The charismatic movement – What is it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The charismatic movement began as an effort to recover works described in the book of Acts. In 1901 in Topeka, Kansas, and in 1906 at the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, believers reported speaking in languages and witnessing healings. This movement remained within Pentecostal churches until 1960, when Dennis Bennett, an Episcopal priest in Van Nuys, announced that he had been speaking in tongues. His public testimony encouraged similar experiences in other churches. Over time, the movement became known for tongues, prophecy, healing, and expressive worship. Unfortunately, today, some churches include clearly unbiblical practices such as uncontrollable shaking or claims of clouds and gold dust.

Scripture records miraculous works, including speaking various languages (Acts 2), healings (Acts 3:6–8, 9:34), and prophecies (Acts 11:28 and Acts 21:10-11). But modern claims of tongues and healing rarely resemble the biblical versions, and Jesus warned against false prophets (Matthew 7:15–20). Some Christians, known as cessationists, believe Hebrews 2:3-4 and 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 indicate that sign gifts were given to the church for its foundation and ended after the apostles. They argue that the contrast between today’s practices and the biblical accounts supports the view that the gifts ceased in the first century. Believers today should measure any claims against Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 17:11-12).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament records undeniable miracles—plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7–12), the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), fire from heaven on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). These were public, immediate, and unmistakable acts of God, not vague or unverifiable experiences. Biblical miracles were clear demonstrations of God’s power and authority–but they also were not common occurrences.
• Deuteronomy 18:20–22 teaches that if a prophet’s prediction does not come to pass, that prophet has spoken falsely. There was no category for “partially accurate” prophecy. This standard helps evaluate modern prophetic claims.
• Deuteronomy 13:1–3 warns that even if a sign or wonder occurs, if it leads people away from the true God, it must be rejected. Miraculous experiences are not self-authenticating; doctrinal faithfulness is the true test.
• God carefully regulated worship (Leviticus 10; Exodus 25–31). Nadab and Abihu were judged for offering unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1–2). Sincerity did not excuse disobedience. God cares how He is worshiped.
• The Spirit empowered individuals like Bezalel (Exodus 31:1–5), Samson (Judges 14:6), and the prophets. However, these empowerments were purposeful and connected to God’s redemptive plan—not continual emotional displays.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The rise of the modern charismatic movement can be traced to a series of developments. In 1901, believers in Topeka, Kansas, sought an experience they believed reflected Acts 2, where the Holy Spirit granted the apostles the ability to speak in other languages. This Topeka experience set the foundation for what many understood as a renewal of apostolic gifts.
• A few years later, the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles brought these ideas to national and international attention. Participants testified to tongues, healings, and powerful displays of emotion, interpreting these events through passages such as Pentecost in Acts 2 and Cornelius and other Gentiles speaking in tongues in Acts 10. The revival’s influence spread quickly, shaping early Pentecostal theology and leading to the formation of new denominations committed to the belief that miraculous gifts continued.
• Today, the charismatic movement encompasses a broad spectrum of churches. Many believers within it desire sincere worship and spiritual vitality, yet some practices bear no resemblance to the New Testament, such as uncontrollable physical manifestations, claims of glory clouds and gold dust, and grave soaking. The New Testament emphasizes self-control as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23. Paul also wrote that gathered worship must remain orderly as “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:26–33). This raises concerns about many charismatic practices.
• Also, most modern tongues consist of a private “angelic language” that appears to have no linguistic structure, making them unlikely to be real languages like those found in Scripture. In Acts 2, people from many nations heard the apostles “telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God,” demonstrating that biblical tongues were recognizable human languages. In Corinth, while Paul allowed for tongues that required interpretation, he still stressed that they must be intelligible and must edify others (1 Corinthians 14:13–19).
• The unintelligible and erratic nature of some charismatic movements make them a poor witness to unbelievers. When Paul addressed speaking in tongues, he wrote, “If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?” (1 Corinthians 14:23).
• Healing in the New Testament also differs from modern claims of healing. For example, Peter healed the lame man in Acts 3:6–8 with immediate and verifiable results, and the paralyzed Aeneas began walking (Acts 9:34). In each case, Jesus and the apostles healed openly and completely. Modern healing ministries often involve gradual improvement, unverifiable conditions, or highly controlled settings, which make verification entirely impossible.
• Prophecy in the New Testament provides another point of contrast. Agabus accurately predicted a famine in Acts 11:28 and later warned Paul of the suffering he would face in Jerusalem in Acts 21:10–11. Indeed, each case of New Testament prophecy involved specific and truthful revelation. False prophets are a danger to Christians, as Jesus warned of (Matthew 7:15–20). Many modern prophetic claims are either so broad they could be apply to almost any event or predictions that do not come to pass and are explained away.
• Because charismatics believe in the continuation of these special gifts, most identify as continuationists. They point to passages like 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 as evidence that the Spirit still distributes gifts for ministry. However, the contrast between biblical miracles and modern experiences has led many Christians to adopt cessationism, seeing the miraculous signs as limited to the church’s foundational age (Hebrews 2:3–4; 2 Corinthians 12:12). These believers argue that the gifts served a unique purpose during the apostolic era and are concerned that modern versions are, at best, misinterpretations of natural events or, at worse, demonically influenced practices.
• Clearly, God continues to work in powerful ways today. Yet it is also clear that the charismatic movement has some troublesome theology and practices. Christians are called to study to show themselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and to investigate Scripture to evaluate whether certain practices are biblical (Acts 17:11-12).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Do your actions honor Christ? All believers must consider that question, including those in the charismatic movement. Uncontrollable shaking, claims of glory clouds, congregational barking or laughing, or the laying on of hands to pass along a spiritual experience—these are elements of some charismatic services, which become caricatures of Christianity the unbelieving world mocks rather than being drawn to.

The Holy Spirit truly works in the lives of believers, and we should never deny God’s ability to act powerfully. At the same time, God calls us to test every teaching and every experience by the standard of His Word (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Many charismatic groups encourage practices that do not appear in the Bible. They are, at best, a distraction, but might also indicate a real spiritual problem within that church.

Other churches have such a commitment to particular gifts that they divide Christians based on whether they speak in tongues, implying that some are spiritually deficient. Scripture teaches that the Spirit distributes gifts as He wills. When something like tongues is made the measure, though, believers can feel pressured to seek dramatic outbursts rather than steady faithfulness. In that environment, even sincere Christians may adopt beliefs or behaviors that lack biblical support simply because they seem spiritual.

The solution is to honor God by building your life on His Word, biblical doctrine, and not simply experiences. Genuine believers exist across the charismatic spectrum, so treat those you disagree with with charity while testing every claim carefully against Scripture.

UNDERSTAND

• The charismatic movement seeks to revive the miraculous gifts of the early church.
• Many practices in the charismatic movement differ from the clear, verifiable, and orderly miracles described in Scripture.
• We must build our faith on God’s Word and biblical doctrine, not simply experiences.

REFLECT

• What has shaped your views about the miraculous gifts?
• How do you discern whether something is a genuine work of the Holy Spirit?
• Why is it important for you to build your spiritual life more intentionally on God’s Word rather than seeking experiences?

ENGAGE

• What differences are there between the public, unmistakable miracles recorded in Scripture and many modern miracle claims?
• How should the standards for prophecy in Deuteronomy and the warnings about false prophets in Matthew guide us today?
• How can we encourage spiritual fervor while also maintaining biblical order and discernment?