Are there any...?

[xapis]

I have a serious question and hope to get some serious answers.

Are there any "charismatic" reformed believers?

Shalom,
Lane

 

[strengthinweakness]

Yes, there definitely are such believers, although they are a minority within Reformed Christianity. Here is an organisation which works to encourage charismatic Reformed Christians and churches: http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/ I am not definitely charismatic, but I would also not say that that I am a very hard-line, convinced cessationist. Having said that, at this point, I could not, in good conscience, join a firmly charismatic Reformed church. I am too unsure on the issue.

My church, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, is, I believe, quietly cessationist in its official stance, but the senior pastor, Mark Dever, is good, close friends with C.J. Mahaney, a Christian author, still-active Sovereign Grace worker, and the former senior pastor of a charismatic Reformed church in Maryland. Here is the link for that church's website: http://www.covlife.org/ Joshua Harris (the author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl, and Stop Dating the Church) is the new senior pastor.

 

[heymikey80]

I have a serious question and hope to get some serious answers.

Are there any "charismatic" reformed believers?

Shalom,
Lane

Last I checked the person who runs carm.org is a charismatic reformed believer. We have a few charismatic believers in our congregation, too. Mostly they don't feel charisma is cause to separate from the wider church.

 

[inchristalone221]

I would call myself a charismatic reformed person (while I'm not exactly 100% reformed yet, still unconvinced in some places). I personally have never been a cessationist, and I find it hard to justify Biblically or experientially, but as has been said, it's nothing to split a church over (heck, I sit in a dispensational church every Sunday when I'm still not convinced either way, and that's a much bigger issue).

 

[Imblessed]

I know there are some charasmatic reformed people who post in here, so that would be an affirmative.

I'm not firmly either way. I think the case is solid that the gifts are still around to some extent, but I do not believe they are as "available" as some charasmatic churches seem to think. I would feel very very uncomfortable in a charasmatic church, but I think I would be fine in a reformed church that believes in the gifts, because I think they have a more biblical stance on them. Make sense? I would love to visit a charasmatic reformed church though...for sure.

 

[xapis]

Thanks to you all for your responses. You've all been very helpful. I know there are many cessationists, reformed and non-reformed alike, who are very hostile toward charismatics. I really appreciate your kindness in helping to answer my question.

Shalom,
Lane

 

[CCWoody]

I have a serious question and hope to get some serious answers.

Are there any "charismatic" reformed believers?

Shalom,
Lane

I have been called the Charismatic Calvinist before. I suppose it all depends on what you mean by charismatic. If you mean slain in the spirit and runs around church barking like a dog or babbling on in holy babble, then no, that is not me.

 

[JimfromOhio]

I am what people view me as charismatic but I actually call myself "Spirit-filled" Christian. God wants us to be holy and Spirit-filled. Spirit-filled Christians have the Christian responsibility and stewardship of honoring God with the gifts and blessings He has given to us. True spirituality is defined as humility and love for one another shown by actions, not by any "supernatural ability" one might think he has (see all of 1 John). Spirit-lead is outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." That we should "not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30) That if we have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make our joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1-2).

 

[cygnusx1]

I have been called the Charismatic Calvinist before. I suppose it all depends on what you mean by charismatic. If you mean slain in the spirit and runs around church barking like a dog or babbling on in holy babble, then no, that is not me.

Praise God for that!!!!

I really believe God heals , guides , and intervenes miraculously today ....... but I think the Charismatics by and large have sent many believers into the extreme opposite direction ...... total cessation of everything supernatural leaving behind only dogma .

I think where I feel a line has to be drawn is over ongoing revelation to the Church , we must fight to uphold a closed canon , failure to do so results in modern day prophets/popes who take the place of Scripture with their "new" doctrines and predictions that are NOT 100 per cent accurate........ in fact often very inaccuate , ie , false!

And who today will speak out against false prophecy ?

I am a cessasionist in some of the gifts , where some Church's believe we still need and have Apostles and Prophets (the stance of the Calvinist C J Mahaney) I would say wrong!...... these gifts were foundational .

Greetings Cygnus

 

[inchristalone221]

I would say I believe in prophecy for today, but I think that if one's prophecies are ever wrong in the slightest detail he or she should be declared a false prophet and forbidden to prophecy in the church.

Apostleship for today to me sounds very Roman (or Mormon). It would ignore the transition we see clearly in Acts from the extraordinary ministry of say Paul and Peter and the ordinary ministry of say Timothy and Polycarp.