Tags
book, charismatic, churches, Evangelical, exposition, Holy Spirit, J.I. Packer, Joy Unspeakable, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, preaching, reformed, Revival, Theology, westminster
I’ve begun reading a book many of you, I’m certain, have already read. It is a book by Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones entitled Joy Unspeakable: Power & Renewal in the Holy Spirit. Now the Church is certainly in need of a revival, yet I cannot honestly say I see one on the horizon; in fact, I can think of a few biblical reasons why I do not, for now, expect one. But it was not the subject of revival, per se, that interested me in reading this book. It’s what I read while flipping through the initial pages of the forward that really caught my attention.
The forward, written by Peter Lewis of The Cornerstone Evangelical Church of Nottingham had this to say regarding the “reaching out” of reformed and charismatics to one another:
Happily a reaching out to each other and a sharing with each other of ‘things new and old’ is also beginning to occur. We are beginning to see an appreciation of expository and doctrinal preaching and teaching among ‘charismatics’ and a real attempt to introduce greater congregational participation and more contemporary expression of praise into certain ‘reformed’ churches and meetings. At a deeper level, the profounder reaches of spiritual experience are already sought and shared by both alike. For many reasons – biblical, historical and experiential – it is becoming increasingly untenable and even absurd to see these two movements as fundamentally alien to one another.
Well color me absurd, because that’s exactly how I see these two camps. Alien to one another.
However, I’ll give the good doctor a shot at convincing me otherwise. I’m teachable but I’m also sort of closed-minded, you know, so, we’ll see.
When I’ve completed the book, (D.V.), I’ll let you know what I thought. In the meantime, if you’ve read the book, I’d love to hear what you thought about it, and/or the reformed charismatic movement which today has become such a foundation of ‘new calvinism’.
JT,
I see a fox in the henhouse. There is nothing compatible between true reformed beliefs and charismatic beliefs. I appreciate much of the reformed point of view on scripture. It seems to me that the charismatics have just made up most of their stuff with little if any Biblical connection except for out-of-context eisegesis. You guys (reformed) are pretty good except for Israel & eschatology
.
I am afraid there is a new false movement afoot that will appear solid at first but later reveal it’s foulness. Why else would Rick Warren be trying to look “doctrinal & sound” by hanging with Piper. Plus these new-generation guys who claim to be reformed act as though they do not understand God’s sovereignty because they care so much about style & relevance to the current culture (Driscoll, Keller, et al).
I am afraid there are some potential wolves trying to appear like sheep by hiding in the reformed camp. Thoughts?
Tend to agree. I’ll no doubt have more to say after I read this book.
“wolves” is way too harsh to describe the people you are talking about.
Which guys do have in mind?
Super,
Have you read what the Bible says about people who lead others astray with false teachings?
T.
I agree with Truthinator (Except I like the Reformed guys on Israel and eschatology) I read the book while on vacation three summers ago, and would have put it down after the first few pages if the author had been anyone other than the Good Doctor. As it turned out, I didn’t read much more of it anyway. I thought It was a wee bit shaky.
I’ve read Dr. Jones’ book “On Preachers and Preaching” and found very little to disagree over and much to enthusiastically embrace. Yet we know all men have sin and error and it is no surprise to see the apparent error into which Jones dives with this book. sigh
Remind me to write only one book
Funny, I just ordered this same book last week because it was recommended by a pastor I respect. Now I’m a little nervous….
Should be….I’ll let you know how much in about 3 days, lol
Look forward to it!
I’ll side with the majority view here, that being that charismatics have little in common with reformers. Well might they claim to be serving the same God, but the reality reveals a different picture.
When I heard of reformed charismatic’s I thought, wow! This is a great, a link between two key elements of scripture. This is like Edwards + Wigglesworth, if we could only add a Mother Teresa type charity to the mix maybe we would have something that looks more like Christ. I’m not too big on any one of these groups alone but perhaps if we glean from each other we could be much closer to the truth.