What Does a Reformed-Charismatic Look Like?
On Adrian Warnock's Blog a reader asked "What does a reformed charismatic look like in practice." I'll try to avoid smart comments like, A reformed-charismatic in practice looks uncoordinated.
I will attempt at providing a short but hopefully helpful answer to this. Don't let me be the only one as well. This is from my perspective and understanding. I will begin with the broad and work towards the specific.
At my church, Sovereign Grace Church Gilbert, there are some sundays where you can sit through a whole sunday service and never realize that we believe in the continuation of the gifts aside from the clapping and raising hands. My first experience at a sovereign grace church was like this, even though someone shared at the prophecy mic I didn't realize what was going on. I thought it was planned to have someone encourage the congregation from scripture.
Each sunday morning tends to have a theme to it, I'll expound on this later. But the most important over-arching theme is the Cross. Every prophecy shared and song sung should be directing the congregations eyes to the Cross of Christ, this is where it all starts and ends.
Prophecy
Our worship leader and a few others in the church at times have prophetic songs...
We have a microphone setup in the front of the church service, it's slightly hidden but in front of where the elders/pastors sit. While we're worshipping someone may have a scripture or vision that came to mind during the week or that morning that they believe God is calling them to share with the congregation...
In our small groups (caregroups), this is a different process. During our worship in small group the worship leader will give people opportunity to pray, share scripture or upbuild, encourage, console or convict.
Tongues
In my two years as a "charismatic" I have never heard a tongue given in our sunday meeting. If one was shared it must be accompanied by an interpretation. I was told a story about someone having a tongue and telling the pastor at the prophecy mic that they had a tongue, the pastor responded by asking this person if they had the interpretation, the person said they did not, the pastor then asked if they knew someone who had the interpretation, and they did not. Therefore the "tongue" was not shared. Simple enough.
For more check out Chris Daukas' blog post on the Holy Spirit
Example
This sunday morning someone shared scripture
Okay so this is broad, a lot of people can relate to it I'm sure. But is that wrong? I know for me, I was specifically struggling concentrating during worship because my mind kept going back to a specific pattern of sin in my life and I had a hard time moving on from that. The prophecy encouraged me and helped me look to the Cross and reminded me that I'm forgiven (which I need to be reminded of often). The very next song we did in worship had to do with this issue as well. Later during the worship I saw someone go up to talk to the pastor over seeing the mic and they had a bible in their hand. After about 5-10 minutes they came walking back and continued in worship without sharing anything. I appreciate the intentionality of the pastors and their care for the congregation in this.
The sunday service is orderly, we don't have people running down the aisle or yelling out during worship. To me, this follows in line with the commands given in 1 Corinthians 14:26-38
There are many more qualified to share the practical aspects of charismatic worship than I, and I hope they share their perception of this.
I will attempt at providing a short but hopefully helpful answer to this. Don't let me be the only one as well. This is from my perspective and understanding. I will begin with the broad and work towards the specific.
At my church, Sovereign Grace Church Gilbert, there are some sundays where you can sit through a whole sunday service and never realize that we believe in the continuation of the gifts aside from the clapping and raising hands. My first experience at a sovereign grace church was like this, even though someone shared at the prophecy mic I didn't realize what was going on. I thought it was planned to have someone encourage the congregation from scripture.
Each sunday morning tends to have a theme to it, I'll expound on this later. But the most important over-arching theme is the Cross. Every prophecy shared and song sung should be directing the congregations eyes to the Cross of Christ, this is where it all starts and ends.
Prophecy
Our worship leader and a few others in the church at times have prophetic songs...
The prophetic songs are typically shared in the theme of the worship songs, preached word or prophecies shared during the worship time.
Ephesians 5:18-19
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart...
We have a microphone setup in the front of the church service, it's slightly hidden but in front of where the elders/pastors sit. While we're worshipping someone may have a scripture or vision that came to mind during the week or that morning that they believe God is calling them to share with the congregation...
The elder/pastor overseeing the mic weighs the prophecy and determines if it is biblical and meets the criteria of upbuilding, encouraging, consoling or convicting, I'm sure more goes into than this as well. Also, not everyone who thinks they have something to share is given the go-ahead to share at the mic.
1 Corinthians 14:3
On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation...
1 Corinthians 14:24
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
In our small groups (caregroups), this is a different process. During our worship in small group the worship leader will give people opportunity to pray, share scripture or upbuild, encourage, console or convict.
This weighing is what seperates NT prophets from OT prophets as well.
1 Corinthians 14:29
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Tongues
In my two years as a "charismatic" I have never heard a tongue given in our sunday meeting. If one was shared it must be accompanied by an interpretation. I was told a story about someone having a tongue and telling the pastor at the prophecy mic that they had a tongue, the pastor responded by asking this person if they had the interpretation, the person said they did not, the pastor then asked if they knew someone who had the interpretation, and they did not. Therefore the "tongue" was not shared. Simple enough.
I know people who have spoken in tongues but each time it has been a "private prayer language" as Grudem calls it.
1 Corinthians 14:27-28
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.
1 Corinthians 14:13
Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
For more check out Chris Daukas' blog post on the Holy Spirit
Example
This sunday morning someone shared scripture
and they commented from the scripture saying that they believed there were some people in the congregation that were feeling condemned by the sins they had committed either before they were a christian or even recently as a christian. The person sharing said that we should look towards Christ and the Cross for our forgiveness and move forward not focusing on past sins.
Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Okay so this is broad, a lot of people can relate to it I'm sure. But is that wrong? I know for me, I was specifically struggling concentrating during worship because my mind kept going back to a specific pattern of sin in my life and I had a hard time moving on from that. The prophecy encouraged me and helped me look to the Cross and reminded me that I'm forgiven (which I need to be reminded of often). The very next song we did in worship had to do with this issue as well. Later during the worship I saw someone go up to talk to the pastor over seeing the mic and they had a bible in their hand. After about 5-10 minutes they came walking back and continued in worship without sharing anything. I appreciate the intentionality of the pastors and their care for the congregation in this.
The sunday service is orderly, we don't have people running down the aisle or yelling out during worship. To me, this follows in line with the commands given in 1 Corinthians 14:26-38
There are many more qualified to share the practical aspects of charismatic worship than I, and I hope they share their perception of this.
1 Corinthians 14:39-40
So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently in order.
posted by Ryan J | 7:26 PM
5 Comments:
Ryan
Thanks for this blog. I know that my question was unusual, but I hope it leads to more practical examples of how the gifts are mainifested in the body wihtout all of the overly dramatic pentacostalism that scares people away from the power of the Spirit.
Chris
this is an excellent post because it helps people see practically what happens in our church on a regular basis--the only thing i would add as we discussed is every prophecy ever song ever sermon preaches the gospel to our souls so that though there is an experiential side and a focus on the Spirit the MAIN focus is the Gospel
Thanks, Ryan. We need more of this kind of post, to flesh out practically what we're talking about when the word "Reformed-Charismatic" is thrown out.
Very helpful and well-written. Congrats on the Challies link.
-Jacob
Ryan! I'm at the Sovereign Grace Church in Athens, GA! You get the post of the week on my page here! This is simply excellent stuff here, concise, biblical, and most importantly, humble. Thanks bro!
Ryan this is excellent!! Very Practical. Thank you for bringing this to the blogsphere.
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