There is no Charismatic Movement


There is no "Charismatic Movement." 


I have been listening to sessions from the "Strange Fire Conference."  The fact that the conference is directed at "The Charismatic Movement" is indicative of the lack of understanding here.  Being charismatic has to do with the theological conviction that the gifts of the Spirit described in the Bible are still at work in the world today.  Calling every person who holds that belief a member of the same "movement" is a convenient way to judge everyone they disagree with, but it just isn't the reality.  There is no "Charismatic Movement."  There are people of that theological conviction from dozens of diverse traditions and backgrounds, including catholics, presbyterians, baptists, pentecostals, etc. 

 It would be like calling the English speaking world a "movement," and then having a conference about the dangers of the "English Speaking Movement" by bringing out examples of english speakers who have done terrible things. Would that be evidence that speaking english is dangerous?

 There are people who engage in foolish behavior in the name of Christian worship.  Some of them are charismatic. 

 I am responding to just one of the many problems with the conference and its approach. But my point here is that identifying a common characteristic among an otherwise diverse set of people does not justify describing that set as a movement.  One could give other examples: 

 The Unemployment Movement
The Rice Eaters Movement
The Sunday Worship Movement 
I could then point out weird behavior of people who share those characteristics and use it as evidence of the evil of rice eating, sunday worship, or being unemployed. But those arguments would be false.

 I  believe that God can bring something to our attention in prayer, or appear to someone in a dream or give special comfort in a time of need, but most non-charismatics also believe that God is able to do those things.

 On the other hand, this doesn't address what is the actual definition of the charismatic position: that the gifts of the Spirit are active in the church today. 

 People will always be tempted to make unjustified generalizations based on stereotypes. But definitions are worth struggling over. 

 If it is legitimate to criticize the "charismatic movement" based on videos of weird practices in charismatic churches then it is also legitimate to criticize non-charismatic churches based on the Westboro Baptist protests, or the false end-time predictions of Harold Camping, or the liberalism of the Jesus Seminar. After all, these are clearly members of the Non-Charismatic Movement. 

 Or to use another example, judging a theological position based on actions of some of the people who defend it is no different from judging Christianity based on the actions of anyone who calls himself a Christian. The theological position deserves to be evaluated on its own merits.






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