ABSTRACT
Pentecostals set as their standard for living what Jesus taught them, to create an alternative to the structural violence of imperial rule and the self-serving policies of the aristocracy. Jesus’ reading of the Hebrew Bible was not characterised by unquestioning obedience but rather by a hermeneutic of faithful questioning in the name of compassion. Unquestioning obedience justifies violence and atrocity in God’s name because the Bible describes it; faithful questioning prioritises compassion over commands. Instead of ignoring the deeply troubling parts of Scripture, it is proposed that Christians should consider the ethical problems they raise. While violence committed in YHWH’s name is commonplace and a central theme in the Hebrew Bible, most of the New Testament can be characterised as a protest narrative constituting a major critique of religiously justified violence and articulating a radical alternative way, characterised by forgiveness and enemy love. A trajectory reading is proposed, consisting of the recognition of the redemptive direction that Scripture is moving in. Contemporary Spirit-filled believers should cooperate with the Spirit to move in that same direction. The hermeneutical key for ethical decisions is then that interpretation should be evaluated on its merit, the fruit that it bears.
