Clive Calver: Descending Like a Dove
In Chapter 20, the final chapter, Calver offers instructions for receiving the Spirit. He presents the different views held by charismatics, Pentecostals and Evangelicals and then shows where they agree on the subject. “Evangelical Christians all agree that each one of us needs power from God with which to live the Christian life,” he writes (160). This power is available to all believers “because each of us receives the Holy Spirit at conversion” (161). The different schools of thought would also agree that the Holy Spirit “wants to achieve more in our lives than a mere one-time experience could achieve” (161). In addition to providing gifts, the Spirit produces fruit in the lives of believers (162).
The audience for this work appears to be Evangelicals or believers who are new to the charismatic experience. This is suggested because most of the teachings presented are probably familiar to most charismatics, particularly those who are mature in their faith. Using First Corinthians 12 as a reference point, he explains that the nine spiritual gifts are divided into three categories: Gifts of revelations (discerning of spirits, word of knowledge, word of wisdom), gifts of activity (gifts of healing, working of miracles, gift of faith), and gifts for communication (gift of tongues, gift of interpretation, gift of prophecy) (87). He notes, however, that these gifts “sometimes cause a problem” because they are not always accepted by the church, especially those that believe the age of miracles has past (86).
His views about the anointing to witness are also commonly held, as are his views on the Person of the Holy Spirit and His role within the Godhead.
Descending Like a Dove has a Foreword by Ted Haggard, former president of the National Association of Evangelicals. It describes some of the issues that may have led to the book’s publication: “The Holy Spirit has often been associated with bizarre religious meetings, financial irresponsibility, and extravagant speech” (xi).
Calver addresses these issues in a way that is practical, encouraging and engaging. In doing so, he takes the works of the Spirit out of the popular realm of mysticism, doubt, and fanaticism, and places them into practical, day-to-day reality. In short, he successfully shows how the Spirit can be influential and empowering in all areas of the believer’s life.
Reviewed by Roscoe Barnes III
1 David Wilkerson, “A Christless Pentecost! Is Christ Becoming a Stranger in Our Midst?” Sermon Online, October 1982 http://www.worldchallenge.org/pulpit_series/archive/ps82_1000.html (accessed Jan.1, 2008).
Preview Descending Like a Dove: http://books.google.com/books?id=cET7MUPE9X8C
Category: Spirit, Spring 2008
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