Are We Charismatic?
What does it mean to say that our church is a charismatic church or that I myself am a charismatic Christian? The word itself "charisma" mean grace gift. It points specifically to the gifts that are mentioned in Scripture although not only those in 1 Corinthians 12. To say that I am a charismatic most certainly means that I believe that the gifts (all of them) in Scripture are active and useful for the Church and for individual believers today. I say this to state what is obvious.
A Biblical charismatic is not those folks that you see on "christian" T.V. Most people have had this stereotype engrained so deep in their minds that they may never have it extracted no matter how sound the Biblical support may be presented to them. So regardless of what many have seen, it is the duty of all believers to search the Scriptures and see for themselves what is and isn't expired or still existent among us.
Much of the trouble, I believe, stems from ignorance as to what they are for. As Christians we are to worship and adore God. We are encouraged to see (by faith) his most excellent being and savor it with all of our being. We must drive so deep into the things of God that it must by necessity demand expression by all our faculties and not just our reason. Worship is responding to God by what we see of him by faith. If we were to see the glorious and majestic and most supreme qualities of God, even in the minutest portions we would be forced in some manner to respond in a fashion that many would by natural reflex call emotionalism. God is not just to be relished by the intellect. He is to be consumed by the whole soul and body as well. This must produce what affections may be called or deemed charismatic. Although the definition does not mean any specific outward expression of the believer to God, this is what most say when they refer to a particular style of worship or prayer or whatever (all of which I am not defending).
No, the effects on the body (whatever they may be) happen by default by us seeing Christ. It is absurd to say they produce none. One would certainly have to restrain oneself not to allow the body to show what effects those inner ravishings of delight are producing when the Word of God illumines our spirit as we look at his truth. The more I know Christ the more I find being charismatic in expression almost unavoidable. I must cry, shout and lift my hands while hearing or singing of his most awesome essence. We see this all over the pages of Scripture and in many diverse personalities ranging from rich to poor or from king to slave. No delights of men can be confined to the mind only, so how much more the glorious nature of God! Is this not the way it is in the natural? When we are winners of a large sum of money do we find it hard to contain ourselves? The man at the Gate called beautiful couldn't contain it…so how can we?
In regards to the gifts themselves; I find them to be the ways in which the Spirit of God empowers us, using diverse manifestations, to accelerate us to that end which is to glorify or love Christ. All of the gifts whether they are tongues, knowledge wisdom, prophecy or whatever graciously catapult us in growing in the wonderful reality of God's Son and his precious mercy and benevolence on our behalf. We are uplifted or edified by these gifts to be sure, but edified and uplifted to/for what? We are uplifted and edified toward and for the knowledge and experience of Christ. It is all for his sake. In light of this we must say, "God please give us more gifts, for your sake!" We did not complain with the initial gift of faith which helped us embrace him, so why should we fear more that come from the same hand?
Though I am a Pastor of such a Church, I am not sure if I fully understand them all, but one thing I do know is that if a member of my Church tells me that these gifts (that I may not possess) are helping them love and adore Christ and his Word more, then who am I to keep them from them. If they tell me that they are aiding them in ridding themselves of sin and worldliness then I must encourage it, especially when they (the gifts) are encouraged in the Word of God. My advice for them is to submit themselves continually to the instruction of the Church that they may better understand the full ramifications of such gifts and how they may be used publicly.
So in my drive to know him I ask my God to help me daily to relish him more. I must not let my biases get in the way, but rather have them transformed. He must employ supernatural means to propel me in this so as to understand what the natural part of me will never fully grasp. I am not only appreciative for this divine effort of his, but actually dependant on it. I don't ride a bike to work; I drive a car because it is given to me by God's providence to help me to be more efficient. Why would I deny those gifts which the Apostle tells me will also do the like and for a much more amazing task such as glorifying God? No, he says "earnestly desire the gifts" and that is what I will do. To not do so is disobedient and foolish.
So it is not my intention to dictate a style of worship or prescribe a set liturgy. My prayer is only that people will come to realize that being raptured up to his wonderful excellencies - which mostly occur by the Word of God understood by faith and prayer - we may expect God to do the unusual and also expect that what will result of this is a greater love and passion for Him and all that he is doing on the earth.
May God grant the Church all that is necessary to help us love him more. May he enable all means necessary to remove the destruction of sin and increase our joy in him so we can better serve him in his kingdom. God purify the Church from all its selfishness and worldliness and flood the earth with your splendor.
