Charismatic Renewal​—What Is It?

THE assembled worshipers have their heads bowed as in prayer. All is calm. Then a faint sound of voices is heard​—a murmuring of prayers. Suddenly, loud voices fill the air. Arms, hands and faces are uplifted. Excitement charges the atmosphere!

At this point people cry out religious slogans such as “Praise the Lord!” and “Hallelujah!” Next, someone starts to speak in a “language” nobody understands. Tears flow. The participants seem to be ecstatic.

Was this a Pentecostal meeting? One would have thought so until a few years ago. But the scene described above could just as easily have been a meeting held in an Episcopal church, a Roman Catholic university stadium, or one held by a mixed group of Catholics and Protestants meeting anywhere.

Other generations have seen those claiming to have ‘gifts of divine favor’ (Greek, charismata). Thus, the older Pentecostal movement, with its “gifts” of “tongue-speaking” and “healing” is said to be charismatic. These gifts are thought to originate from God’s holy spirit.

The ‘New Charismatics’

In the 1960’s churches in general seemed to be in a state of spiritual paralysis. Membership sagged. Seminaries experienced disturbing shortages. But then, suddenly, came the ‘new charismatics.’ How did it happen?

In 1959, in an Episcopal church in California, several members started to speak in tongues. Later, an Episcopal priest in another church also did the same. When the priest was transferred to Washington State, tongue-speaking took place there. The idea spread to Protestant seminaries, colleges and churches across the United States. Then, in the latter half of the 1960’s, a group of Roman Catholics at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh began to speak in tongues. News of this spread, with the scene repeated at other Roman Catholic colleges and church parishes. Soon some of these groups from different religions began meeting together, speaking in tongues and healing.

The movement spread to other lands. The press reported on tens of thousands attending conventions of charismatics in large cities of the world. In 1980 one poll showed that about 29 million adult Americans thought of themselves as charismatic Christians.

What Does It Mean?

Many sincere persons view these events as proving that God’s holy spirit is at work in a charismatic renewal, helping religion to make a comeback. There can be no denying that something has happened to these people of many religious backgrounds. And they evidently wish to please God.

That being so, there ought to be a willingness to make a careful analysis of the movement to see what it really has accomplished. Is it producing evidences of God’s approval? Is this the way God is working in our time?

A Closer Look

HAS the holy spirit been at work in the charismatic movement? Charismatics must appreciate that each individual would want to be certain of that, especially since Christians are directed in God’s Word: “My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God.”​—1 John 4:1, Today’s English Version.

Of course, sincere charismatics feel that the things they experience testify to the holy spirit’s work among believers, reproducing what it did with Christians in the first century. On the other hand, those not involved would expect to see in the charismatic movement a repetition of other evidences of the work of the holy spirit in the first century as well.

Real Unity?

For example, what about the unity achieved? How real is it? The fact is that charismatics usually have continued to be members of whatever church they associated with before their experience. But, for observers, that raises serious questions.

To illustrate: Does a devout Pentecostal truly believe that a charismatic Presbyterian who smokes tobacco is really saved? Does a charismatic Baptist honestly believe that a previous Catholic or Episcopalian sprinkling now suddenly constitutes valid Christian baptism just because a person has become a charismatic? Will a Lutheran charismatic now genuinely agree with a charismatic Catholic that Roman Catholic priests actually do change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ when celebrating Mass? The list of such differences could be extended much longer.

Should these divisive barriers make any difference? They surely did to first-century Christians. The apostle Paul wrote under inspiration of holy spirit: “Agree among yourselves, and avoid divisions; be firmly joined in unity of mind and thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10, The New English Bible) Obviously, disunity was not fitting for those true Christians. Holy spirit did not work that way back there. Rather, it unified Christians by overcoming previous differences. Theirs was a solid union of doctrine, practice and organization, not a loose unity based on a common emotional experience.

Some within the charismatic movement acknowledge the disunity. Christianity Today reported: “Some leaders said that the unity experienced by charismatics so far has been at the emotional level. Serious doctrinal differences do exist, and they have been passed over too easily, thus posing a threat to future unity efforts.”

Leadership Crisis

Some of the leaders in the charismatic renewal movement became quite well known. But, in time, their different backgrounds gave rise to different opinions as to how to direct matters. They became divided over direction and leadership.

Knowing the serious threat that such divisions were to charismatic renewal, concerned ones called for a sort of summit meeting of leaders. It was held at Dallas, Texas, in 1980. The speaker who opened the meeting said frankly: “We are here to admit the scandal of our division.”

But was there a healing? No. One faction advocated development by groups under an elder or a teacher who looks after his disciples. Opposers alleged that “the elders take unscriptural control of others’ lives, even to the point of usurping Christ’s authority.” One leader charged another with “sheep-stealing,” adding: “They are not discipling sinners to Christ; they’re discipling members of other churches to themselves.” Obviously, the divisions remain.​—Christianity Today, April 4, 1980.

The breakdown of unity must be tied to a real cause. That cause is traceable to the rejection of the authority of the Bible.

Rejecting the Book of Unity

If you are a charismatic, you may sincerely feel that charismatic leaders would never reject the Bible. But remember, one of the “gifts” claimed in the movement is that of prophecy. It is believed that the written word “must always be subservient to the authority of the living, ‘dynamic’ word” made known in prophesying, reports the book The New Charismatics. As one charismatic put it: “The Spirit as the living God moves through and beyond the records of past witness.”

However, the apostle Paul said: “Even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond [“at variance with” (NE)] what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8) Now, if an apostle or an angel should not go beyond the good news recorded in the Bible, is a charismatic personality today authorized to do so?

Author and charismatic Catherine Marshall says that “not all the truth and instruction Christ has to give us is contained in the canon of the Old and New Testaments.” But the Bible itself says: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17, TEV) Since this is the Bible’s role, why minimize its contents?

At first it might seem innocent enough that one puts one’s own personal experience ahead of the Bible itself. But do you realize what that could lead to? Recall that in Guyana the leader of the Jonestown group tragedy cast aside the Bible and impressed his followers with the need to listen to him and his ‘revelations from God.’ He had convinced them that they should trust their “experience” with him over God’s written Word. Do you see the danger that comes from such a position​—how vulnerable it makes a person? Without the Bible as a guide, what protection would there be against the influence of mass hysterics and crowd manipulation?

While a person is not to treat prophesying with contempt, he is also directed to “make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine.” (1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21) Thus, the command at 1 John 4:1 to “test the spirits to see if they come from God.” (Moffatt) That same text advises: “Not all prophetic spirits, brethren, deserve your credence.” (Knox) Obviously, not all are from God. Some are from Satan the Devil.

Now, how does a person tell one spirit from another? One’s own experience is not sufficient to “make sure.” And, certainly, no present-day revelation by God’s spirit would contradict the revelations by that same spirit to Jesus, his disciples and the Bible writers.

Charismatics hope that their differences will eventually be resolved. But admitted one pastor: “The charismatic movement as a whole is doctrinally unpredictable.” The obvious reason for the continuing division is that many charismatics do not recognize the Bible as the final teaching authority. Thus, the substituting of personal experience will mean that genuine unity will never be achieved.

Thinking persons inside and outside the movement now ask: Does the charismatic movement really reflect God’s holy spirit in action? And where is the movement headed?

[Blurb on page 5]

At first it might seem innocent enough that a person puts his own personal experience ahead of the Bible itself. But do you realize what that could lead to?

[Blurb on page 6]

How does a person tell one spirit from another? One’s own experience is not sufficient to “make sure”

Where Is It Headed?

“WE SEE the renewal slowing down and/​or fragmenting,” observed a leader of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the United States in a report to that group. The report added: “In that fragmentation has come a dilution of God’s Word.”

The above report was quoted in the Australian renewal and evangelical magazine Vision (May-June 1980) in an article titled “What in the World’s Happening to the Renewal?” The author of that article, a charismatic himself, tells of giving a talk at a charismatic rally where he spoke about “the death of charismatic renewal.”

The chairman of the International Lutheran Charismatic Conference has analyzed the fragmentation and has listed “seven streams” that have developed in the United States alone. These include: groups centered around prominent leaders; Protestant and Catholic groups that are trying to contain renewal within their parishes; and so-called “health and wealth” groups that stress healing and financial success as evidence of God’s approval.

Thus, leaders and observers are concerned about a diminishing thrust, that “it won’t last forever,” as one charismatic said. (U.S. Catholic, Feb. 1980) Things seem to be headed for either a loss of enthusiasm or the establishing of new sects of charismatic Pentecostals rallying around different leaders.

The above sequence is not without foundation. The Encyclopædia Britannica says of the Pentecostals who appeared on the religious scene generations earlier: “They initially had no intention of withdrawing from their own churches to form another denomination. They merely wanted to be agents of reform and revival, helping to rid their churches of formalism in worship, modernism in belief, worldliness in practice and striving to transform them into vibrant, spirit-filled communities similar to those described in the New Testament book of Acts.” Yet, in time, a separate Pentecostal denomination was founded. Later numerous splits occurred. Today there are more than 30 kinds of Pentecostals.

The recent history of the ‘new charismatics’ bears a striking resemblance to that. But it is not really surprising when you analyze what sparked the modern movement.

What Really Happened

The stories often told would lead you to conclude that, all of a sudden, speaking in tongues and renewal broke out on their own​—a spontaneous work of the holy spirit. But in the original development among Protestants in California it is noteworthy that two Episcopalians in 1959 “received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the witness of Pentecostal friends.” From them the “experience” was transmitted to about a dozen other members. Their own pastor contacted still others, spreading the “experience” among many Protestant churches.

Similarly, the Catholic development was not really spontaneous either. Even before the ‘Duquesne experience’ “there were individual Catholics who had received the Pentecostal experience​—often through the influence of Pentecostal friends,” says The New Charismatics.

What about the people involved at Duquesne, since this seemed to trigger the rapid spread of the experience among Catholics? In August of 1966 members of the faculty at the university had been introduced by friends to various publications that promoted Pentecostal thinking. “Eventually, the group decided to become personally acquainted with local Christians who had the Pentecostal experience,” says one writer. This meeting led to the “Duquesne weekend.”

What happened, then, is that earlier Pentecostal ideas and experiences penetrated some mainstream churches. Most recipients either were seeking a more “dynamic,” exciting, joyful way of worship or were influenced by those having had the experience.

However, since these efforts, the results now seen do not argue for a genuine, spontaneous renewal by holy spirit. What we have seen, instead, has been the introduction of beliefs and practices of one group to a number of others, with no one to guide the results or focus them on worthwhile goals.

“What About Our Experience?”

Despite the mounting evidence to the contrary, there are those who feel that they cannot conscientiously deny what they have experienced. Did they not feel the power within them? Did they not see or feel healing? Did they not burst forth with words in tongues unknown to them?

While that may be so, it is important to keep in mind that the Bible warns of deceptive, demonic spirits. (1 John 4:1) They are described as “working miracles,” even misleading mighty rulers. (Revelation 16:14, Authorized Version) They may use humans to produce powerful works, but the visible effects do not prove that they come from God. ‘Even if it was done in the name of the Lord Jesus?’ someone may ask. Jesus himself said: “Many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you.’”​—Matthew 7:22, 23, Today’s English Version.

Even the previous Pentecostals worried about demonic influence. W. J. Seymour, prominent Pentecostal in the early 20th century, once urged his teacher to come to Los Angeles to help him because “hypnotic forces and fleshly contortions” had broken out at his meetings. He felt he needed help to “discern between that which was real and that which was false, and to weed out that which was not of God.”

On this matter of Satan masquerading as an angel of light in deceiving (2 Corinthians 11:14), a modern tongue-speaking Jesuit priest says: “Tongues could be a hysterical experience, or, according to some, a diabolical one.” And an Episcopal rector who speaks in tongues said: “The devil has many ways of working at us. When we come into the baptism of the Holy Spirit he really attacks.”

Also, consider this: If these special gifts such as tongues, healing and prophecy are so vital today, why did the apostle Paul write: “Are there prophets? their work will be over. Are there tongues of ecstasy? they will cease.” (1 Corinthians 13:8, The New English Bible) The evidence shows that with the passing away of the apostles and those whom they ‘laid their hands on,’ the holy spirit’s miraculous gifts passed away.​—Acts 8:17; 14:3.

Today, there is something far more important for Christians to display as an indication that God is working through them. It is something all of God’s servants must have. The Bible says: “There are three things that last for ever: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of them all is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, NE) Since this is the case, one must look beyond things like tongue-speaking for sound evidences of the work of the holy spirit in our day.

Now, then, just what are the ways of identifying true Christians who are really displaying this all-important love? Can one see in them the fruits of God’s spirit at work, indicating that they are like the first-century Christians? Let us examine the evidence for that.

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The results now seen do not argue for a genuine, spontaneous renewal by holy spirit

A Different Spirit

THERE can be no doubt that in the first century God’s holy spirit was at work. One way in which it manifested itself was by providing some of God’s servants with powers that others did not have. The ability to ‘speak in tongues’ was one of these.

But while the individual was given the ability to talk in a language he had not known before, others of that language group could understand what he said. For instance, those who heard the speaking in tongues at Pentecost said: “How is it we are hearing, each one of us, his own language in which we were born? . . . We hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.”​—Acts 2:5-11.

When Christians met together, the apostle Paul said: “If someone speaks in a tongue, let it be limited to two or three at the most, and in turns; and let someone translate. But if there be no translator, let him keep silent in the congregation.” (1 Corinthians 14:27, 28) How different it is with today’s charismatics who speak all at once, and in sounds that no one can understand or interpret!

The ability to speak in tongues was one of the “gifts” of holy spirit given to first-century Christians to aid people in identifying the organization that God was using. And this particular “gift” also served the practical purpose of helping to preach the “good news” to other language groups.

Too, some of those who had holy spirit back then also had the power to raise the dead. (Acts 9:36-41; 20:7-12) If it is the same spirit at work today, then charismatics should also have that ability. But they do not. Hence, it is clear that the “spirit” responsible for seeming miraculous displays among charismatics is not the spirit from God manifest among first-century Christians.

Holy Spirit at Work Today

THE gifts of holy spirit that identified the first-century Christian congregation as God’s organization passed away. They are not needed to identify those through whom holy spirit is working today. What, then, are the identifying marks in our time? Examine some of them:

1. “HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER”

Genuine love is the most important charísma (gift) of the holy spirit today. (1 Corinthians 13:13) It is expressed in the genuine love for neighbor that a Christian must have. (Matthew 22:39) In this regard, Jesus declared: “If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35, Today’s English Version) Such love is not just a sticky, generalized love of all humanity. It is much more than emotional talk about love. It is accompanied by deeds that bring lasting benefits to others. It overcomes divisive boundaries of nationalism, race, politics and upbringing, so that, for example, those who have this gift in one country would never conceive of going to war and killing other Christians (or anyone else) in another land. Ask yourself, who today, throughout the world, displays such love?​—1 John 3:10-12; 4:20, 21.

2. “NO PART OF THE WORLD”

In order for his disciples to remain in union with the Father and the Son and united with one another, Jesus taught them to be no part of the world with its racial, national, political and social divisions. Their allegiance was to the kingdom of God. (John 15:19; Matthew 6:9, 10) The book From the Old World to the New states: “They preferred the Kingdom of God to any kingdom that they might serve on earth.” And History of Christianity notes that first-century Christians “refused to take any active part in . . . the military defence of the [Roman] empire.” Who today maintain such neutrality?

3. “MAKE DISCIPLES”

Christian love is not passive. “My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18, TEV) Jesus taught his disciples to talk to others about God’s kingdom and to do evangelizing worldwide. (Matthew 10:7; 24:14; 28:19, 20) But according to Christianity Today, only one third of charismatics see the need for “winning the world for Christ.” But how many of even these actually go out and “make disciples” by calling on people in their homes? On the other hand, do you not agree that, internationally, Jehovah’s Witnesses are widely known for their witnessing work? A pastor of a Pentecostal church once said to a Witness: “It makes me cry when I think that we have God’s spirit, but you people are doing the work!”

4. “LOVE JEHOVAH”

True worship that God backs by his spirit means that Jehovah must come first in all things. (Exodus 20:5) Jesus said: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37, 38) One way to do that is by making God’s name, Jehovah, known. Jesus did this, saying to God in prayer: “I have made your name known to them and will make it known.” (John 17:26) That is why Christians pray: “Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored.” (Matthew 6:9, TEV) Who today put Jehovah first in their lives and show it by their devotion to his Word, his laws, and by making his name known throughout the earth? With what international religious body is the name Jehovah associated?

Examining the “Gifts”

There is no doubt that God’s spirit is at work today. True Christians bear the identifying marks of that spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23) And it is moving them powerfully to accomplish his purpose.

For example, one former charismatic had the “experience” of speaking in tongues, but still felt something was wrong. He was confused by the disunity of about 10 tongue-speaking groups that disagreed with one another, some accusing others of “being demon-inspired and condemned.” Could demons have invaded these groups and performed the powerful signs to mislead? Later, he encountered a spiritist who ‘talked with spirits’ in his home. “I told him the only spirit I wanted to know was the holy spirit, and he said he never heard of that one. Yet, what amazed me was that his spirits also gave prophecies and enabled him to perform miraculous healings.” He knew now the danger in these things.

He had ‘tested the spirits’ to see if they were from God. (1 John 4:1) He found that they were not. He realized that the lives, conduct, practices and beliefs of charismatics did not display the fruits of the spirit mentioned at Galatians 5:22, 23. On the other hand, he could see that Jehovah’s Witnesses lived as Christians, stating: “They had a love that transcended national boundaries. A big factor was that they were preaching the good news of God’s kingdom earth wide as prophesied at Matthew 24:14. To do such things took courage that only God’s spirit can give.” Yes, indeed, holy spirit is working mightily today among such Christians!