Compass, whatever happened to the charismatics?

 

This was an interesting show, I found it so because I was at one stage part of the Charismatic Movement. The late '80 early 90's being part of an Anglican Church in Bendigo.

I'm not sure that the show actually answered the question. Maybe for the the small Uniting Church congregation in Cambera. But not Australia. It was still interesting though!

I think there should have been some definition of the word Charismatic. My definition would be the usage of the gifts of the Spirit in main stream churches. Eg tongues or prophesy used openly in the congregations of Anglican, Uniting Church, Catholic etc. You would then find that most have moved on to the Pentecostal movement which accounts for most of the Pentecostal growth in the 90's. I suppose this was answered in the micro level with the story of O'Connor, but not Australian wide.

Reflecting was this migration the best thing? I don't think so, the main stream has become stale without that expression in the Church. It's a shame.

 

What if the Missional Church went Charismatic?

My old college friend Tim Hein wrote an interesting blog: "What if the Missional Church went Charismatic?" He starts the post with thoughts from Clark Pinnock, (One of my old favorite authors who started my affinity for open theism). Briefly Tim describes how the Holy Spirit within the church takes two modes sacramental and charismatic. Tim then goes on to describe this in practice within the Australian church historically. The renewal or the third wave movement in the 80's. I was involved in the vineyard Church, which was part of this movement. Then the 'missional' Church which I was also involved in refocused things on the Sacremental. It was good to read and have a language for somthing which I went through.

 

Tim asks the question: will the next large renewal within the Church be a merge of these two aspects of the Holy Spirit?

I though about this a lot yesterday. There is possibility, but like all renewels it will come from the mainstream of the Church. I don't think this would include the AOG, Vinyeard or any overtly Chrrismatic group/denomination. The gifts and how they are observed are so well ingrained. My own opinion is that the Charismatic movement has hit 'peak', similar to 'peak oil'; they wont pick up any greater percentage of converts with the Charismatic style and the rules of bagage that goes with it. Most people have already observed and felt similar experience to Charismatic Churches. The ecstasy and feeling of oneness which may happen in a close football match, or a rock concert. Other religions have the same outward expression as Charismatic, the Hindu kundalini for example. Australian now are more likely to weigh this up before making a commitment.

 

I think if the what Tim preposes did come about the movement would be from the Sacrmental side; those who are interested in the more active Charismatic, but hold most stongly to the sacremental. Maybe the renewal would come from the denomination which Tim is in, The Uniting Church. Which is more open to diffen't ideas, it has wide doors. (A wide variety of theology as well) Without neccesary kicking people or making people increadably uncomfortable, if they don't agree.