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Originally Posted by Davidius  Quote:
Originally Posted by Poimen Quote:
Originally Posted by SemperFideles
I don't see charismatic belief in a so-called "reformed" Church as an up side.
| I would if the Reformed theology came into a professing charismatic congregation. If it is the other way around I would agree with you. | That's sort of how it happened with the Sovereign Grace guys. They were charismatics and then adopted a thorough Calvinistic soteriology. They still practice the gifts but in a much more controlled, calm form, attempting to use 1 Cor 14 as a model for their use in public worship. I was actually worshiping at one of their congregations before I joined TRPC. I am not a fan of even the toned-down charismaticism, and it does still seem to lead to emotionalism in some ways, but they're a lot better than the charismatic ministries of which I was previously a part. Unfortunately, since they've already built up an entire ministry around the Charismatic/Reformed thing, it will probably be therefore much harder to see a large shift towards a broader Reformed theology. |
Us Sovereign Grace guys have "cooled" down over time as the Puritans have taught us to grow in our doctrinal life. However, I think that most of what people are associating with "those charismatics" is not really a main thrust in Sovereign Grace Ministries. For a lot of us SGer's, the desire for the spiritual gifts stems from our deep desire to love and honor God, and to be obedient to where we're seeing the Scriptures leading God's people. It's the desire to know God, in all his infinite worth. It's not like we're raving lunatics after spirutalized experiences - we want both our hearts and minds set aflame for God - and we're pursuing that in a way that we see the Scriptures teaching. At least for us, I see the spiritual gifts serving our desire for love God with a heart set aflame with what we know, see, and love about God as he's clearly shown himself in Scripture. Having our emotions running for God isn't a bad thing - but as Edwards says, it's just not our foundation, God is. Just thought I'd share a little here...
Soli Deo Gloria,
~Jacob
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Jacob
Sovereign Grace Ministries
Covenant Fellowship Church
West Chester, PA
"Grace renews nature; glory perfects grace." ~ John Owen
Blog - The Strasbourg Inn