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Particulars
of Christianity:
310
Pentecostalism, the Charismatic
and Faith Movements
Our Background
and Objectivity
Our
Background and Objectivity
Comparing Modern Tongues to Biblical
Tongues
Basic Introduction to the Charismatic
Movement
Opening Remarks and Introduction
to the Gifts
Survey 1 - Continuity of the
Gifts in the First Few Centuries
Survey 2 - Decline of Orthodox
Gifts and Rise of Counterfeit Gifts
Survey 3 - A Change in Tune Regarding
the Gifts
Survey 4 - From the Renaissance
to the Modern Era
An Introduction to the Gifts
in Modern Times
The Origins of the Modern Charismatic
Movement
Section 1 | Section
2 | Section 3 | Section
4
| Section 5
As
we begin this study, it is important to note for the readers
that we (the authors of these articles) were actually former
members of the Charismatic Faith Movement. However, in the
year immediately following our college graduation, we embarked
upon a series of studies that contrary to our intentions,
resulted in our leaving the Charismatic Faith Movement. The
reasons we left will be explained in this series of articles.
We feel it is important to state up front that we are former
Charismatics because we believe it helps to establish our
credibility to speak on this issue. On that note, we would
like to state up front that we spent nearly 9 years attending
a Charismatic Faith Movement Church. We have spoken in tongues.
We have laid hands on people and believed for healing. We
have sown financial seeds in faith. We have placed ourselves
under the "anointing" of ministers. And during the long time
period in which we were Charismatics, we even rigorously spoke
out to defend Charismatic doctrine and convince others that
they should speak in tongues as well.
In fact, being Charismatic was the Christianity we were raised
in from an early age. So, when we say that we left the Charismatic
Movement, we are not just talking about a short stay in a
particular area or denomination of the Church to which we
were not particularly attached. We're talking about reevaluating
and changing doctrinal views and practices that were ingrained
in us from a very early age and that were not only extremely
comfortable for us, but also very much enjoyable to us, and
an integral part of our Christian up-bringing.
Because of our personal history, we hope that Charismatic
Christians who read this series of articles, will do so with
the awareness that we are not just "outsiders" who reject
Charismatic doctrines as "weird" and "uncomfortable" or who
"lack the faith or courage to get out of our comfort zone
and let the Holy Spirit lead us." We hope that Charismatic
readers will regard us not as "an enemy" but as someone who
has in many ways walked in the same shoes, having ourselves
believed, practiced, and defended Charismatic beliefs for
many, many years.
To those on the other side of this debate, those who are not
Charismatics, we hope that they will find our perspective
and arguments to be insightful since they come from an insider's
point of view. While we are no longer Charismatics (nor do
we seek to find a way to return to being Charismatic), we
do believe that non-charismatic Christians have in some cases
overreached when it comes to some of their arguments. There
has been a lot of rhetoric and emotion on either side of this
debate. And as former Charismatics now turned non-Charismatic,
it is our hope to provide a fair, logical, and accurate Biblical
and historical analysis behind the modern charismatic gifts
and how they relate to the gifts spoken of in the New Testament
and practiced in the first few centuries AD.
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