Refining Charismatic Lables: Rhythm

In last week’s talk, I eluded to an imbalance danger. I tried to make the point that our excitement level as a group of people who want to (and enjoy) feel God (Pentecostal) cannot overshadow the point of our existence as the church.

1. Be known for our love (John 13:34-36) and

2. To make disciples (Matthew 28).

Rob Bell's Nooma series has a great discussion about this "rhythm" thing. You can check it out at www.nooma.com.

In essence, it is important that our whole self incorporate this spiritual mandate and fight the danger of imbalance in our journey. It is paramount that we find our rhythm and place in this God-life.

Along with Rob's "rhythm" talk, comes some different questions to ponder and discuss:

Question #1

What do you believe about God’s involvement in our daily lives?

Read Exodus 3:14 (KJV)

Question #2

Why do you think people, including some writers of the Bible use human physical references like “hands,” “feet,” “eyes,” and “he” to describe God, when other scriptures state that God is spirit and has no form?

See Deuteronomy 4:15-18 (NIV) and John 4:24 (MSG)

Question #3

What does it mean for you to be in or out of tune with the song? Are you in tune?

Question #4

Can you believe in God and be out of tune with the song?

Does it work the other way around?

Question #5

What is more important to Jesus: what we believe or what we do?

see John 10:10 (CEV)

Conclusion

You need to find the song God has written on your heart and be in tune. The song is the rhythm of your life. In tune is the way you live with that song.

Here is where we stand:

Main song

1. Loving God – relationship with Creator
2. Loving Others – being the church and building the kingdom
3. Making Disciples – bring folks along with you

2007 Underground

Loving God – prayer and worship and submission to teaching

Loving Others – groups that serve

Making Disciples – who we bring with us – outreach to build our community and the Kingdom

This is empowerment from Acts 1:8: this redefines the charismatic label.

Refining Charismatic Labels: History

I chose Richard Simmons to signify the danger of goofiness in our spiritual walk. He just makes me laugh and I feel that a lot of times we only see the extreme (goofy Richard) in some charismatic theology. I am out there, but I do have fun at it.

Plato said that all philosophy (the way we think about life) begins with wonder.
Francis Bacon said that wonder dies with knowledge

The main problem with charismatic theology is that it is full of wonder – it seems to void of rational thought and intelligence. We value intelligence. Greeks valued intelligence – the Jews wanted signs.

Charismatic experience is all out wonder. There really is no explanation for some things; and the things we justify we can’t explain we justify. Justification by faith – or at least the lesser evil.

History (this is some great stuff to google)

§ History of Pentecostal & Charismatic faith

§ Early 1900’s
o Azusa Street Revival
o Charles Parham
o William Seymour

§ 1920’s
o Denominational Acceptance & Growth
§ Pentecostal
§ Assemblies of God

§ 1970’s - Today
o Today: Radical Figureheads
§ Benny Hinn
§ Rodney Howard - Browne
§ Brownsville and Toronto Revivals (1990’s)
§ Creflo Dollar
§ Morningstar
§ Reinhard Bonke

o Spirit Phenomena
§ Healing
§ Out of control

How does the label of charismatic history appear in light of these scriptures?

Jesus commented, "Even more blessed are those who hear God's Word and guard it with their lives!" As the crowd led, he took a fresh tack: "The mood of this age is all wrong. Everybody's looking for proof, but you're looking for the wrong kind. All you're looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. But the only proof you're going to get is the Jonah-proof given to the Ninevites, which looks like no proof at all. What Jonah was to Nineveh, the Son of Man is to this age. Luke 11:28-30

He told the dove merchants, "Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!" That's when his disciples remembered the Scripture, "Zeal for your house consumes me." But the Jews were upset. They asked, "What credentials can you present to justify this?" Jesus answered, "Tear down this Temple and in three days I'll put it back together." John 2:17-19

Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king's court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: "Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe." But the court official wouldn't be put off. "Come down! It's life or death for my son."

John 4:47-49

It's written in Scripture that God said,
In strange tongues
and from the mouths of strangers
I will preach to this people,
but they'll neither listen nor believe.
So where does it get you, all this speaking in tongues no one understands? It doesn't help believers, and it only gives unbelievers something to gawk at.

I Corinthians 14:21-23

Are these biblical things happening?

§ Love

§ Healings

§ Disciples

§ Etc.

YES!

But there is also as imbalance danger:

§ Charismatic Actions vs. Great Commission

§ Charismatic Actions vs. Love of disciples (the mark of a disciple)

§ Charismatic Actions vs. Gospel message

The Charismatic actions, weird and inexplicable as some are, should not overshadow the message of the love of Christ.

Being the church and building the Kingdom.

We should pray and seek intimacy with the Creator – but we should always act out our faith!

Self Awareness

We need to come to a place of contentment in

§ who we are in Christ

§ who we are as a disciple

§ who we are in the global church

Too many times we focus on one of these three things and leads to IMBALANCE.

Charismatics simply want to feel God and experience His power. That is not a bad thing. It is when the selfish desire for experience clouds the God-desire for the disciple’s life.

I will close with a quote from Ravi Zacharias. “Until we see in ourselves the uniqueness of God’s touch, we will always want to be someone else and will live under the illusion that being someone else would be better.”

Know who you are – embrace it – and always seek to know your Creator more and more. Be careful to stay humble and unselfish, but go after God with all the tenacity you can muster.

Refining Charismatic Lables: Tongues

When I hear the topic of tongues, I am first reminded of being a child and watching TV preachers and “tent revival” atmospheres. Powerful “god like” preachers calling down power from heaven. They were intimidating.

For anyone who hasn’t had any experiences with this stuff, I consider them lucky. More times than not, our experiences cloud and distract the beauty and wonder of an experience like “tongues.” After all, it’s alluded to (in scripture) as a routined gift for those “Spirit life-ers.” Seeing the distortion and abuse of tongues causes a cynicism and pre-judging attitude toward any belief system and I believe this to be inherently natural. But who am I to say what is extreme? I am simply a continual student in this dance, myself. One will need to judge and educate himself in these matters. What I layout is my (and many others) beliefs and schools of thought on the matter of tongues (but mainly my own).

Before I get too detailed, I believe a life in the Spirit is defined by living a listening life. A believer should be consistently listening and “in communion” with the Creator. Our relationship with the Holy Spirit should be built upon familiarity and submission. A “constant praying lifestyle” is what scripture indicates (pray without ceasing). How else can this happen without communion with the Holy Spirit? It is in this communion, that begins at salvation.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed,

you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1:13-14

Now the Holy Spirit has several functions (Counselor, Teacher, Comforter, etc.); but it has one clearly defined purpose: to empower us to be like Christ and serve (see Acts 1:8).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

It is in this “empowerment” that we find the early account of other tongues (Acts 2). There are many theories and schools of thought regarding pneumatology (doctrine of the Holy Spirit) and the use of tongues. The synoptics, John, and Paul, all have different emphases. But let’s take the Lucan account in Acts 2, and hold it next to all of scripture for a thorough investigation. This means we may dust off the Old Testament from time to time, God forbid J.

1. Acts 2 – Lucan account with Joel – Personal

2. Tongues in daily life – Personal The Holy Spirit as personal guide – corporate is an issue I will not go into here.

1. Tongues in Scripture (Mother Theresa, Billy Graham) Acts 2 is the most popular instance 2:4

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:4

Tongues – languages (Gk. Glossa) – glossolalia (the guttural noise our words make)

Acts 2:17 – Will prophesy – PROPHETEUO } same passage Joel 2:28 – Will prophesy - NABA } parallel

The language was common – a reversal of confusion (Babel)

This is the main function of public “tongues” – Symbol of Divine Communion. But, Paul makes this phenomenon more personal. Here is where a lot of the “weird” theology happens. Paul speaks more on an active passivity (termed coined by Simon Chan). This, simply stated, results mainly in the personal relationship with God. Therefore, tongues is a personal and intimate revelation of the triune God (Father, Son & Spirit).

* Ephesians 3:16-17 ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

* Galatians 2:20 ²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

* Romans 8:9-10

⁹You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

* The Spirit indwelling the believers who creates the character of Christ.

Paul used tongues more than anyone

“I thank God that I speak in tongues

more than all of you.” I Corinthians 14:18

and uses it as communion with God

“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ``So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray `````with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” I Corinthians 14:14-15

This intimacy is related through this act. Paul recognized the unintelligible tongue – the physical act of speaking in tongues is not only a pointer to but also embodies the spiritual reality – what is experienced is similar to conversation – one acts and yet feels that one could not have acted otherwise (Chan 51).

This act of praying in tongues is a powerful evidence of the Spirit – what does this mean?

§ It is an embodiment of the Christ life

§ Brings us to a closer relationship with Him.

§ The point is to draw closer through this prayer language.

Many of the church fathers identified tongues as “guttural moanings” and humming. Throughout church history, it has taken several connotations. It has been abused and taught incorrectly. Its teaching has damaged others by making them feel as if they could not “grasp” the Spirit because they didn’t speak in another tongue. Many have taught that tongues is proof - it is merely evidence. Like tears are evidence of depression/sadness – you can still be depressed without tears. But don’t underestimate the power and “commonness” of tongues.

2. Tongues in Life

Tongues were used by Paul daily. How?

§ Constant communion with God

§ A prayer language

§ A safe place of symbolic refuge

§ Power in the communication

We need awareness of this present Holy Spirit.

The Label of Tongues

So last night I talked in Underground on the topic of "tongues" in holy writ. We are in the first week of a new series, Refining Charismatic Labels. I, personally, felt like I botched the topic and spoke poorly. But again, I always feel insecure about communicating. Anywho, I will blog some of my notes later this week on the topic.

I did ask two questions last night, and wanted to blog some of the interesting answers we received. Please remember, these are just folks' opinions and personal beliefs to the questions I asked. Like I said, I will blog my notes a bit later this week:

1. What is the purpose of "tongues"?

• A different way to worship God/A means for communication with God.
• A prayer language that allows a person to pray outside of their own thoughts.
  
• A spiritual gift used for edifying the believer...
• A form of communication to God, that only is between you and Him.
  
• To connect with the Spirit.
• To speak to God without anyone knowing (including yourself)
• To communicate the wonder of God across the language barrier to those who are not believers
• It is God speaking to us, through the Holy Spirit; it is supposed to be done in your prayer closet-privately.
• To translate a sermon into other languages.
• I am not sure.
• To give a message to people from God.
  
• It is a gift from God and that it is evidence of a Holy Spirit baptism. I dont think that it has to be a huge part of your life to be close to God.

2. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when your hear the word "tongues"?

• kissing
• speaking in a different language
• Usually massive misunderstanding of the purpose and extent of the gift.
• At first, I think of older people who speak afte rthe worship has ended...
• Speaking to God
• I'm kinda skeptical.
• Speaking in a foreign language
• It's time to become focused and serious
• Oh geez
• Doubt
• Nonsensical babbling
  
• Confusion, mainly. It has never happened to me before.

These are not all of the comments, but it does show the majority of ideas. I can definitely see a negativity on the second question. Hopefully, our relationship with the Creator will be deeped by our love and reaching out to Him, even if some of us never step foot into the whole "tongues" issue.

I should have my talk/notes blogged by Wednesday, and you can always download the latest podcast if you are an aural learner...(you can also search for it in itunes in the podcast section).