I have a question that I want to ask. Don’t try to read into my motive for the question, just answer it in the most biblical/theological way that you can.
Is there such a thing as Charismatic worship as opposed to non-Charismatic? If not, explain. If so, what is it from a biblical/theological perspective?
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Jason Robertson is a husband and a father and a pastor. He is dedicated to leading and equipping his the Church with God’s word and biblical theology for life ministry, using a combination of pastoral, church planting and evangelism experience. He holds a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is experienced in church planting, evangelism, missions, and the training of pastors and Bible teachers.
Jason has been preaching the gospel since 1985, serving the first ten years of ministry as a Southern Baptist itinerant evangelist out of Milldale Baptist Church in Zachary, LA which ordained him in 1993. He has preached in hundreds of churches in over 30 States and 4 countries. He planted churches in Siberia, Russia in the summers of 1993 and 1994. He founded Murrieta Valley Church in California, which he planted in cooperation with the SBC NAMB in 2001. He also teaches ministry students at California Baptist University.
You can hear his sermons and read his manuscripts on sermonaudio.com. Just follow the link to "sermons" at the top of this page.
“Is there such a thing as Charismatic worship as opposed to non-Charismatic? If not, explain. If so, what is it from a biblical/theological perspective?”
Hmm, I think it falls on defining Charismatic. I’ll just go on the view that the spiritual gifts are still active today just as they were at Pentecost in Acts. In that context, a “worship service” for either could look the same, or very different. I have known many churches that you could walk into and not know that they were charismatic or non-charismatic. On the other hand if we define charismatic as the third wave movement originally sparked by John Wimber, you can see a difference. Whether it be dancing around, waving flags, toungue speaking, giving “prophetic words” and all of that stuff can make a big difference in a worship service. So, if you aren’t asking about worship services, and just asking about worship in general, if the person is a christian, whether of charismatic or non-charismatic theological persuasion, if they are genuinely blood-bought, worship is worship. Worship is to be done in Spirit and Truth, and if you are saved, you will worship. It may look different, and I think that can fall into liberty.
My biggest problem that I have seen after leaving the 3rd wave charismatic movement is when one way of worship is seen as “the way to worship”. Both sides can become legalistic about these things, just like they can over what taking communion or baptism is supposed to look like.
Much love to the FIDE-O crew. I and a couple of friends have just started a blog 2 weeks ago and have gotten just over 2,000 hits! We think you guys are an inspiration in your approach to heresy, and controversy.. and well… football too. We haven’t gotten into the sports side yet. But we are pretty much devoted to calling out some dangers in the
3rd wave charismatic movement.
God bless,
Devin Murphy
http://www.thegreycoats.wordpress.com
Some people are more “charismatic” during worship than others, but I’m assuming you mean Charismatic (capital C) worship. I’m also assuming you are referring to worship in a corporate setting. That being the case, I don’t think there is a distinction. People either worship or they don’t. I believe that true corporate worship should glorify God, edify the body, and proclaim truth to the non-believing observer. In short, all true worship (corporate or private) must be Christ-centered. Based on the examples I’ve seen, Charismatic “worship” is man-centered. It draws attention to men, it doesn’t edify the body, and it doesn’t proclaim truth to non-believers. In other words, I don’t see it as true worship.
oo! good question!
I came out of the Charismatic movement and did not like the emotionalism of the worship service. What I did like was the simple choruses, upbeat music and the worship expression of raising of hands.
J.E. I love and support this blog. I affirm most of the same theology.
I want to ask a sincere question.
Have you been to a charimatic church?
There are a plethora of them in the Inland Empire.
But I think most of the charismatic stuff I’ve experienced was basically emotionalism, tongues – mostly the shonda-bought-a-honda or can-you-tie-my-bow-tie repeated several times real fast to get the effect.
And some prophetic utterance and predictions that never included any judgement or warning say like a repent or be overthrown like Nineveh, just blessings await you, someone has the money to give and obedience is better than sacrifice. Oh yeah something would happen if you didn’t give.
G.I. Williamson put the RPW like this:
It is, quite simply, the application of the fundamental principle of the Reformation (‘Sola
Scriptura’) to the sphere of worship.
I can respect the brothers that are of the continuist position, but what I’ve seen wouldn’t be considered RPW.
Sorry for being a long winded.
Peace.
Donald D. Hightower