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Defending Charismatic Theology to Non-Charismatic Believers

| March 23, 2010 | no comments

The best argument to help convince non-charismatics is living a life full of the fruit of the Spirit.

Conclusion. As noted above, employment of these arguments will rarely result in the capitulation of an adherent to the anti-charismatic cause. But you must remain patient. Do not underestimate the Holy Spirit’s ability to use these defenses of charismatic theology to gradually wear down a cessassionist’s views. These arguments can help move someone from being anti-charismatic to non-charismatic. I suspect they can also nudge a non-charismatic just a little closer to the fullness of the charismatic life.

 

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Notes

1 Journals include The Pneuma Review and Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

2 Hendrickson Publishers in Peabody, Massachusetts is one significant example.

3 E.g. Stephen Vantassel, “Book Review: Charismatic Chaos by John F. Macarthur Jr. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992). Pp.308.,” Paraclete 28, no. 1 (1994).

4 Fallacious arguments can be classified in different ways. For details on a variety of logical fallacies consult Patrick J. Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic, Second ed. (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1985).100-158. Readers should understand that author of this article has simplified terms in order to enhance reader understanding.

5 Ibid. 148-149.

6 Ibid.112-3.

The author has expanded this article from one entitled Stephen M. Vantassel, “Tips for Communicating to Our Non-Charismatic Reformed Brothers,” Association of Charismatic Reformed Churches Newsletter (2007).

 

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Category: Pneuma Review, Spirit, Winter 2010

About the Author: Stephen M. Vantassel, Ph.D. theology (Trinity Theological Seminary), M.A.T.S. Old Testament (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), B.S. Biblical Studies (Gordon College), is a Tutor of Theology at King’s Evangelical Divinity School in Broadstairs, U.K. and Assistant Editor for the Evangelical Review of Theology and Politics. His dissertation was published in expanded form in Dominion over Wildlife? An Environmental-Theology of Human-Wildlife Relations (Wipf and Stock, 2009), explains how biblical teaching on the use of animals provides a rubric for how God wants humanity to use the earth. He lives in Montana with his wife Donna. He regularly posts articles at kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel.

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