Dr. Synan’s very fine article describes Oral Roberts (1918-2009) as “one of the most important religious figures of the twentieth century,” and that is indeed true. He, more that any person, brought Pentecostalism to the public fore during the 1950’s and 1960’s with his televised tent healing revivals. He then helped lead, inspire and coach the new charismatic movement that broke out in the 1960’s.

Dr. Synan is recognized as the dean of Pentecostal/charismatic historians. From his pen have flowed some of the major histories of the various Spirit-filled movements of this Century and the past. His first work, The Holiness Pentecostal Movement in the United States (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972) has remained a classic and continues in print to this day. He was also a longtime friend of the Rev. Roberts, and served as Dean of Oral Roberts University’s College of Theology and Ministry.

In this concise article, Dr. Synan outlines Oral Robert’s impressive spiritual journey and life. He was born into a dirt-poor Pentecostal household in Oklahoma, suffered from tuberculosis as a teen, but was miraculously healed. He went on to become a Church of God minister. He rose in rank and responsibilities in that denomination, but surrendered that role and its securities to become a traveling healing evangelist. In that he was perhaps the most successful in his class, aided by the advent of radio and television, which his ministry team mastered. By 1960, he was the world’s best known Pentecostal minister and “faith healer,” a term he disliked. Roberts friendship with Billy Graham opened doors of opportunities and increased interest in the healing ministry among previously suspicious Evangelicals – not a small achievement.

In 1965 he founded ORU, which has become one of the great Christian Universities of the World. At that time, he also became a key figure in the new Charismatic Movement (which might be dated at 1960). Oral Roberts influence among charismatics came mainly through his TV ministry, but increased by his surprise transfer to the United Methodist Church where he became an elder (1968). His friendship and consistent support of Demos Shakarian and his Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International (FGBMFI) was also a major boost to the Charismatic Movement.

Roberts was ousted from the United Methodist because of his sometimes-extravagant fund raising tactics, as in claims that the Lord would call him to his heavenly home unless the funding for his “City of Faith” complex was complete. But by that time, Rev. Roberts was definitively planted in Charismatic circles and that change was of no great concern. Years later when he did go to his heavenly reward, his stature as both a Pentecostal and Charismatic was unchallenged.

This is a very insightful article, a must read for those want to know about the relationship between Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement. I must register a minor disagreement with its title. It is a bit of a stretch to call Oral Roberts “Father” of the Charismatic Movement. This suggests that without him it would not have been birthed. Certainly, without him it would have grown slower or flowed in different (perhaps inferior) direction. And certainly, ORU would not have been birthed. But a movement like the Charismatic Movement is made up of many rivers that flow into one mighty river, as for instance the Mississippi. Which secondary river is the most important? Similarly, there were several “fathers” of the Charismatic Movement, such as Demos Sharakian,[1] Dennis Bennett, Glenn Clark and a mother too (Agnes Sanford).[2]

Aside from this historian’s quibble this article is really a great summary of Oral Robert’s contribution to the Spirit-filled churches of the modern era (sometimes called “Renewalist” churches) and a great source. I especially recommend it to college students and seminarians who want to study either Pentecostalism or the Charismatic movement.

A final observation. It is wonderful to see the rebirth of the Spiritus journal. It first appeared decades ago and then disappeared, but this issue indicates that it will be among the most important journals for Renewalist Christians.

Reviewed by William De Arteaga

Read the full article: http://digitalshowcase.oru.edu/spiritus/vol2/iss2/4

Notes

[1] I have suggested in an earlier article that the founding of the FGBMFI may be a better marker for the beginning of the Charismatic Movement than Fr. Dennis Bennett’s dramatic announcement that he spoke in tongues (1960). See William De Arteaga, “Demos Shakarian and His Ecumenical Businessmen,” Pneuma Review (Summer 2014).  http://pneumareview.com/demos-sakarian-and-the-his-ecumenical-businessmen/

[2] On the importance of Agnes Sanford to the Charismatic Movement see my work, Agnes Sanford and Her Companions: The Assault on Cessationism and the Coming of the Charismatic Renewal (Wipf & Stock, 2015)

The death of Oral Roberts early in 2010 was quickly followed by many articles and stories that were published in Christian and other periodicals. I knew Mr. Roberts only briefly, but during that short period, he taught me several things which are worth passing on.

Early FGBMFI meeting inside Clifton’s.

I heard of Roberts shortly after I was saved in 1961. I began to attend Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship meetings in 1962, and he was one of the personalities in the forefront of this organization. His prophecy at an early FGBMFI meeting on the second floor of Clifton’s restaurant in Los Angeles brought enthusiasm and a sense of destiny to that group. I later got to that restaurant, and ate in those rooms.

I lived in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1964, and drove to Hagerstown, Maryland to attend one of Roberts’ tent meetings that summer. I stood in the prayer line following the service, and Mr. Roberts laid his hands on me and prayed over me when my turn arrived. I do not remember what I was seeking at that moment.

I met him again after I had moved to California in 1979. I remember him at Church on the Way when he spoke to the staff, and one other occasion when we connected for an hour or so.

During the latter talk, Oral described an error that he had committed when he was a young minister and then later regretted. He was first credentialed by a Pentecostal Holiness denomination that emphasized how we were to react to fashion and in particular, how the ladies in those churches were to react and behave. There were all sorts of negative rules about makeup, using lipstick, the length of skirts and dresses, how one’s hair was to be done, and restrictions on wearing jewelry.

Oral told me that he strictly enforced those rules; that he insisted that his wife Evelyn was to set an example as were his daughters. Some years later, he read the passage in Ezekiel 16 where God took an abandoned naked female who had reached maturity and dressed her to be his bride. This Scripture describes the beautiful clothing and jewels that were part of God’s intended appearance for this woman.

Oral sought guidance from God about this scripture—I recall him saying he was particularly bothered by the nose ring, and then God spoke to Oral about Oral’s rules for the females in his life. Roberts told me that God told him that his wife wanted to be beautiful to and for her husband, and that God had put that desire into every female on the earth. Moreover, Roberts’ attempts to prevent his wife from fulfilling her God given nature were selfish and sinful.

Oral Roberts, Expect A Miracle: My Life and Ministry (Thomas Nelson, 1995), 388 pages, ISBN 9780785274650.

There is something powerful about reading stories of lives God has used. Autobiographies never go out of date. While this was published in 1995, it has a vitality and ring of truth that grows with age. I like reading autobiographies, particularly when they are written by contemporaries that I knew or knew about.

Oral Roberts relates his beginnings, beginnings that were humble indeed. We learn that his sister Jewel spoke seven simple words to her brother when he was dying of Tuberculosis. “Oral, God is going to heal you.” Several days later Oral’s father knelt by his son’s bedside and prayed Oral into the Kingdom of God. Within days of his confession, Oral’s brother Elmer took Oral to a tent meeting in Ada, Oklahoma where evangelist Charles Moncey was preaching. That night Oral was healed and also called into the ministry—a ministry that so many of us have enjoyed. God brings His ministers to all kinds of places we do not know to reach people that we again do not know.

Oral received an audible call from God immediately before he was healed: “You are to take My healing power to your generation. You are to build Me a university and build it on My authority and the Holy Spirit” (p. 32).

Oral’s book reminds us that there is a long distance to travel from the call to the result and he takes the reader on that trip in an engaging manner. I was challenged as I read of Oral’s struggles and his devotion to his Savior who called him. Successful people work hard, they stand against adversity from every direction and they often partner with God so that their lives make people expect miracles. I did not know that in his first healing crusade Oral Roberts faced a man who had a revolver in his hand and pulled the trigger only to miss our brother by 18 inches.

Oral soon began to recognize a warming in his right hand that came and went. When that feeling was present people got healed, and Roberts soon came to depend on that sign of God’s presence when preparing for his crusade services. We read of the healing of a deaf boy one night in a small church in Nowata, OK. I marvel at the visitations of a God who is so great that He can show up in a place named Nowata and change the destiny of a small child and never lose a moment on His throne. We are never fully prepared for Him to act until He does and then all we can do is marvel.

In July 1950 Oral Roberts possessed the largest tent available. It sat 12,000 people. Oral wrote “I wish I could describe to you the feelings that swept over me when I stood before the crowds, knowing that after I preached and extended the invitation for the unsaved to receive Christ, hundreds of very sick people were going to come before me, one by one, as I took on all their sicknesses with my faith in the living Christ” (pp. 103-104).

Oral Roberts had some great moments and some terrible difficult moments to live through as he gave his life to telling you and me about our God.

He closes his autobiography with his ten secrets of success. This chapter is perhaps the best of the entire book which I found moving and inspiring. I like Oral’s first principle: Remember that the message is far greater than the messenger. Indeed without the message, we would all be chaff blowing in the wind. We do thank our Heavenly Father for sending gifts to the body of Christ like Oral Roberts. In as much as he followed Jesus, let us emulate him. Surely the Lord has used him to impact his generation.

Reviewed by H. Murray Hohns

Further reading:

Miracles supplement:  www.oralroberts.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/DOC_BIN/miracles_mag/2010/pdf/ORinsertWeb.pdf