'Reformed charismatic'

The last comment of the most recent post asked an honest question. What does it mean to be 'reformed charismatic,' which is what we say we are at The Father's House? So this post may end up being somewhat longer than others and perhaps a little more technical, but I sure would be glad if every member of TFH could read it. While some churches are full of people with great interest in doctrines and creeds, we have never really been this way, so it's easy to think this kind of material is not important. But it gives us a center to cling to (God in His three persons), some parameters to the thinking and trends that influence us, and thus an identity among the vast choice of churches out there.

So let's begin.

First, 'reformed' and 'charismatic' are actually separate terms in this description. 'Reformed' is not modifying charismatic, as in "we used to be charismatic, but now we've been reformed." :) Instead, the coupled phrase means that we encompass both the reformed tradition (or much of it), as well as the charismatic tradition (or much of it), which is not—just so you know—a very common combination, though it is becoming increasingly so, through the leadership of pastors such as Sam Storms and CJ Mahaney (the latter now leading an entire consortium of churches in this vein (see Sovereign Grace Ministries).

Second, to be 'reformed' means, as we emphasize it, to lean strongly in the direction of God's complete sovereignty. This means additionally that we lean toward God's election of all who would believe, drawing them by irresistible grace (that is, if you are chosen by God as His, there is no way to reject Him). Furthermore, He steadfastly maintains our relationship with Him (this is known as the perseverance of the saints); He will never reject us once we are His. This theology opposes the vagaries of its counterpart, called arminianism, which suggests that a sin in this moment, unconfessed in the next and followed by immediate death (say, by accident), would result in damnation.

Answering some common questions:

- Does all of Scripture point to reformed theology?
No, which is precisely why there is more than one system of theology. But we believe that reformed theology puts "the whole world in His hands," rather than ours. Those who have been around TFH for a while may recall Brad Davis (our founding pastor) speak in his later years at the church of how he had spent much of his younger life thinking he was in control and how now he was giving the credit to God. This was the beginning of our push toward more confirmed reformed theology. My writing partner Jeff Cranford has said, and I have shared with you, that when he looks ahead in life he is a "free will guy," but when he looks back at what God has done he is a "sovereignty guy." Hindsight has a way of confirming God's very active role, doesn't it?

- Are there other components to the reformed tradition?
Yes. For instance, the reformed tradition is typically very patriarchal. That is, men alone lead and teach in mixed adult groups, just as they are called to do strongly, but lovingly and sacrificially, in their own homes. Because TFH was birthed out of the Foursquare denomination, which was founded by a woman and openly allowed for women in pastoral roles, we could not in the past make a move this far, and to do so even now would require a significant congregational conversation. Additionally, and quite important in this discussion, is that reformed tradition has not until recently been open to charismatic inclusion (or the full range of the gifts of the Holy Spirit).

Third, to be 'charismatic' means that we accept and practice the full range of spiritual gifts into our time, including those that non-charismatics would not—namely, tongues and prophecy. Some on the non-charismatic side would also include miracles and healing in these gifts, but by that they do not mean that they do not believe in miracles and healing, but rather that they do not believe these are done through people who are uniquely gifted to carry out these gifts; no Bible-believing Christian denies the possibility of miracles and healing! Some would also say that charismatics are different because they may raise their hands and dance in worship. This may be true, but this is not a theological position based on those so-called charismatic gifts we have identified. Rather, this is simply a difference in worship styles, and those who would relegate hand raising to "charismatic churches" miss entirely the biblical call for "men everywhere to lift up holy hands."

Answers to some common questions:

- How do non-charismatics deny prophecy when it is all through the Bible?
They don't. Rather, they say that prophecy (foretelling, "seeing") as we read it and read of it in Scripture is not a gift actively given by the Holy Spirit today. Most of these teachers do suggest that the "forthtelling" (or strong, Spirit-led teaching) aspect of prophecy is still active.

- How do charismatics and Pentecostals compare?
The styles and the practice of the charismatic gifts are in many ways the same. Pentecostals would be more apt to (a) require tongue-speaking as evidence of Holy Spirit baptism, (b) freely use the phrase "thus saith the Lord" when prophesying, (c) espouse arminianism, (d) adhere to strict standards of righteousness, including dress. Charismatic churches, many of which arose out of the Calvary Chapel/Jesus movement of the late 1960s, may or may not have some of these tendencies.

Thus, when we say that we are 'reformed charismatic' we might do better to hyphenate the phrase: 'reformed-charismatic.' This would show that we hold to two strains of theology that have not traditionally been paired, but which can coexist without necessary tension.

Now if all this theology has your head spinning, let me do what pastors are supposed to do. Let me put it into terms that make the best sense. I would do so like this: At The Father's House, we give God all the credit, we take from God all the gifts His Word says He has to give us, and for both of these things we give God all the praise.

Beyond that, you may have some questions, and I would be glad to hear them and attempt to answer them as simply and as meaningfully as possible.