Charismatism - Introduction

Pentecostalism: Pentecost literally means fifty. In the Bible pentecost refers to the important Jewish festival the Feast of Weeks (EXO 34:22, DEU 16: 10) which was celebrated fi fly days (le, seven weeks) after the Passover.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His Apostles to wait in Jerusalem for "the promise of the Father," ie, the Holy Spirit (ACT 1:4, JOH 14:16). On the day of Pentecost, as the Apostles waited for the promise, the Holy Spirit filled them and they spoke with tongues (ACT 2:4). Modern-day Christians who believe that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is not a one time event are called Pentecostals. Pentecostals believe that this event can be repeated and experienced by all Christians. Other Christians believe that this event is a one-time event commemorating the birth of the New Testament Church. Pentecostals call this event the second baptism. The first baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs when we first receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour (EPH 1:13). Pentecostals believe that "tongues-speaking" is the sign of the second baptism. They believe that all Christians need the Second baptism of the Holy Spirit to lead the full Christian life. Therefore, they call the teaching of this doctrine the full gospel.

Origin of Pentecostalism:

In 1901 a bible-school student in Bethel Bible College (in Topeka, Kansas), Agnes Ozman, prayed for and received "the gift of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues."

In 1906 "tongues-speaking" broke out in Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. This "Azusa Street revival" catapulted pentecostalism onto the world stage and many seeking the tongues-experience came to this church. Pentecostalism spread from this place and new churches were founded that promoted this practice. The Assemblies of God (AOG) became the largest Pentecostal denomination. (Note: New churches are usually founded because of a doctrinal difference, rather than because of a new experience.)

Pentecostalism attracted mostly poorer-class black Americans but failed to penetrate the other mainline Prostestant denominations. Most of the other Protestants despised pentecostals as an errant fringe group.

Origin of Charismatism:

In 1960 an Anglican leader in California spoke in "tongues,' ' and from then onwards pentecostalism entered the Protestant denominations. The movement swept into the spiritually-dead Protestant churches which were in need of "life." The late 1950's had seen the entry of rock-n-roll into main-line American culture and many "Christian" youth were attracted by its exciting atmosphere. Church attendance was seriously affected and there was great pressure to attract youth back to the churches. Pentecostalism, with its exciting worship, seemed a good substitute for rock-n-roll. Soon most of the main-line denominations (eg. Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist. Lutheran, Methodist) incorporated pentecostal-type services into their church programs. Pentecostalism was now no more exclusive to the Pentecostal churches but was also practised by other Protestant churches. To differentiate Pentecostalism in the Pentecostal churches from that in the other churches a new term was coined: Charismatism (or Neo-Pentecostalism). Today the term Pentecostal refers to a denomination (ie, group of churches), and the term Charismatism refers to a movement (ie, a style of worship which features tongues-speaking). Therefore we often hear the phrase Charismatic Movement. The word charisma is a Greek word meaning gift. It refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit, ie, "tongues speaking." Therefore, a Charismatic is one who possesses the charisma of "tongues-speaking."

Charismatism today:

In 1973 the Charismatic movement entered the Roman Catholic Church. It is today the fastest growing sector of the Roman Catholic Church. This is not surprising since they share several common features, eg. miracles, healings and extra-biblical revelations. Charismatics also make up by far the largest number of converts in Protestantism today. In Singapore Charismatism has grown dramatically because its ','health and wealth gospel" is eagerly sought by practitioners of Chinese religion (CR) - which also offers "health and wealth" as their main attraction.

Since all who have the "tongues-experience" are accepted as Charismatics, Charismatism serves as the catalyst that breaks down the barrier between Protestantism and Romanism (and also other cults, eg. Mormonism). Charismatics proudly declare that "Doctrine divides, experience unites."

Signs and Wonders Movement (or Third-Wave):

By the 1980's the Charismatic Movement failed to penetrate the fundamental and conservative evangelical churches - who were appalled by the ungodly Manner of Charismatic worship. In the early 1980's, men who were formerly of the conservative evangelical camp (C Peter Wagner, John Wimber) aggressively promoted a toned-down version of Charismatism, called the Signs and Wonders Movement. They did not insist that every believer should seek the second baptism nor speak in "tongues." However, they taught that the preaching of the Gospel is ineffective, unless it is accompanied by "signs and wonders." For this reason, the Signs and Wonders Movement is also called Power Evangelism. This toned-down form of Charismatism was attractive to many spiritually dead evangelical churches because it did not promote the "shocking" worship of Pentecostalism and yet promised powerful evangelism. This short-lived moderation has since degenerated into a full blown pentecostalism and even worse (eg. the Laughing Revival or Holy Laughter of Rodney Howard Browne). The Signs and Wonders Movement is also called the Third-Wave (of Holy Spirit) because Pentecostals believe that the first-wave of the Holy Spirit gave birth to the Pentecostal Church, and the second-wave gave birth to the Charismatic movement.