Personal, hope-filled and Spirit-empowered
the appeal of charismatic evangelism
Editors’ note: This is the third article of a series The Messenger is commissioning on “the appeal of ... .” To learn more about the what and the why behind this series, see the “editors’ note” here.
I was twelve years old when my best friend at the time shared with me that there was a place you could go where you would feel awkward for not raising your hands in praise to the Lord while you sang. Hearing this was revolutionary for me. As one of two students in our Christian school who would raise their hands while we sang, I regularly felt awkward.
Lightstock.
Hearing that such a place existed not only intrigued me—but created in my heart a longing to visit! A year later I was formally introduced to a leading charismatic discipleship centre. Little did I know, this first encounter would set me on a trajectory which shaped much of my teenage and young adult years. I was one among many who would race down for the annual year-end conference the centre held, and I even enrolled in their six-month internship program.
Though there are varying degrees to the charismatic stream, my involvement has come primarily from my time at a charismatic discipleship centre. While I should mention that these are my reflections and does not define the charismatic stream in its entirety, there were four primary factors that appealed to me in my discipleship process.
Spirit-empowered living
The first factor is the emphasis on Spirit-empowered living. Charismatics display an abundant understanding, experience, and ongoing pursuit of the Spirit’s involvement in the life of the church and individual. While at times it seems other streams of evangelicalism are left wondering how to approach Holy Spirit, are unfamiliar with Holy Spirit, or leave Holy Spirit on the shelf entirely, charismatics fully immerse themselves in the third person of the Triune God.
They not only emphasize and have a theology concerning Holy Spirit, they earnestly seek the power, manifestations and gifts that come with Holy Spirit in their everyday life. Charismatics take Jesus’ words seriously when he said, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7 ESV). Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, was given to us as our Helper, and Charismatics rely heavily upon Holy Spirit to lead, guide and empower.
With Spirit-empowered living comes the importance of the gifts of the Spirit that God has given his church! Charismatics are continuationists, meaning they believe all the gifts of the Spirit are for the church today. As the staff of Charisma magazine write, “The spiritual gifts outlined in the New Testament … are not considered historical artifacts but present realities that actively shape the believer’s journey. These manifestations of divine power provide tangible evidence of God’s involvement in the world today, reinforcing faith and igniting spiritual passion” (“Is the Charismatic Movement the Key to the Next Great Awakening,” Charisma, March 2025 issue). They believe that every believer is equipped with certain gifts used for the building up of the body of Christ! This is a profound realization that, when understood, leads to full involvement of each person for the health and well-being of the church.
As a growing disciple of Jesus, I often questioned whether all the gifts of the Spirit were for the church today. I was not asking from a theological standpoint, but from an experiential one. Nowhere in the New Testament did I see the gifts of the Spirit come to an end; however, when I observed the practice of the church around me, only a few gifts were spoken of and acted upon. Being a part of this charismatic discipleship centre was revolutionary for me as I saw people exercising all sorts of gifts. As I observed this and was ministered to, I was left encouraged, strengthened, and wanting more! The usage of the gifts revealed signs of life and proved that each part of the body mattered!
Another facet to Spirit-empowered living is the realization that the church is engaged in a spiritual battle as outlined in Ephesians 6. Many in the Western Church have knowledge regarding the spiritual battle that rages around us, however, they are not actively engaged in it. Charismatics not only talk regularly about the spiritual battle, they are actively engaged. Through the power of Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live the victorious life in Christ Jesus. We have been equipped with the Spirit to lead us through trials and temptations, as well as to deliver people from demonic bondage, experiencing resurrection victory. Having my eyes opened to the battle and power of Christ, not only did I see victory in myself, but freedom and deliverance in others, too!
Emphasis on personal encounters with Jesus
The second factor is the emphasis on personal encounters with God. This was particularly evident at the discipleship centre, which focused Friday evening services on encountering God. Charismatics believe that God is relational and personal and wants to make himself known. Therefore, they stress that God knows, sees, and hears the cries of his people and wants to meet them there!
I’ve been to a few charismatic churches where, after the service, they invite anyone forward who has felt the Lord ministering to them. Whether they need ministry for what they have just heard, healing, deliverance, victory over sin or freedom from bondage, a time of prayer is held over them with the expectation that God wants to meet them and set them free!
I found these times especially rejuvenating as the body was coming together to minister to each other just like we see all throughout the New Testament. Alongside personal encounters with God comes the freedom for people to worship God in whatever expression they see fit—hands raised, kneeling, lying prostrate on the floor, dancing, standing, shouting, waving flags, among other expressions. For many of us who grew up in a conservative Christian background, bodily worship was never mentioned nor exemplified, and it may have been looked down upon or viewed as weird. However, throughout the Scriptures God’s people worshipped God with their body. Charismatics understand this and give people the freedom and space to worship God freely! I have experienced much peace and freedom worshipping and being among others who worship God freely.
Emphasis on the return of Jesus
The third factor is the emphasis on the return of Jesus. Though there may be a wide number of beliefs regarding how Jesus will return, charismatics are faithfully engaged in Jesus’ return, encouraging each other and the larger body of Christ, reminding us that Jesus is coming back!
In my younger years, I knew Jesus was coming back, but His return had little to no effect on my life. Being in the charismatic circle directed my attention toward the return of Jesus; I found myself considering the return of Christ more, and having a hunger and longing to be with him. It’s one thing to know Jesus is coming back, it’s another to eagerly wait for his return and prepare while one waits. There is a wedding coming, and having that mindset, the church has motivation to prepare for our wedding day with the Lord! Whether that motivation leads to transformation, evangelism and outreach, or simply having renewed obedience, Jesus is coming back and that is worth longing and preparing for!
Emphasis on spiritual growth
Finally, the fourth factor is the emphasis on spiritual growth. They have an understanding that our discipleship in Christ is not defined by a prayer that we prayed years ago, or a life just going through the motions. Rather, our relationship with Christ, both individually and corporately, is an ever-growing, vibrant, life-transforming reality of being in Christ! For these reasons, spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, giving, serving, and worship through song, are vital to the Christian’s life of faith. It’s through these disciplines by which we come to know God, reflect his likeness to those around us, and experience his presence, guidance, and leadership. Prior to my time in the charismatic stream, I hadn’t spent much time on the disciplines, but during my time there they became a core part of what I did as a disciple of Jesus.
Along with an emphasis on spiritual growth, charismatics focus on the need for renewal. Throughout history, they have prayed for the reviving of God’s church. They recognize that the church can become stagnant and often when God’s people pray, God has moved in powerful ways. Reading the testimonies of what God has done stirs my heart for what he wants to do in the local church today and engages my heart to join in with those of old, to cry out for God to revive his church again!
My journey
It was in my first year at Bible college that God showed me how vast his kingdom is, and how many expressions there are in the kingdom of God. I remember a diagram used in a Spiritual Formations class to show the various streams in Christianity—charismatic, holiness, social justice, evangelical, incarnational, and contemplative streams—and tied to each stream was one person of the Triune God that the stream related to most. As I saw that diagram, God did two things in me; 1. He showed me that there were many ways to worship and live out God’s kingdom; 2. That we all desperately need each other! As much as I loved my time in the charismatic stream and having God reveal himself to me in a number of ways, I have come to realize that all the answers are not found in any particular stream, but in all of them together!
Each of the appeals that I have mentioned here in this paper have negatives if you take them to the extreme. I have been the charismatic that seeks after the gifts and the manifestations of God more than God himself. I have believed a human’s prophetic word over the word of God. I have done the disciplines because in them I thought was salvation rather than trusting Jesus for salvation. I have seen the gifts of the Spirit used for personal gain and not that of God. I have seen a lack of the gift of discernment when it comes to the gifts. Though there are false usages of the Spirit-led life, that doesn’t nullify the Spirit-led life that God intends for us .
In saying that, the Spirit-led life isn’t found only among the charismatics but in the other streams as well! While the Spirit-led life might take on different expressions, the call for us is to humble ourselves and learn from each other. Can we as evangelicals learn from charismatics? Absolutely! Can charismatics learn from evangelicals about the nature of the cross, salvation, the lost, and the kingdom of God? Absolutely!
In the past three years there has been a great shaking in the larger charismatic church which has left me with a lot of questions. However, I still hunger to live the Spirit-empowered life as I see throughout the New Testament. And though the gifts are very much a part of that, so is seeking the fruit that comes by the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as well as faithful study of the Word of God, and living out the lifestyle of Jesus before God and humanity!
My desire for myself and the church is that we will be faithfully grounded in a steady pursuit of God, not tossed around by every piece of doctrine, but steadily following God’s commands and leadership, as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, so that we can carry out God’s purposes in the church and the world among us, as we eagerly await Jesus’ return! Amen.
