the members of the United Pentecostal Church of North East India for a better understanding of other denominations in Christianity through Chakkarai’s Christology.

Scope of the Research

This research will mainly focus on the appraisal of Chakkarai’s Christology, the understanding of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit by the United Pentecostal Church of North East India, including its development and the perspective towards other denominations of Christianity. The present research is limited for the implication for the United Pentecostal Church of North East India for denomination dialogue.

The methodology of the Research

The method of the research would be literary research in which the primary sources would be Chakkarai’s writings on books and journals as well as the texts of the United Pentecostal Church of North East India. The following resources would be the Christology of Chakkarai by different Dictionaries, Bible, Commentaries, Articles, PDF’s and also online sources according to the needs.

Previous Research

There are some earlier researches on Chakkarai’s Christology in the form of inter-religious dialogue with a comprehensive evaluation and the issues involved thereof. As far as my knowledge is concern there are no previous researches that specifically deal with the chosen topic.

Structure of the Research

This research will be presented in three chapters:

1. a) The first chapter contains the understanding of Vengal Chakkarai’s Christology, including his background, and his theology related to the topic.
2. b) The second chapter would deal with the knowledge of Jesus and the Holy Spirit by the United Pentecostal Church of North East India, including its origin and its development in Mizoram.
3. c) Appraisal of Chakkarai’s Christology for the United Pentecostal Church of North East India and the implication for the United Pentecostal Church of North East India for denomination dialogue.

Conclusion of Final Investigation – From each chapter – Suggestion

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