I did not really grow up as a charismaniac. I did not even grow up Christian. However, at the tender age of almost-fifteen I became a Christian of the charismatic variety and I have spent the past twenty-eight years in that tradition (non-conformist, evangelical, charismatic).
It is a varied tradition and there is much in it that I appreciate. However, two things constantly frustrate me.
1. There is a tendency to be ever-looking for the latest thing; the new move of God; the new wave of the Spirit; the coming revival. Ordinary Christian life is “dull” and “mundane” and we always strive for the extra-ordinary—the miraculous, the new, the (frankly) weird. This instinct is not without merit. It (potentially) fosters a constant pursuit of God and a refusal to be satisfied with mere form. On the other hand, it can be a cruel tyrant that distracts believers away from the key dimensions of walking with God (in the ordinary, run of the mill aspects of life and Christian praxis) and leaves a trail of destruction and disappointment. The Charismatic movement often promises far more than it can deliver. As for revival: I don’t think we’re going to have one and I actually do not want one (at least, not of the variety that I am told I should want).
2. Worship that is fine and dandy — with much that is good about it (honest) — but that misses out on SO much by bypassing the rich resources of liturgy. I am simply bored with “out of the packet” charismatic worship — bunches of songs strung together by a man with a mic. What I crave at a very deep level is the spiritual depth and profundity of liturgy. I don’t know how many fellow charismatics “get” this but I would swap a knees-up worship band for a simple liturgical service any day.
So—what I am after is a High Church, smells and bells, charismatic church with evangelical(ish) preaching. Me and the cat . . .
You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. Perhaps some day you’ll join us, and … then there’ll be three of us (you, me, and the cat).
Robin – you hit the nail on the head. I’ve been in a similar tradition for many years (and even spent 10 years as a pastor!), and found myself yearning for many things liturgical. Over time I also found the marginalizing of the Eucharist to be a failing that left the church with the distraction of watching for the next big spiritual explosion rather than responding to Jesus’ invitation to come to his table.
I’ll be happy to join up with you and the cat.
Thanks for writing this post!
Thanks Mike
I absolutely agree about the Eucharist. When we do it, we tend not to do it well. It seems of ten to be treated as a distraction from “worship” (i.e., the singing). So we tak it on every now and again because we know we ought.
The irony is that if we really were charismatic — with a full-blown pneumatology — we would embrace a high view of the Eucharist. I always felt like charismatics ought to be the most sacramental of the lot. Alas no. Zwingli holds sway over Calvin on that score.
I found Ian Stackhouse’s book, Gospel Driven Church, to be very helpful here.
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