GlocalNet

For the past 100 years the charismatic movement has swept the church and the world. Something specific in history happened at Azusa Street, but I also believe many of those same things were happening prior to that, there just wasn’t a vocabulary. There are many things that can be debated about it - but as I was running yesterday I was thinking to myself there are two incredible gifts the charismatic movement has blessed the entire church with. I think it goes beyond the supernatural expression of the miraculous.

First, because of the emphasis on the Holy Spirit I believe there came a strong passion for worship. The charismatic movement has taught the church to worship in ways that are profound and deep that impact mainline churches today. The freedom of the Spirit afforded by the charismatic church spread in music, expression, and a desire for spontaniety that even mainline churches emulate in many ways. I’m so so grateful for that. I can go in most churches and sing worship songs, lift my hands, and worship regardless of the denomination. I would also be quick to say, that as one who discovered the joy worship, when we discover the object of worship - we can “worship” in the highest of the high or the lowest of the low.

Second, because of the emphasis on the Holy Spirit - anything is possible - even outside the realm of human engineering. I am very grateful the charismatic movement has impacted the world as it has. We’ve all heard the stats that 75% of the church globally is charismatic. There are reasons for that - yes sociologically, culturally, identification - but you cannot minimize the belief in the power of the Holy Spirit that makes anything possible - even taking the Gospel to the most difficult places on the earth.

The lines between “charismatic” and “non-charismatic” have blurred dramatically since the 70’s and they will continue to. So, how do you reconcile some of the differences? I don’t - they’re there. Like the debate about free will and human responsibility - it’s a tension that will exist. But I woudn’t want to do away with a God that is in total control - neither would I want to follow a God that made me a robot. Excesses? Yes. Need for more excesses out of some who never get enough steam up to even come close to making a wrong turn so don’t do anything at all? Yes. What’s the answer? Learn from one another, bless one another, work with one another, and even challenge one another. BUT for God’s sake and his kingdom - don’t villify one another or isolate ourselves from His Body - something we have no right or perrogative to do.