The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification which is considered to be
¿a milestone on the journey of ecumenism¿ has a very significant place in the theological-ecumenical realm since it hoped to overcome the disunity between
the protestant Churches and the Catholic Church at large. This work analyzes
and redefines the JDDJ from a Pentecostal perspective, and proposes a new
Pentecostal view of ecumenism for this century. The major questions that are
considered here are: what is the ecumenical and ecclesiastical significance of this
Joint Declaration in the 21st century, what are the neglected theological elements
in the Joint Declaration, what are the controversial issues connected to the JDDJ
and what challenge can it give to the present world of Christianity?.
The JDDJ has become a basis for theological agreement and further discussions.
This study also brings out ecumenical and theological understandings of the
Pentecostal Church and substantiates the Pentecostal assessment of the
JDDJ. The first chapter has two parts: the first part explains the research topic,
methodology and the importance of the research; and the second part gives an
outline of the Pentecostal movement and its theology mainly with regard to the
doctrine of justification. The second chapter deals primarily with the significant
stages and influences that helped for the formation of JDDJ. The last part of
this chapter explains the responses of other churches to the JDDJ. The third
chapter presents a Pentecostal response to the JDDJ, which starts with a positive
evaluation and will be followed by a negative response to the same. The fourth
chapter expounds the development of a paradigm model for the ecumenical
thinking of the 21st century from a Pentecostal point of view.
The Proposed slogan for this century can be ¿back to Pentecost¿ and be united
in the love and power of the Holy Spirit. Because it is said that Pentecostal
experience of the 1st-century Christianity has had a true Ecumenism, which was
somehow lost in the long run. Nevertheless, methodological shifts in the approach
to ecumenism can still make a change. When such a step is taken, the good
news of unity of Christians will become a reality. Only then one can say that the
condemnation of the 16th century regarding the doctrine of justification is invalid.