Tag: charismatic

Nothing Out of the Ordinary (Visiting Church #11)

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 4, 2019

I didn’t know this church existed until my wife stumbled onto this charismatic church during her online research for our adventure. Their Facebook page says they’re “a charismatic, faith-filled, and Bible-believing church.”

I’ve never been to a charismatic church service. However, I have attended charismatic conferences, so I think I have a general idea of what we’ll encounter. I expect I’ll be spiritually stretched, which is the intent of our sojourn.

52 Churches: A Yearlong Journey Encountering God, His Church, and Our Common Faith

However, contrary to my anticipations, the service is much like the non-traditional evangelical churches we’ve attended.

A couple of times I faintly hear someone praying in tongues. It’s reverent and not distracting.

As the music set ends, one of the worshipers praises God aloud, which morphs into a prayer and then becomes a prophetic word. It fits in and is a suitable end to our worship time.

Aside from these two things, some of the adults are freer with hand-raising and offering verbal praises during musical interludes, but it’s minimal.

Overall, there are no peculiar supernatural manifestations or bizarre behaviors. I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed with this charismatic church.

[Read about Church #10 and Church #12, start at the beginning of our journey, or learn more about Church #11.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 52 Churches, charismatic, pray, supernatural, tongues

Christian Living

Pursuing a Balanced Trinitarian Faith

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date April 12, 2018

There is an amazing little booklet, sporting a tongue-twister of a title. It is The Threefold Art of Experiencing God: The Liberating Power of a Trinitarian Faith by Christian A. Schwarz. In a stellar example of “less is more,” this diminutive book carries a profound punch.

Facets of Faith

The central theme is that Christianity exists in three streams, the liberals (mainlines), the evangelicals, and the charismatics. In general terms, each places their faith focus primarily on one part of the Godhead: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, respectively.

The perspective of each stream is correct, but at the same time, incomplete. Each of these three segments carries with it corresponding strengths.

However, it simultaneously contains risks inherent from persisting in an unbalanced point of view of the Godhead.

A Trinitarian Faith

Schwarz’s prescription for this is that all Christians should equally pursue the three parts of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, experiencing God in totality, not in part.

In doing so, our understanding of who God is will become more balanced. The result is that we will all arrive at the holistic center of who God is, being more unified in the process.

As I learn more about each of Christianity’s major streams, I become more appreciative of what each as to offer, making my faith fuller. This helps me be more accepting of my brothers and sisters from all Christian walks.

[Read my review of The Threefold Art of Experiencing God: The Liberating Power of a Trinitarian Faith.]

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Tags charismatic, evangelical, How Big Is Your Tent?, traditional service, trinity, unity

Visiting Churches

Can You Be Evangelical and Charismatic?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 2, 2015

My wife and I recently visited a church near our home. Their website said they were a charismatic church.

This would make them a refreshing anomaly in an area filled with mainline churches and a sprinkling of evangelical ones. I anticipated what we would find.

However, when we arrived, I was dismayed to read their bulletin, which proclaimed them as an evangelical church. Which was right, their online presence or their printed material?

Were they charismatic or evangelical? Soon I would find out.

As the service unfolded, they were clearly evangelical. Though their worship was a bit more exuberant than typical for fundamental churches, there were no indications of the Holy Spirit’s presence or of the supernatural.

Despite what their website claimed, their bulletin was correct. By their actions and their worship, they were, without a doubt, an evangelical congregation.

Having anticipated a charismatic experience, I was disappointed. Still I enjoyed my time there and lobbied for a return trip, but my wife felt that once was enough.

My wife was unaware of the inconsistency between their website and bulletin. When I shared my frustration over the mixed message, she shook her head in confusion. “Can’t they be both evangelical and charismatic?”

“Of course they can,” I answered, “but few churches are. They tend to be one or the other but not both.” She disagreed with me, but I’m having trouble thinking of an example. (A third option is mainline/liberal.)

However, assuming they embrace the good parts of both perspectives, I’d love to find such a place. I’d feel right at home.

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Tags 52 Churches, charismatic, church services, evangelical, fundamental church, supernatural