Charismatic Theology Essay

Acts of the Apostles chronicles the rapid advancement of the Gospel by way of the gift of the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles: The Charismatic Community in Mission” takes into account the narratives succeeding Pentecost including Spirit Baptisms from Samaria to Ephesus (Acts

The witness is not just the power to preach the gospel; the first result of the coming of the Holy Spirit is the ability to speak in other tongues.

Although Pentecostals and Charismatics have similarities and do agree on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, they are not the same and can be distinguished theologically. One distinctive mark between the Pentecostals and Charismatics is their perspectives on Spirit- baptism. While Pentecostals see it as subsequent to our new birth, Charismatics tend to view Spirit-baptism as

The Gifts of Prophecy and tongues are still important Gifts that the Holy Spirit uses within us today. Prophecy is a message inspired by God and used to encourage, strengthen and build up people in their faith by the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:20-21. It’s a way for God to communicate to His people however we must be aware at how people translate prophesy’s because it must show the love of God, Corinthians 13:2. Acts 2:4 shows us the power of tongues and that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit we are able to connect to God on a spiritual level and communicate and worship Him. However, Paul gives the church a warning saying that it is better to prophesize in church than to speak in tongues, because if there is no one to interpret the tongues then it would introduce an element of confusion where prophecy is a more effective way to lead non-believers to God 1 Corinthians 14:24-25.

In order to understand the beliefs of the fringe Pentecostals an understanding of the Pentecostal denomination must first be framed. As Randal J Stephens writes in his journal assessing the roots the Pentecostal church was formed in the early twentieth century by Charles Fox Parham in Topeka, Kansas where he preached the idea that in order to be contact with the Holy Spirit a person must be spiritually baptized and receive the gift of tongues, and yet from Parham’s teachings the ideas evolved into a more radically charismatic church which incorporates women clergy and the teachings of prosperity and prophecy were incorporated. The belief in Tongues in all sects Pentecostalism is one issue of controversy in that tongue talkers sound crazy and claim that in order for one to fully know the Holy Spirit he must speak in tongues. In Scripture when the apostles are given the Holy Spirit they go out and preach in a language that is understood by all, however this reaction does not inherently imply that

The gift of Tongues has been becoming more and more popular over the past 10 years. Christians appear to have differing views on the matter. Some think it is a sign of the HOLY SPIRIT, other think it is a manifestation of demonic forces. There are Bible verses to

The Holy Spirit of God is the active force or power in one’s life, which most certainly includes spiritual formation (Pettit, 2008, p. 46). When Jesus was speaking with his disciples he made it clear – by using the analogy of a vine and branches – that apart from him they could do nothing (John 15:5). Only if one is connected to Christ will they have the ability to bear fruit and the way Jesus empowers those connected to him is through the Holy Spirt that that father will send in his name (John 14:26). The fact is that the triune God dwells in the Christian in and through the Holy Spirit. One sees this when they place multiple passages together to gain a full understanding of this concept. For example, Jesus made it clear that he and the father would come and make their home with the disciple (John 14:23). In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul reminds the Corinthians that their bodies are the very temple of God because the Holy Spirit dwells in them which is similar to what Jesus said would happen when he sent the Holy Spirit after his resurrection and ascension (John 14:17, 16:7).

"Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them" (Acts 2:3 NRSV)

And in terms of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is the baptizer. He places you into the Holy Spirit's power. Jesus, is the baptizer in the Spirit . And you seek Him. You don't seek the Spirit. You seek the Lord and ask for His power, and He places you into the Holy

Baptism in (or with) the Holy Spirit is a very important, distinctive Christian experience in the life of the believer. The basis is found in the book of Acts, specifically the event of Pentecost.

The various gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in Scripture are conveyed according to the will of the Holy Spirit to every man for the eventual purpose of the edification and building up the church body.

Pentecostalism originated in 1901 in Topeka, Kansas. A woman named Agnes Ozman claimed to become baptized with the Holy Spirit of God, and she started to speak in an unknown “tongue”. After this event occurred, multiple events like these occurred in other places. This practice of Pentecostalism was an addition to the Holiness Movement. In 1906, in Los Angeles, California, there was more documentation of “tongues” being spoken. Having the experience of speaking in other languages is called glossolalia. At the Azusa Street Mission, blacks and whites gathered together for worship, which spread the early Pentecostal Movement. During this time the

Spirit baptism has been an important topic in the Church for a really long time and while we discuss this topic we always have several questions rising about this issue. Churches have different perspective about the way they address the issue. The common question which arises with this topic are that, some of the Churches claim that spirit baptism is demonstrated after receiving the gifts of tongues and the other issues which often raises is that its relation with the word.

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: OUR FRIEND, COMFORTER, TEACHER, AND PART OF THE TRINITY

First, he grounds the use of all the gifts in the Lordship of Jesus Christ (“Therefore... no one speaking in the Spirit...”1 Cor. 1:3). Here, it is seen that the “gift and gifts of the Spirit serve as the external manifestation of the triumph and enthronement of Christ.”4 Furthermore, in 1 Cor. 1:7-11, the point is made that the “exercise of any gift of the Spirit is the ministry of the word given to God’s people,” and that “the ministry of God’s revelatory word is central to the use of all other gifts... they give expression to that word in various ways.”5 This is why, in an eclectic grouping of the various giftings (found in 1 Cor. 12:8-11, 1 Cor. 12:28, Rom. 12:6-8, Eph. 4:11, and 1 Pet. 4:11), the work of the ministry of the word of God is paramount, that is, “the revelatory word through the apostle and prophet is foundational, while all else is informed by and flows from this.”6