IZHEVSK – On November 15 and 16, the VI Theological Conference of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith took place in Izhevsk. More than 400 ministers, pastors, and teachers came from different regions of Russia and beyond to reflect on the theme “The Danger of Distorted Knowledge of God: Theology and Experience”.
On Friday, two reports were presented: Rev. Pavel Zhelnovakov, head of the Education Department, Honorary Doctor of Moscow Theological Institute, and Rev. Dr. Sergei Podnyuk, First Deputy Head Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Belarus, Rector of the Minsk Theological Institute, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy.
Rev. Pavel Zhelnovakov offered the audience a reflection on the causes and conditions of the formation in men of a distorted understanding of God and touched upon the question of the origin of evil in the world and the fall into sin as such.
Dr. Sergey Podnyuk presented a discussion on the role of faithful theological knowledge in the church and modern Christian education, emphasizing that true theological knowledge is defined by the framework of the Holy Scripture, and presented an overview of the ways of theological knowledge in different periods of church history.
Dr. Aelita Zhidyaeva, Associate Professor at Moscow Theological Institute, Doctor of Theology, opened Saturday's sessions with a presentation on the church's ability to harmonize biblical theological knowledge in light of a distorted view of grace, or so-called “hyper-grace.”
Doctor of Theology Eugene Beinya, pastor and head of the youth department of the Evangelical Church in Belarus, continued to reflect on the theme of the conference. Dr. Beinya presented an analysis of the anthropocentric and biblical, Christocentric approach to God-knowledge, drawing attention to the dangers of a model in which man becomes the center in the matter of knowing God.
Doctor of Theology Sergey Yastrzhembsky, Professor and Rector of Moscow Theological Institute discussed the problem of mysticism and rationalism in matters of God-knowledge, focusing on the extremes of personal spiritual experience in God-seeking, which is often placed above the truth presented in Scripture.
Following the presentations, the speakers participated in a panel discussion in which they answered questions from the audience, touching on many important topics at the core of the conference agenda. At the end of the meeting, Bishop Pavel Zhelnovakov reminded the audience of the responsibility God has placed upon all who have the ability to know Him to demonstrate this knowledge through godly life and virtue (2 Peter 1:3, 5-7).
The Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith Pentecostals
