Catch The [Pauline] Spirit:
Some Thoughts on the Charismatic Movement
John Surinchak, Healing Ministry

When I noticed Catch the Spirit as the theme of a recent stewardship campaign at St Paul's, I immediately thought, tongue firmly attached to cheek, "St. Paul's is going charismatic...cool...I really like praise and worship music." As I talked with other members of the congregation about it, I found that almost no one knew what "charismatic" or "praise & worship" was – most of the comments I received regarded "charismatic" as a personality trait, rather than as a religious experience or practice. This was rather strange to me, as our church is the namesake of St. Paul, on whose writings the charismatic movement is based. (1 Corr. 12 & 14). What developed from my experience is the following basic introduction to the charismatic movement.

In a general way, the word "charismatic" refers to the grace dimension of Christianity and of the church as distinguished from the institutional or hierarchical dimension. We can say that "charismatic" designates the Christian community as guided by the Holy Spirit, as functioning according to the gifts of the Spirit (including the charisms), and as bonded by the love poured into the hearts of the faithful through the Spirit. More specifically, "charismatic" refers to the gifts of the Spirit called charisms, to the charismatic gifts. And it refers to the movement in the church that emphasizes the renewal of the charisms; the charismatic renewal. This renewal was started in 1901 by a woman who asked a Methodist minister to pray that she receive the gift of the Spirit. She experienced a transforming grace that filled her with joy, peace and praise and – at the same time – she received the gift of praying in tongues. This was the start of the Pentecostals and the Assemblies of God. Since then, it has penetrated the Reformation churches, the Anglican and Orthodox churches and finally the Roman Catholic Church in 1967. Neo-Pentecostalism, or the charismatic renewal, has spread rapidly and now forms a strong current in Christianity.

What's the difference? The movement is most visible in its style of worship, marked by hands lifted in praise to God and spontaneous prayer, often in tongues, the prayer language referred to in the Acts of the Apostles. But traces of its influence can be found nearly everywhere in the Church, from liturgical music and parish healing services to various renewal ministries and institutions.

If you'd like to experience a charismatic prayers service, St Hilary's in Tiburon has them on a regular basis. More information on charismatic renewal in the Bay Area is available through the Church Office. Catch the Spirit !!!

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