Praying in the Spirit: Beyond the Charismatic Experience
The Pentecostal-charismatic renewal has awakened the Church to the full spectrum of spiritual gifts.
Body Ministry
Charismatic theology, more than any other, argues for lay participation within the church—all are participants, no one is merely a spectator. In charismatic Christianity the distinction between lay and clergy is blurred. We are all ministers! This, I believe, is one reason that the Pentecostal-charismatic renewal is opposed by certain churchmen. They are threatened. In reality there is no reason for this reaction, for it does not follow that all are leaders just because all are ministers. Charismatic fellowships, too, must have leaders.
The Pentecostal-charismatic renewal has awakened the Church to the full spectrum of spiritual gifts. Not only has God given to the Church pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and teachers, but every day souls are added to the Church and to these souls are distributed a variety of spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11).
To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
(1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
Until the advent of the Pentecostal movement near the turn of the twentieth century, the full array of these gifts was of little importance to the Church. It was though 1 Corinthians 12-14 had been ripped from the Bible. But the Pentecostal-charismatic renewal has reestablished the importance of each gift and, thus, the importance of each Christian as a minister.
A Final Word to Charismatic and Non-Charismatic Pastors
Charismatic theology, more than any other, argues for lay participation within the church.
Category: Spirit, Summer 2001