The concept and strength of shouting in Brengle’s writings can be easily connected with the Korean Christian heritage of Tongsung Kido. In Helps to Holiness, as a separate chapter, we find Brengle’s important teaching on shouting.
In it, Brengle passionately urges us to know the importance and necessity of shouting, which is understood as a distinctive manifestation of extraordinary prayer, allowing us to lead into “a secret spring of power and victory.” For Brengle, shouting signifies a vital spiritual sign not only for anyone who is honestly seeking God’s blessing, but also particularly for the “Spirit-baptized” believer.
For Brengle, shouting signifies a vital spiritual sign not only for anyone who is honestly seeking God’s blessing, but also particularly for the “Spirit-baptized” believer.
Brengle emphasized that shouting urgently needs to be demonstrated even in our ordinary worship setting as an outward expression of inward conviction of faith. He pointed out that “many a prayer meeting has failed at the shouting point. Songs were sung, testimonies had been given, the Bible had been read and explained, sinners had been warned and entreated, prayers had been poured forth to God, but no one wrestled through to the point where he could and would intelligently praise God for victory, and, so far as could be seen, the battle was lost for want of a shout.”
Considering the unique similarity and connection of the Korean Christian heritage of Tongsung Kido in relation to the basic concept and strength of shouting in Brengle’s teaching, it is worthy to acknowledge that General (R) Paul A. Rader and Commissioner Kay F. Rader must be fully able to identify its distinctive character and strength of Tongsung Kido based on their own exceptional and influential missionary service in the Korea territory of The Salvation Army from the period of the years of 1960s to 1980s. The time they lived in Korea was one of the most crucial time periods in the modern history of Korea, not only in the socio-political aspects, but also in its religious aspect, especially from the experience of the Korean churches.
One particular religious phenomenon directly relates to the subject of the Tongsung Kido. In those two decades the Korean churches became immersed in a great revival movement as a new expression of the biblical Pentecostal experience. It is understood that at the bottom of this religious phenomena in that time period, Tongsung Kido was embodied and actualized as the Spirit-anointed medium for experiencing the immeasurable growth and spiritual awakening of the Korean Churches, including The Salvation Army.
For Brengle, as we learned, shouting is an undeniable “sweet privilege” of believers.
Our task is now to persistently taste it and live with it until we will reach the stage of “the final and highest expression of faith” in Christ who is the reason for us to shout!
written by Major Young Sung Kim, Ambassador for Holiness, Spiritual Life Development Department USA East
