Charismatic Christianity

Charismatic Christianity (also known as Spirit-filled Christianity) is an umbrella term that describes a form of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts and modern day miracles. "Charismatic Christian" and "renewalist" are sometimes used to describe Christians who practice this version of Christianity. It is often categorized into three separate groups (though there is much overlap): Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Movement, and neocharismatic movements. In 2000, Pentecostals and charismatic Christians numbered at least 500 million, a quarter of the world's 2 billion Christians.

Etymology

The term "charismatic" derives from the Greek word χάρισμα ("gift," itself derived from χάρις, "grace" or "favor"). This is the same origin for the word charismata, another term for spiritual gifts.^{[citation needed]}

Beliefs

Charismatic Christianity is diverse, and it is not defined by acceptance of any particular doctrines, practices, or denominational structures. Rather, renewalists share a spirituality characterized by a worldview where miracles, signs and wonders, and other supernatural occurrences are expected to be present in the lives of believers. This includes the presence of spiritual gifts, such as prophecy and healing. While similar in many respects, renewalists do differ in important ways. These differences have led to Charismatic Christianity being categorized into three main groups: Pentecostalism, the charismatic movement, and neo-charismatic movements.

Pentecostals

Main article: Pentecostalism

Pentecostals are those Christians who identify with the beliefs and practices of classical Pentecostal denominations, such as the Assemblies of God or the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). Classical Pentecostalism grew out of the holiness movement and developed a distinct identity at the start of the 20th century. At a time when most denominations affirmed cessationism (the belief that spiritual gifts had ceased), Pentecostals held that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were being restored to the Christian church. The distinctive doctrine of Pentecostalism is that there is a second work of grace after conversion, which Pentecostals call the baptism in the Holy Spirit, that is evidenced by glossolalia ("speaking in tongues").

Charismatic Movement

Main article: Charismatic Movement

See also: Catholic Charismatic Renewal

While early Pentecostals were often marginalized within the larger Christian community, Pentecostal beliefs began penetrating the mainline Protestant denominations from 1960 onward and the Catholic Church from 1967. This adoption of Pentecostal beliefs by those in the historic churches became known as the charismatic movement. Charismatics are defined as Christians who share with Pentecostals an emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit but who remain a part of a mainline church. Also, charismatics are more likely than Pentecostals to believe that glossolalia is not a necessary evidence of Spirit baptism.

Neo-charismatics

Main article: Neo-charismatic churches

New churches and denominations emerged alongside the Charismatic Movement from the late 1950s onwards that are termed neo-charismatic. Being neither Pentecostal nor part of the charismatic movement, they share with these groups a common emphasis on the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, miracles, and Pentecostal experiences. The Vineyard Movement and the British New Church Movement are examples of such groups.

Statistics

In 2000, there were an estimated 523 million people (27.7 percent of all Christians) identifying with Charismatic Christianity. Of these, 65 million were Pentecostals, 175 million were a part of the charismatic movement, and 295 million were neo-charismatics. This means that charismatics are the second largest branch of Christianity after the Roman Catholic Church (though the 120 million Catholic Charismatics do not consider themselves separate from Roman Catholicism).

As of 2008, according to Barna surveys, one out of every four Protestant churches in the United States (23%) is a charismatic congregation. A slight majority of all "born-again" Christians (51%) are charismatic. Nearly half of all adults who attend a Protestant church (46%) are charismatic.

See also

• Aglow International
• Cessationism versus Continuationism
• Charismatic Adventism
• Continuationism - the Christian view that spiritual gifts have not ceased and are intended for the present-day church (contrast with cessationism)
• Direct revelation
• Faith healing
• Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International
• Latter Rain (1880s movement)
• Latter Rain (post-World War II movement)
• Laying on of hands
• Montanism - a late 2nd-century, heterodox Christian movement which emphasized sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit
• Renewal theologians
• Slain in the Spirit
• Word of knowledge
• Word of wisdom
• Xenoglossy

Further reading

Encyclopedic:

• Burgess, Stanley M., ed. and Eduard M. van der Maas, assoc. ed., The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, revised and expanded edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002); publisher's page
• Burgess, Stanley M., ed. Encyclopedia of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity (Routledge, 2006); publisher's page

Supportive:

• Deere, Jack. Surprised by the Power of the Spirit
• Grudem, Wayne. The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today
• Maria Stethatos. The Voice of a Priest Crying in the Wilderness

Critical:

• MacArthur, John. Charismatic Chaos
• Hanegraaff, Hank. Counterfeit Revival
• Gardiner, George E. Corinthian Catastrophe
• Warfield, B. B. Counterfeit Miracles
• Gaffin, Richard B. Perspectives on Pentecost
• O. Palmer Robertson Final Word A response to Wayne Grudem
• Michael De Semlyen All Roads Lead To Rome Dorchester House Publications (March 1993)
• Davis, R., True to His Ways: Purity & Safety in Christian Spiritual Practice (ACW Press, Ozark, AL, 2006), ISBN 1-932124-61-6.

Neutral:

• Grudem, Wayne (editor). Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?

Literature:

• Coelho, Paulo. By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

External links

Academic study:

• The European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism (GloPent) is an initiative by three leading European Universities in Pentecostal studies networking academic research on Pentecostal and Charismatic movements.
• PentecoStudies: Online Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements published under the auspices of GloPent