Reformed Charismatics

March 17, 2006 by in Charismata, Pneumatology, Theology with 6 Comments

Is this an oxymoron? Ministries like CJ Mahaney’s Sovereign Grace ministry has given viability to what it looks like to be Reformed and Charismatic.

Jeff Purswell of Sovereign Grace Ministries (Dean of the Pastor’s College) gave a talk in which he explains the contours of Sovereign Grace’s stance on the charisma/pneumatology. You can go here and download it for free. If you don’t have an account with them, get a new account and follow the instructions. When you get to the payment instructions, put in the special code “Free Download”. You will be charged $0.00 for the download. Enjoy!

Note: This free download is only free until April 1st.

6 Responses to “Reformed Charismatics”

  1. R. Mansfield March 17, 2006 at 4:19 pm #

    And I only thought “Reformed Baptist” was oxmoronic! Sorry; couldn’t resist that one.

    Actually, one of the people that Wayne Grudem dedicates his systematic to is John Wimber, one of the founders of the Vineyard Movement, a decidedly charismatic denomination.

    Grudem seems to have some charismatic leanings in his systematic, although I don’t know whether he would take on the lable of Reformed Charismatic or not. Someone may know better.

  2. iconoclasm March 18, 2006 at 9:25 pm #

    I think that would fit. He is Charismatic and I know he went to WTS and that he was was with Vineyard for a while. Last I heard, he was at an SBC church. He’s been involved in several different ministries and doesn’t make a big deal about it.

  3. Jason March 19, 2006 at 12:03 am #

    Why would it be an oxymoron? Do most Reformed Christians believe the gifts only existed during the apostolic age? (I think the big word for that is cessationalism, but I didn’t want to use it if it really means something else :)

  4. iconoclasm March 19, 2006 at 1:00 am #

    Historically, the two just don’t go together. The reason it is difficult to reconcile continuationism with reformed theology is because of the Sola Scriptura position that God reveals himself through a select few prophets in scripture and not through man made traditions or random new revelations e.g. Benny Hinn’s “Holy Spirit Machine Gun”. (That’s such a straw man but I couldn’t resist.)

    Even B.B. Warfield, whose book Counterfeit Miracles is the seminal work for cessationism, allows for occasional miracles, for intance guidance or healing, as long as no new revelation or scripture is added.

    Note that there are four or five types of cessationists.

  5. Jason March 23, 2006 at 5:03 pm #

    When do Charismatics ever claim to have a new revelation? I wouldn’t be surprised if Pentecostals have claimed new revelations. I haven’t been exposed to charismatic Christians much outside of one weekend retreat, but there was never anything unorthodox taught there.

  6. iconoclasm March 23, 2006 at 5:21 pm #

    *starts convulsing* Can you feel The Fire LOOKOUT! *Slash *Parry *Thrust *Slash *Slash It’s the SWORD OF THE LORD! See Jason, we’re just like you.