What Is A "Charismatic?"

[Jeffrey]

It is difficult to pin down, just like nailing down "Pentecostal."

But historically, "charismatic" refers to those who are not theologically Pentecostal, but those who began to welcome the charismata (gifts of Spirit) in their congregations, without making changes in anything else. In other words, these were the Baptists, Methodists, Presbytarians, Catholics, etc that began to participate in this "renewal" of the Charismatic gifts.

Pentecostalism refers more to the early 20th Century movement, and one that in general viewed the Spirit as something we encounter, believed in glossolalia (some groups believing tongues were the exclusive evidence of the Holy Spirit), identified with pre-millennial views, and on and on. Great books on this are out there, which mostly are history.

In perspective of Restorationism, if the renewal of Spirit is the significant measuring stick, all who believe in the charismata are in a broad category called "Pentecostal/Charismatic."

Many Classical Pentecostals use the word "charismatic" as a label to write other brothers off. It's a pejorative term, referring to a lower class of Christian, one who is delusional and one who doesn't have a zeal for Jesus as much anymore.