Comments on: Monday Muse: What is Charismatic? #mondaymuse

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:35:21 +0000

When I hear the word “charismatic”, all sorts of things go through my mind. My ex wife became a charismatic while we were married and proceeded to inject a bizzare dynamic into our marriage. Constantly babbling in what she called tongues, engaging in strange behavior, and becoming very selfish about it. she once described it to me as “too hocus pocus”. it was a living insanity with things floating in the air, lightning bolts in church and some of the most ridiculous of prophecies. blessings wrapped in toilet paper, for example
I for one do not believe that God has to do any of these things to prove that he is.
the mere fact that “tongues” are a sign of the baptism of the holy spirit, directly contradicts what is said about it in the bible. no longer is it a sign to the unbeliever, as scripture states it is,,it is now proof to the believers in the church that you attend that you’re really saved.
needless to say, it destroyed our family

By: Alastair

Alastair — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:05:21 +0000

I too grew up with a charismatic/pentecostal church background. I like what Russ and Heather have said in their comments.

I can see why some people might be nervous. I’ve had my share of bad experiences also where things became experience driven.

As Heather says we should be first and foremost seekers of God but be open to the Holy Spirit and the gifts.

People these days are leaving the traditional church and seeking the supernatural in other religions because most of us are too afraid to venture there.

By: Alastair

Alastair — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:56:30 +0000

Why?

By: Alastair

Alastair — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:55:10 +0000

Well said!

By: Robert McKinnon

Robert McKinnon — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:55:52 +0000

Great conversation so far! I’ve always “defined” charasmatic as “one who shows great charisma for God”. I appreciate the greek definition, for it alone causes me to wonder how anyone can read it and not want all it contains. The word (today) makes me feel a little sad becuase of the way that the word is reacted to in the main-stream church today. Yes, the gifts have been abused. Yes, people have sought and seek the gifts above the giver. Yes, many have allowed their “liberty” to be a stumbling block. Yes, many who operate in the gifts “look down” on those who don’t. There are so many negatives, and they are seen more than the positives in too many arenas. I got saved in the charasmatic movement, and have been in it up to three years ago. Now that I’m in a “baptist-oriented” environment, I miss the gifts flowing, but not in the way I was used to. I am thankful that I have been “out” of the charasmatic arena for the sole reason that I have a clearer view of what’s right and wrong. I believe now that God wants to restore it back to the church in a right fashion. I only hope the fruits, nuts and flakes out there (I used to be one) haven’t ruined that chance.

By: Shawn Yoder

Shawn Yoder — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:10:54 +0000

When I hear the term I too feel uncomfortable. I think of an overemphasis on the spirit apart from truth. I think it started as a good thing, but much like many movements has forgotten its roots. Charismatic worship is definitely not a bad thing, but it must be based on the Gospel. If people are dancing in the aisles or falling on the floor weeping because the truth of the Gospel – that while they were still lost in their sin God became flesh and took their sins, suffered and died on their behalf – suddenly becomes extremely real to them, then as a worship leader I am excited. Unfortunately we in the non-charismatic churches have become so scared that we’re going to go to far down that path that we’ve removed any type of emotion from our worship services. If we are singing and hearing the Gospel preached then how can we help but be moved emotionally?

By: Louise

Louise — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:47:47 +0000

I’m with Jen Kerr. Nervous. Apprehensive. All guards up.

By: Ronnie Burgess (MandoRon)

Ronnie Burgess (MandoRon) — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:32:37 +0000

I tend to think of people who more likely to speak in tongues, prophesy, dance in the aisles, etc… than your average Baptist. More expressive worship?

By: Paul Wilkinson

Paul Wilkinson — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:22 +0000

When dealing with people who wouldn’t get all the nuances anyway, I simply say, “People who don’t put limits on what we can ask God for, and don’t put limits on what he can do.”

A lot of us were part of the “movement” in previous years, and I’m told a good book that I’ve bought but haven’t started yet is Post Charismatic by Rob MacAlpine.

By: fmckinnon

fmckinnon — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:57:31 +0000

#mondaymuse (on Tuesday) – What do you think of when you hear the word “charismatic” in a religious context? http://bit.ly/15Zd9F

By: fmckinnon

fmckinnon — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:33:51 +0000

New blog post: Monday Muse: What is Charismatic? #mondaymuse http://bit.ly/19dxCu

By: Shannon Lewis

Shannon Lewis — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:34:42 +0000

Well, the word “Charism” means “grace gift”, and adding “-atic” to it means that one “possess the quality of”… so, when I think of “Charismatic” I think of that very thing: One or a gathering of ones who possess or walk in the qualities of the grace gifts – ie., folks who are open to, and walk in, the gifts God has given them.

By: Leigh-Ann Jones

Leigh-Ann Jones — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:16:58 +0000

I like this answer. When I hear the word, charismatic, i think of the 80s-90s (i grew up in a charismatic church). i know there are churches that are “charismatic, but it seems that the word isn’t used as much because it does have a negative vibe, ie the crazy church, worship trains (dancing around the church in a train like motion), holy rollers.
i think we need to identify ourselves as people who are passionate about jesus and who are free to worship in many forms.

By: Mike Mahoney

Mike Mahoney — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:07:44 +0000

Powerful.

That’s how I look at it. I would consider myself more Pentecostal than Charismatic, although I realize that the line is blurred more and more. But the comments really apply to both.

Operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit gives the believer power, not only over their own lives, but over everything around them. Learning to discern what is God-given and what is not opens many doors in life and in ministry.

By: heather blankenship

heather blankenship — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:29:58 +0000

Expressive, lively, uninhibited worshippers…
that’s the positive in my own experience and the negative for me, is that often times those worshipers can become so focused on the experiences that they lose focus on God. I grew up in a charismatic church and it was easier to be a sign seeker than a God seeker.
I still embrace the gifts fully but have learned to seek first His face, not His hand.

By: Kit Palmer

Kit Palmer — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:14:36 +0000

It always reminds me of the term Mickey Rodriguez used often…”Charasmaniacs”

Sometimes it was a positive reference, and sometimes…not so much!

By: Jen Kerr

Jen Kerr — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:59:40 +0000

The word makes me a little nervous…

By: Russ Hutto

Russ Hutto — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:39:33 +0000

I actually take issue with a broad sweeping labeling of “charismatics” as “those who use spiritual gifts improperly” (comment #1).

Because if we’re honest, EVERYONE, every denomination, every group of people that have an established set of doctrines at one point in the timeline of their existence has included improper use of the gifts of the Spirit.

Not just charismatics.

By: Russ Hutto

Russ Hutto — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:36:04 +0000

The term “Charismatic Movement” is sometimes confused with the term “charismatic.” The word “charismatic” is an umbrella term used to describe those Christians who believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the first century Christian church (see e.g. the book of Acts ), such as miracles, prophecy, and glossolalia (speaking in other tongues or languages), are available to contemporary Christians and may be experienced and practiced today. It is derived from the Greek word χάρισμα (“gift,” itself derived from χάρις, “grace” or “favor”) which is the term used in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 12-14. “Charismatic Movement,” however, expresses the arrival of spiritual gifts in the historic mainline denominations.

From wiki. I think that’s a good differentiation.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:54:33 +0000

I think of two things:

1. people who are crazy-passionate about Jesus.
2. people who use spiritual gifts improperly.

(A little good and a little bad.)