Charis-maniac

The Baptist Corpsman | april 2003 | Darren Morrison

[huskyboy]

anti-charismatic ping.

[huskyboy]

This is a good article you shared.

I used to be a part of a charismatic group in the latter part of my days in the "novus ordo" - that was before I began realizing what Catholicism was truly about.

It took a while before finding out how Catholicism and charismania are incompatible with each other. Although I would have never known the full extent of the crisis within the Church otherwise - it's not something that people should be playing around with. As they say, however, God makes good out of bad things. So I finally figured out what to read that will help me learn more about my faith, and I go to a traditional Mass not far from home nowadays.

I also hear that this movement is being opposed by protestant groups, which is good - I see the movement as part of a plan to "eliminate" doctrine, not barriers between different faiths.

Did they by any chance talk to you about things like interpretation of tongues and prophecy? In my personal experience, the group gave what sounded like good teachings, but it was the overall atmosphere that showed me that it was all taken out of context.

Check out Close-ups of the Charismatic Movement by John Vennari if you can. It should help explain in more detail why this movement is dangerous.

I never had to worry about spiritual dryness, but I'm worried about many of my friends who are still involved with it.

[huskyboy]

oops. I thought you wrote the article yourself. Sorry. Still like your insights though.

[drstevej]

***And they read uninspired watered down versions of the bible. ***

Better send them a Greek and Hebrew text. But just because the King James is a translation from the original doesn't warrant calling it watered down!

[noahltl]

I got involved with the Charismatic movement in it's infancy. At that time, the wildest thing at the service was the 'tongues'. I didn't participate, but listened intently to those who were. To me it was a beautiful and melodious sound. It seemed to occur at emotional moments such as after a really moving hymn or prayer.

I also attended my daughter's church which was Pentecostal. There the congregation engaged in tongues and running. At some moment one or two people would take off running around the church. This was a little scary, but I was a pre VII Catholic, so any expressions of faith or love were deemed out of bounds. But the tongues were still respectfully sung/spoken there.

I have seen some of the laughing and 'slaying in the spirit' on the religious TV programs and have come to the conclusion that to those who are not just faking it, all of these activities are an emotional response to an overwhelming stimulus. Is it contact with the Holy Spirit that is the overwhelming stimulus? I believe that it is occasionally. Just as some may express joy or love with tears or jumping up and down, I believe some of these people are so overwhelmed by the touch of the Holy Spirit that they respond in a way that many of us may believe to be strange. But I think the Father accepts any form of worship and praise that is offered to Him by His children.

[Flora McDonald]

I like the way Mr. Morrison wrote this. He seems sincere and earnest. After returning to the Church, I would eagerly go to everything available and occasionally found myself in situations that seemed spiritually dangerous even though sanctioned by local church officials. I would pray the Rosary and leave as soon as possible without disturbing others. I learned to do a little research before attending any religious event.

My favorite Bible is the version of the Douay-Rheims my mother gave me when I was 14 and didn't read until I was 47 yrs. old.

[Aliska]

I'm going to read the links. This subject has been deeply disturbing to me for a long time since I came to my senses about my involvement in the charismatic movement.

There is hardly a Christian in America who hasn't been tainted by their craziness and probable outright blasphemy.

I became a catholic but there are problems there, too, lots of them. Unless you isolate yourself and only attend mass (even there you get priests who are into something odd and try to sell it via the pulpit) and the sacraments, you are going to butt horns with someone promoting something that is highly questionable.

Normally I was a very sociable being but all this has made me want to keep to myself.

Incidentally, if people want to just get together and pray in my native language which happens to be English, in the name of Jesus Christ, in a normal, orderly way, and keep their hands to themselves, I am pretty flexible and ecumenical about who I am willing to fellowship with.

The only other people I avoid are the ones who are ready with "that look" when you don't want to join their denomination and they just know you are going to hell when you are not where they think you should be in your Christian walk.

[Revelation 911]

ping for your comments

this darned kjv only lot is cultish in its obstinance

[Corin Stormhands]

My church is only semi-pentecostal. We only bark like dogs on the third (and occasional) fifth Wednesdays.

That said, it is one thing to question the weirdness of the charismatic movement. I myself question a lot.

However, pride is also a sin. And this article is full of it.

That depends on what your definition of "it" is...

[drstevej]

***The Holy Spirit is not there for you to make it do what you want. It is there to make you do what GOD wants you to do.***

The Holy Spirit is a person, not an it.

John 16:13 (KJV)Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth

*** I had a non-inspired Bible, The NIV that kept me hungry.***

But the author could have gotten that from his Lean Cuisine NIV. Too bad he didn't read it more carefully.

John 16:13 (NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.

[Revelation 911]

- that was before I began realizing what Catholicism was truly about.

would that be hyperliteralism in the sacraments or an extrabiblical papacy that claims the vicar or Christ? (despite the fact a number of popes were dirtbags), or a mass spoken in a dead language that no one can understand?

No disrespect meant, but how hard did you look?

[conservonator]

No disrespect meant,

Uh huh..........

[Revelation 911]

Uh huh..........

what.......oh yeah - this is a Prot bash thread - silly me - I lost my head

my bad

[conservonator]

what.......oh yeah - this is a Prot bash thread - silly me - I lost my head

This thread was posted by a protestant, about a movement that can be found with in nearly every sect of Christianity, including Catholic. It was an ecumenical dis-fest.

[man of Yosemite]

There are always going to be people who misuse tongues and act up out of the flesh rather than the Holy Spirit. I have been able to speak in tongues for over twenty years, and must admit that I don't do enough of it. Paul says, "I speak in tongues more than ye all." I have experienced the laughter of the Holy Spirit only once, and have desired to experience it again but never have. It was one of the most joyful experiences I have ever had and literally had me on the floor laughing. I assure you I was not harmed in any way, nor did it cause me to lose my dignity. It was a moment of rapture in God. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is biblical and necessary, the church suffering horribly without power because of the lack of it. Few deliverances or works of power are ever going to be achieved without the anointing of the Spirit. To be afraid of these things is a work of the devil to keep the church ineffective. I would say roaring like lions is a bit of a much, and perhaps manufactured in an attempt to make a show. Still, the man moving in power with the grace of God's Spirit upon him, will do infinitely more to further the salvation of souls than a church where nothing much ever happens, where people never get healed, where miracles never occur, where lives never change, and the transformation into the likeness of Christ crumbles into backsliding. The disciples in Acts were determined to get people filled with the Holy Spirit, and so should we. Who needs more of the same? It's dreadfully boring in a church without power, and we only need to point to ourselves to show what's wrong. We become selfish and sinful, holding back from God our lives, and then we wonder why we have no power.

[man of Yosemite]

Let's remember that all the apostles were involved in it. It was the teachings in Paul's epistle to Corinth that helped straighten them out. Never was it taught that they should fear or reject this experience, but embrace it within the confines of love and unity.

[Revelation 911]

This thread was posted by a protestant, about a movement that can be found with in nearly every sect of Christianity, including Catholic. It was an ecumenical dis-fest.

so its ok then - sorry - Its still a prot bash thread (albeit a righty bashing a lefty)

[RMrattlesnake]

Yes The holy spirit is a person, and the NIV is not the word of GOD.

[huskyboy]

But did not St. Paul tell the Corinthians that charity is the more excellent way?