Things you can learn from the Charismatics

Look, I'm never going to be mistaken for someone who channels Big hair or Benny Hinn in church. I can't even speak proper Cantonese, let alone tongues. And I don't go around mapping cities for areas of spiritual darkness; it's tough enough finding my way around Cheras in daytime.

But I do find some useful things about the charismatic church that we should emulate. The traditional church has become a little smug and stale; and a little humility in learning wouldn't hurt. However, this is not be taken as a sign that I am going to be joining the Really Full Gospel Tabernacle of Shekinah Glory Rapture awaiting full signing and wonders church of God anytime soon...

What we can learn:

1) Prayer

Charismatics pray. Sure, they may pray for weird stuff like gold dust or the ability to laugh for hours (tip: go watch a comedy on TV) instead of world peace, but they pray. They believe in the power of prayer and that God can answer prayer. This is something totally biblical and somewhere along the line when we got a little too smart and self-reliant; we may have forgotten the fact that we are "but dust" and that God created us. It's something for us to go back to

2) Joy in worship

You may not like 20 choruses of "I could sing of your love forever" but there is no denying that for most parts, there is joyous worship in a charismatic service,give or take a little bit of over the topness. I know my uncle is fond of saying that hymns in a traditional sense can be sung just as joyously but when was the last time you saw people in the first service weeping or raising their arms with joy when they were singing? I am biased. If there is one part of me that is pseudo-charismatic ; it's my worship style. I don't mind singing 20 choruses...heck, let's make it 21!

3) Not being afraid in engaging the youth

The charismatic churches have a demographic that is youth heavy and why not? These churches came from the Jesus movement in the '60's. Their founders, once they got off LSD and Marijuana, got high on Jesus and brought rock and roll to christian music. In other words, they made an attempt to connect. They were rebellious youth and they knew how to reach out to the same group.

I appreciate the fact that some churches criticise this for being too worldly and giving in to dumbing down certain things. I agree to an extent. Some churches are no different from 'kem motivasi's and the sermons seem not to use any words longer than 2 syllables and no harder than what is required to enjoy a Barney the Dinosaur show.

However, this doesn't detract from the fact they love youth and want them. Your church might have more PhDs and large steeples but where is the love for the kids? You don't have to become an cool hip church, just a church that wants to accept them

4) Going back to the Bible

Sad to say, traditionalists who once were mighty defenders of the Word have deteriotated into a bunch of liberal, well read know it alls who have read everthing except the Bible. Worse, they may have read everything else stupid.

When you have people saying that the Da Vinci Code is true and at a time when they think Billy Graham was one of the four apostles...something needs to be done. While I do not agree with charismatics on their theology of the Holy Spirit, their mostly ignorant whole hearted acceptance of creationism ( I can't even call it science lest I faint) and dangerous stance on the End times; I admire that they are willing to defend the inerrancy of the Bible

I just wish it was a brigher group ;-) (Sorry, I couldn't resist the last dig)

So, there you go. Proof that I am not totally against my babbling, breakdancing in the spirit brethren, I love you all, you represent and rock for J.C..even in your weird way...and that's a cool thing