Vinson Synan, “2000 Years of Prophetic Ministry: Read the Stories Behind the Gift” Ministries Today (Sep/Oct, 2004), pages 24-28.

Vinson Synan

Vinson Synan, perhaps the leading historian of the modern Pentecostal movement, presents a two part review of the place prophecy has held in the church. The “centuries of suppression” lasted for about 1900 years, and generally were not very happy or fruitful for the prophetic gifts. The second portion of the review tells of prophecy’s gain in the eyes of church leaders and the laity since the days when William Seymour laid his hands upon and prophesied for the many men and women who had received the “message” at Azusa Street and went forth from there.

Synan has the great advantage of being part of our history and knowing many that played key roles in that unraveling of blessing and wonder in the last 100 years. He touches on half a dozen prophecies that changed the world as well discussing the need for us, today’s leaders, to teach how we are to minister in this great gift to the church and to the world that God so loves. Sound teaching about how one should prophesy is something that should interest all Christian leaders.

Reviewed by H. Murray Hohns

Read the article from Ministries Today archives: http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/ministry-today-archives/152-fivefold-ministries/9666-2000-years-of-prophecy [available as of June 24, 2014]

Have you ever been told that the charismatic movement is new and therefore theologically suspicious? Do not believe such rumors because they are not true, as this book clearly demonstrates. Actually, there may not be another book available today that presents such a continuity of the ministry of the Holy Spirit throughout church history. This book handily debunks the old claim that Pentecostal/charismatics are the new kids on the theological block.

This readable history of the charismata offers convincing evidence that Pentecostal/charismatics stand in a long tradition of God’s supernatural power in His people. From the book of Acts, to the time of persecution under the Roman emperors, to the suppression of the charismata with the institutionalization of the church, to the preservation of those gifts among some ecclesiastical orders and movements outside the institutional church, to the rediscovery of the gifts by the Great Reformation, to the Wesleys and the holiness movements that followed them, to the 20^th Century Pentecostal and charismatic movements—Hyatt summarizes the history of the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit among God’s people.

Eddie L. Hyatt

As a student of Pentecostal/charismatic history, the most significant highlights for me were: the succinct way in which the institutionalizing of the church under Constantine was presented as the quencher of the gifts; the explanation of the Anabaptists and Mennonites in contrast to the excessive movements that started from the same Radical Reformation; and a more thorough look at the real nature of Charles Parham’s ministry and its impact on the early Pentecostal movement. Two things I would have liked to have seen would be, first, a summary of some of the great research Dr. Jack Deere on the charismatic nature of the Great Reformation (see especially Surprised by the Voice of God from Zondervan, 1998). Dr. Deere makes quite a case for how any history of the supernatural has been suppressed by anti-charismatic religious leaders (Unfortunately, Hyatt seems to make the same mistake as many classical Pentecostals in equating Calvinism with cessationism [see page 112]. Of course, charismatic Calvinists would object to this assertion). Secondly, the locations of historical events and people seemed to move further and further west throughout the chronology. Although this is an excellent beginning, I also long to see a history of Eastern and global Christianity from a Pentecostal/charismatic perspective.

Looking forward, Hyatt tells us the lessons we stand to learn, “History would inform us that the key for the church in the twenty-first century is not to be found in outward form and structure. Both the New Testament and church history indicate that the key for the church is to be found in an inner attitude of faith in Christ and an openness to the wind of the Spirit that blows, not where He must, but where He wills” (p. 191).

I highly recommend this introduction to the undeniable history of the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit through all of church history.

Reviewed by Raul L. Mock

Preview 2000 Years: books.google.com/books/?id=_7Rr7vX6TegC

The conclusions of this article stand in significant contrast to the article by Maureen Eha that appeared just one issue prior in Charisma. This article introduces itself by saying, “Too many Christians today spend their energy fighting Satan when they should be humbling themselves before God. Have you focused your life on the enemy rather than on Christ?”

Find some great articles on practical ministry in these theme issues for church leaders:

Enrichment Spring 2000 offers a Family Ministry theme.

Leadership Winter 2000 challenges and guides you into preaching to today’s fragmented congregations in this “Wordcasting” issue.

Enrichment Summer 2000 focuses on Single Adult Ministry.

“Losing Our Promiscuity” by Paula Rinehart. Christianity Today (July 10, 2000). Pp. 32-39.

Rinehart says that the church has an unprecedented chance to reach a generation burned by commitment-free sex.

Should Christians Expect Miracles Today? Objections and Answers from the Bible by Wayne Grudem. This is Part 4 of answers to some of the most common objections to the contemporary gifts of the Holy Spirit.

“The Voice of the Shofar” by Kevin Williams will continue his Messianic Foundations Series. Kevin looks at the many layered meanings and importance of the ram’s horn trumpet.

The Praying in the Spirit Series by Robert W. Graves continues with “How the Prayer Language Comes.” Author Robert Graves presents a simple but provocative introduction to glossolalia as the evidence of Spirit baptism.

“Origins of Pentecostalism” by Vinson Synan. Professor Vinson Synan traces the origins and early development of the Pentecostal movement.

A new series of articles for worship leaders and worshipping churches will begin with “The Art of Exhortation” by Vineyard Pastor Bob Sorge.

Notes from the Editor:

This issue marks two years of publication. On behalf of the editors, I would like to express thanks to God for His blessing upon this publication. The Pneuma Review has grown to be more than what many of us dreamed possible. I trust that our readers have found it to be a great resource and encouragement. We look forward to great issues and great subjects in the future.

My gratitude goes out to many individuals that have contributed articles and reviews to this journal. This journal of ministry resources and theology would not have been possible without you. Just to name a few, thanks to Jon Ruthven, Ron Messelink, Wayne Grudem, Robert Graves, Michael Peters, Richard Riss, Carl Halquist, Bill Faupel, Philip Yancey, Murray Hohns, and Kevin Williams for your significant contributions to the Pneuma Review [Please click on their names to go directly to their author page]. Thanks also to all that have contributed in big and small ways to the publication of this journal.

— Raul Mock, Executive Editor

Interview by Edward Gilbreath, “The Jerry We Never Knew” Christianity Today (April 24, 2000), pages 113-114.

This interview with Jerry Falwell shows a side of this outspoken and uncompromising activist, college president, sports fan, “compassionate conviction” evangelical, and family man that few ever see.

The March/April 2000 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review (Vol 26 No 2) has devoted three articles to the debate about whether the Bible offers reliable history. If new to BAR, please keep in mind that this is not an evangelical publication. This issue of BAR also continues the important (well, at least interesting) debate about the actual location of the Second Temple with a research article by Leen Ritmeyer.

Lauren S. Winner, “T. D. Jakes Feels Your Pain” Christianity Today (February 7, 2000), pages 52-59.

Some are calling T.D. Jakes the next Billy Graham. Others think he is a cultic heretic. The non-charismatic publication Christianity Today takes a fair look at this charismatic leader. They show how he is impacting his generation and African-American culture with a full-life gospel message, as well as looking at what some believe to be more than just semantical doctrinal differences. If this leader interests you, you will want to be aware of an article in Charisma (April 2000) that answers charges leveled at Jakes in Christian Research Institute’s (headed by Hank Hanegraaff) journal.

As the rest of the world is experiencing unparalleled church and Christian growth, America has become an unchurched nation.

Jim Dettmann in June 2005.

The Pneuma Foundation has come into being for the purpose of providing Biblical resources and information with the intent of expounding and defending the work of God the Holy Spirit and His gifts. These resources are for ministers and lay workers. We want to help local churches equip the saints and defend the Pentecostal/charismatic movement as having a great deal to contribute to the body of Christ.

Pentecostals and charismatics have caused a resurgence in the gifts of the Spirit for today. This movement has brought to the fore-front such issues as divine healing, power confrontations with he kingdom of darkness, the prayer of faith, New Testament prophecy, praying in tongues, the five-fold ministry, and the ministry of the miraculous. These issues are often taught without a strong Biblical foundation. This has led to error, extremes, and a weakened witness to other evangelicals. Therefore, our purpose is to help provide a balanced, non-denominational, Scriptural foundation for the gifts of the Spirit. We also desire to promote dialogue with non-charismatic evangelicals in the hopes of bringing us together in greater unity and practice.

The Pneuma Review, our quarterly journal, is designed along with other resources to assist in this vision.

James M. Dettmann President, Pneuma Foundation  

Thanks to you, Pneuma Foundation members and friends, for assisting us financially in seeing this vision become a reality.

The Praying in the Spirit Series by Robert W. Graves continues with That Glorious Day When Tongues Are Not Needed, Until Then . . . Author Robert Graves answers four primary objections to the continuation of the gifts of the Spirit: a) Tongues were a sign; b) Tongues were revelatory in nature and the completion of Scripture ended all revelation c) after Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, the New Testament is completely silent on tongues, therefore they had ceased d) Historical writing of the church fathers after AD 100 do not indicate a continuance of the supernatural gifts of the Spirit.

Should Christians Expect Miracles Today? Objections and Answers from the Bible by Wayne Grudem. This is Part 2 of answers to some of the most frequent objections to the contemporary gifts of the Holy Spirit. See the end of this quarter’s installment to preview what is coming in the next issue.

Answering the Cessationists’ Case Against Continuing Spiritual Gifts by Jon Ruthven. Professor Jon Ruthven continues his discussion of the gifts of the Spirit by answering the critics major objections. Be enriched in your understanding of the contemporary gifts of the Spirit.

Cain and Abel by Kevin Williams will continue his Messianic Foundations Series. Rabbi Williams will be looking at the sin that crouches at the door and the acceptability of Abel’s sacrifice in the important story of Cain and Abel.

N. R. Needham, 2000 Years of Christ’s Power, Part I: The Age of the Early Church Fathers (London: Grace Publications, 1998), 400 pages.

When I originally saw the title and the brief description of 2000 Years of Christ’s Power in a publisher’s catalog, I thought that I had found another historical study of the miraculous and the gifts of the Spirit throughout Christian history. 2000 Years is certainly Church history, but a historical defense of the gifts of the Holy Spirit it is not.

2000 Years was written by a professor of Church history that has lamented the disparity between the two genre of Christian histories that exist: works for scholars and oversimplified works for children. Finding no happy medium that presented a popular approach to Church history, Needham has attempted to do so with this series of volumes. Written such that this series could be easily translated or at least understood by those who have a limited understanding of the English language, this series will likely find its way into foreign English-speaking Bible institutes.

As a popular Church history 2000 Years is excellent. There are no untransliterated Greek words or untranslated Latin. Names often include a pronunciation key, geographic locations are explained such that you will not need an atlas handy. Although Needham is expecting a Western reader, an Eastern-Oriental viewpoint is expressed in such a way that it can be received and appreciated. Explanations of the society of the day and contemporary events are presented so that the Church is rightly understood in its cultural setting. In this first volume, Part 1, many of the misunderstood beliefs or difficulties of the early Church are approached so that they will make sense to any reader. Was Origen a heretic or did he make a lasting contribution to the Body of Christ? What did the champion of Trinitarianism, Athanasius, mean when he spoke about believers becoming God? Was Constantine the Great really a Christian? Why did the fathers of the early Church get so worked up over terms like nature, energy, person, and will? How does the liturgy of the early Church differ from what we practice today? Did pagan philosophy, such as Neoplatonism, affect the theology of the early Church? Each chapter is broken up into readable portions with a list of important Church and political leaders at the end followed by Needham’s own translation of select works from the Church fathers themselves. These readings from the Church fathers are especially valuable to give an introduction to the thought of the early Church.

The pastor or Bible student will find 2000 Years to be an able introduction to the history of Christianity. Many will find it more thorough than any histories they have previously read. The presentation is balanced, approaching the story of the Body of Christ from an evangelical perspective. For these reasons, this will make a valuable contribution to any student’s library.

Reviewed by Raul Mock