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Particulars
of Christianity:
310
Pentecostalism, the Charismatic
and Faith Movements
Basic
Introduction to the Charismatic Movement
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
Up
to this point in the article, we have used the joint-term
Charismatic Faith Movement. This we have done for simplicity.
However, it is necessary before we move ahead, to properly
distinguish between the Charismatic Movement and the Faith
Movement. In truth, the Charismatic Movement or Charismatic
branch of the Church is a very broad category that includes
some formal denominations as well as some loosely affiliated
and altogether unaffiliated non-denominational churches. On
the other hand, the term "Faith Movement" has been coined
to denote a specific subcategory within the broader Charismatic
category.
Although this is only a loose rule of thumb, in our experience,
formal denominations are usually just Charismatic and not
part of the Faith Movement, while the unaffiliated or loosely
affiliated non-denominations Churches within the Charismatic
Movement tend to be Faith Movement Churches. In addition,
Faith Movement churches can get rather large in size, sometimes
reaching thousands of members in a single congregation. But
this is not a rule. Many Faith Movement Churches are smaller
in size as well and comparable with what we might consider
an average-sized congregation. On the other hand, denominational
Charismatic congregations are typically small or average in
size as well and there numbers probably vary on a local basis
as much as any other denomination.
The following are some of the names of formal Charismatic
denominations:
1.Pentecostal (United Pentecostal Church)
2. Assemblies of God
3. International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
4. Church of God in Christ
5. Church of Christ
6. *(Charismatic groups on local levels in the Catholic
Church)
7. *Vineyard Churches (more of an "informal" denomination
than a formal denomination)
Because Faith Movement leaders often appear on television,
Faith Movement Churches and Ministries are often more readily
identified in terms of their ministers than the names of the
Churches themselves. The following are the names of some of
the larger, more well-known Faith Movement ministers in the
country:
1. Kenneth Copeland
2. Kenneth Hagin
3. Benny Hinn
4. Frederick Price
5. Morris Cerullo
6. Marilyn Hickey
7. Oral Roberts - Oral Roberts University
8. Jesse Duplantis
9. Jerry Savelle
10. Creflo Dollar
While it is not necessary to be exhaustive or overly explanatory,
it would perhaps provide some clarity to briefly describe
some general similarities and differences between the Charismatic
category as a whole and the Faith Movement as a smaller subset
within that category. Of course, do to the accessibility of
Faith Movement and Charismatic teaching on television and
in bookstores, the line of distinction between the two may
be growing more blurred all the time.
By definition, all members of the Charismatic community, including
the Faith Movement, believe that the spiritual gifts found
in the Bible are alive and well and functioning in the modern
Church today, specifically in the Charismatic churches. However,
those in the Faith Movement typically add to these beliefs
other doctrines that are not held by other Charismatics in
general.
Perhaps the clearest distinction between Charismatics in general
and those in the Faith Movement is the extent to which those
in the Faith Movement teach financial growth and gaining of
control over the circumstances of life through the expression
of faith. While Charismatics in general do believe in the
empowerment to perform miracles, such as healings, which can
supernaturally change the natural circumstances, Faith Movement
believers take this notion a step or two further. The notion
that all of our circumstances including our financial status,
our careers, our health, our life-goals, our family situation,
and virtually everything else in life can be controlled and
changed through acting and speaking in faith is a belief that
is uniquely a part of the Faith Movement and does not pertain
to Charismatic Movement in general.
It is this belief that acting and speaking in faith can reshape
the world around us, which has led to the terms "Faith Movement,"
"Health and Wealth Movement," or "Name-it-Claim-it" as names
for this subcategory of the Charismatic Movement.
So, when we see the terms Charismatic and Faith Movement,
we must understand that these are groups that are somewhat
distinct. While all Faith Movement believers are by definition
charismatic, not all Charismatics are in the Faith Movement.
The Charismatic Movement is a broad category in the modern
Church and the Faith Movement is a smaller category within
the Charismatic Community. Because this is the case, some
of the issues discussed in this series of articles will pertain
to the entire Charismatic Movement while others will pertain
only to the Faith Movement.
In general, below are some of the types of beliefs and practices
that can be found in the Charismatic category as a whole,
some of which apply more directly to the Faith Movement. It
is our intent to discuss these issues as well as other issues
and the history of this subject in the following series of
articles. In general, items that appear earlier in the list
below tend to be associated with all Charismatics in general
while later items in the list tend to relate more to the Faith
Movement.
1. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is believed to be a "second
work of the Holy Spirit," which provides sanctification, as
opposed to the "first work," which might be defined as the
rebirth.
2. Speaking in tongues (and prophesying), are defined
as the primary evidence of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
3. The Spiritual gifts, such as those listed in 1 Corinthians
12:8-10 are practiced and believed to still operate in the
church:
a. Gift of wisdom
b. Word of knowledge
c. Miraculous healing
d. Miracles in general (which don't fall into other
more identifiable categories)
e. Discerning of spirits
f. Interpretation of tongues
4. The practice of casting out demons - Mark 16:17
(which could be include among "e." above.
5. Belief in "the anointing," (a term which can be
defined in various ways.)
6. The office of Apostles and Prophets continues in
the Church today.
7. Emphasis on tithing and giving (seed sowing) for
personal financial growth.
8. Emphasis on health and wealth - speaking in faith
and acting in faith to obtain these.
9. Emphasis on a special calling and destiny for each
individual (and, therefore, pursuing your dreams and "dreaming
big for God.")
10. Laying on of hands (which is also often associated
with being "slain in the spirit".)
11. Uncontrollable laughter (and other ecstatic behavior
"under the Holy Spirit.")
12. Spiritual warfare (depicted as worship and prayer
affecting the battling of angels and demons - as described
in the fictional novels by Frank Peretti: This Present
Darkness, and Piercing the Darkness.)
13. Ministry of "helps," particularly as a way of serving
the church in "small ways" as a way of "sowing seed" for God's
plan in your life.
Some other beliefs or notions that have been popularized or
at least developed by the Charismatic and Faith Movements
include:
1. In general how people approach prayer, including
what we can ask for and explaining why we don't always receive
(particularly such passages as Matthew 21:22 and John 15:7)
2. The frequent use of such phrases as "God told me"
or "God's called me" or "the Lord's teaching me" or "I have
a word for you from God" (or even "I had a dream from God"),
etc.
3. A general belief in western, particularly American
churches that God generally wants us...
a. to have the things we want
b. to be happy
c. to be well-off to varying degrees
d. to be in good health and without suffering
4. General "broadening" of the use of the term miracle
- in order to allow a larger number of events to be qualified
as miraculous.
5. Characterizing faith and reason in opposition to
each other.
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