charismatic christianity

context

• Form of Christianity that emphasises the work of the HS, spiritual gifts, and modern-day miracles as an everyday part of a believer’s life 

• Considerable overlap with Pentecostalism 

• Began late 1960s, when there was some form of renewal based on charismatic gifts (like speaking in tongues) in Anglican, Lutheran, methodist and Presbyterian circles 

• ‘charismatic’ used to refer to movements w/in the mainline churches based upon the ideas + experiences of Pentecostal movement 

spiritual characteristics

• Miracles 

• Signs and wonders 

• Spiritual gifts such as prophecy and healing 

context

• Form of Christianity that emphasises the work of the HS, spiritual gifts, and modern-day miracles as an everyday part of a believer’s life 

• Considerable overlap with Pentecostalism 

• Began late 1960s, when there was some form of renewal based on charismatic gifts (like speaking in tongues) in Anglican, Lutheran, methodist and Presbyterian circles 

• ‘charismatic’ used to refer to movements w/in the mainline churches based upon the ideas + experiences of Pentecostal movement 

spiritual characteristics

• Miracles 

• Signs and wonders 

• Spiritual gifts such as prophecy and healing 

gifts of the HS

• Available to contemporary Christians through the infilling or baptism of the HS  

• Bible lists many gifts of God, but the 9 listed in 1 corinthians 12:8-10 that are supernatural are distinguishing feature of the charismatic movement: 

• Words of wisdom 

• Gifts of healing 

• Miraculous powers 

• Prophecy 

• glossolalia

hypercharismatic

• Attribute extremely unusual, non-biblical manifestations of the HS 
  e.g. being ‘glued to the floor’ by supernat force for no reason, uncontrollably making animal sounds  

• Designate those teachings which make vaunted claims that the average christian can claim control with absolute certainty his circumstances (e.g. health/ physical prosperity, through the power that he can obtain by mastering certain ‘keys’ allegedly found in the Bible 

STRENGTH: dynamic worship

• emphasize dynamic and expressive worship→ contemporary music, bodily movements (such as raising hands or dancing), and fervent prayer.  

• modern musical styles, incl rock, gospel, and contemporary Christian music, creates a powerful emotional atmosphere that fosters both corporate unity and individual spiritual experiences 

• aids the engagement of young people within the christian community, working against rises in secularisation and a lack of engagement with religion in younger audiences 

• James K.A. Smith (2009) argues that embodied worship—where believers physically engage with the experience—creates a form of faith that is deeply felt and lived, rather than simply understood intellectually. 

• testimonies and personal encounters with the Holy Spirit play a significant role in Charismatic services.

• Believers are encouraged to share their spiritual experiences, healings, or divine revelations, reinforcing the belief that God is directly involved in their daily lives.

• personal and experiential dimension of faith makes Charismatic Christianity particularly appealing to those who seek a more relational and emotionally engaging faith experience 

COUNTER to dynamic

• risk of emotionalism over doctrine 

• Can become overly emotional, providing feelings over sound theological teaching 

• D.A Carson warns that the pursuit of spiritual experiences, particularly glossolalia and healing miracles, can sometimes overshadow a balanced engagement with scripture and doctrine 

• Excessively focused on spectacle rather than sunstantive theological reflection 

STRENGTH: encouraging lay participation + church growth

• has empowered ordinary believers by emphasizing the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9). Unlike hierarchical models of church authority, the movement encourages active lay participation through prophecy, healing ministries, and speaking in tongues.  

• Philip Jenkins (2002) highlights that this accessibility has contributed to rapid church growth, especially in the Global South, where Charismatic Christianity is expanding dramatically. 

• Additionally, spiritual gifts foster a strong sense of community. Believers feel personally involved in church life, creating deep bonds of fellowship and mutual encouragement.  

• Harvey Cox (1995) describes this as a shift away from institutional Christianity toward a “Spirit-led” movement, where individuals feel directly empowered by God rather than relying solely on clergy.

COUNTER to encouraging lay participation

• potential for sectarianism and doctrinal chaos 

• critics argue that overemphasis on spiritual gifts can lead to division rather than unity. Some Charismatic churches become personality-driven, where leaders claim direct revelation from God, making them immune to theological scrutiny. Andrew Walker (1995) warns that this lack of oversight has led to theological inconsistencies and even spiritual abuses in some cases. 

• Furthermore, charismatic gifts have been a source of division in traditional denominations, as some Christians reject speaking in tongues or modern prophecy as unbiblical or excessive. The movement’s influence has, at times, resulted in splinter groups breaking away from mainline churches, causing denominational fragmentation.