What Is A "Charismatic?"

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Charismatic:

Todd Bentley
Toronto Blessing
Brownsville
Pulpits splitting
TBN
Rodney Howard Brown


A charismatic is someone I'm not!

Fibber! I have seen you talk to Bentley about Toronto whilst in Brownsville splitting a pulpit on TBN which Rodney Howard Brown was hosting. What a liar you are NOW!!!

[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.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

In general I do not use Charismatic in a disparaging fashion.

However, I cannot identify with this at all: "...who seek an ecstatic religious experience"

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

[/B]


Why? Just wondering. Please explain so I can understand what you are saying. Thanks.

BT

Because seeking an ecstatic religious experience is quite simply not something I do.

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by 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.

Good post! Thought provoking!

BT

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

Because seeking an ecstatic religious experience is quite simply not something I do.

Do you have them, but just do not seek them or do you not have any ecstatic religious experiences?

Interesting.

BT

[shag]

BT,
I been thinkin and that is one crazy looking photo that catches my attention glaring at me, every time I see one of your posts- LOL





I very much agree with the last pragraph of Jeffery's last post.

[Apocrypha]

Over the years I have tried to find what the line between Charismatic and Pentecostal is... heres the best answer I can come up with.

Pentecostals believe that tongues is the initial sign on of the baptism of the Spirit. They also come from the groups that were formed around the Azuza street experience / Topeka, Kansas / and the early pentecostal camp meetings.


Charismatics believe that tongues is one of many evidences of being filled with the spirit. They came from whats called the "second wave" of people who were filled in the 50-80s from a variety of traditions like catholic, mainline evangelical, jesus people/hippie, and non-denominational.

[Brad Murphy]

There are definitely two definitions of charismatic.. the one that people within the Pentecostal/Apostolic culture use as a disparaging label, and the actual definition in the dictionary.... which ironically describes those people within the Pentecostal/Apostolic Culture:

char-is-mat-ic - adjective

1. of, having, or characteristic of charisma.
2. characterizing Christians of various denominations who seek an ecstatic religious experience, sometimes including speaking in tongues and instantaneous healing.

-noun
3. a Christian who emphasizes such a religious experience.

Given this, people who make up their own definitions for words are never going to be in agreement with everyone else (ie- dictionary.com)

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by 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.

I would agree with this being what most "Pentecostals" think!

If you start down that slippery slope of not abiding by the clothing rules - you are "going charismatic" by your church peers.

[Sherri]

Charismatic - it's what we get called all the time by people in the organization that we left.

It's SO not who we are.