Charismissional is the topic of the October issue of The Porpoise Diving Life with Robbymac as guest editor.
Brother Maynard has an introductory post explaining the compilation of this issue and asking for discussion and opinion concerning the relevance of this topic to the emerging/missional conversation.
I'd like to highlight a few of the articles here to hopefully give you a taste of some of the articles that might interest you. We would welcome comments and feedback about the articles at our blogs.
Additional articles and reviews for the October issue can be read at PDL.
Chrysalis: From Post-Charismatic To Charismissional
From Robby's article Chrysalis, this is descriptive of the process I feel as a post-charismatic, wondering which expressions of my former charismatic life are dead and which will be transformed.
"I like the imagery of the chrysalis as a metaphor for the journey that post-charismatics find themselves on. In the cocoon stage, a caterpillar looks – in the outer expression – dead and withered. Yet a metamorphosis, a transformation, is taking place in a deep and hidden place."
(Charis-)Missional Evangelism
In his article on Missional Evangelism, noting a hesitation towards the use of the term charismissional, Brother Maynard describes the merging of lifestyle evangelism and power evangelism into a more holistic demonstration of faith which lends itself to his tagline, "Live your faith, share your life."
"I propose we share our lives. If our faith is active, if we are living it, the sharing of our lives puts our faith in proximity with others... and opportunities both for proclamation and demonstration will result in natural contexts."
Prophetic Ministry, Reimagined Missionally
Prophetic Ministry, Reimagined Missionally is the result of a lengthy e-mail conversation that I had with Brother Maynard. It was interesting to discover how many parallel experiences that we had with prophetic ministry in our former lives. Brother Maynard brilliantly edited the conversation with its many tangents into this condensed and coherent article.
"Prophecy is to give us a glimpse of the reign of God, to give us understanding of His solution for our brokenness, insight into His intentions toward us. Part of our role as prophetic people is to be those who see, believe, and declare God's redemptive purposes."
Why Charismissional?
In my article, Why Charismissional?, I first hope to stress that the topic and emphasis of the Holy Spirit should not be a charismatics-only concern. I am hopeful that within the emerging/missional conversation we can embrace the necessity of the involvement of the Holy Spirit without delineations between charismatics and non-charismatics. The majority of this article is a letter to my charismatic friends challenging our former lack of missional intent in pursuit of spiritual gifts and experiences.
"Traditional charismatic expression has little connection or relevance to the outside world. Our use of charismatic gifts has not compelled us to go to those to whom we are called. The deeper we went in our quest for the things of the Spirit, the further removed we became from knowing and relating to those who do not yet know Jesus."
A Missional View of Healing and Deliverance
Finally, in my article, A Missional View of Healing and Deliverance, I just brush on the idea of personal healing and deliverance as an aspect of reconciliation and the missio dei.
"God has a big-picture plan for the reconciliation of all of creation. However, in the midst of that, there is also a very real plan for our personal healing and deliverance. Healing and deliverance is a part of our ongoing salvation, of being restored to the wholeness that God intended for us."
Because feedback isn't possible at the PDL site, we welcome your comments and response about these articles at any of our blogs.
13 comments:
Wow, this is some great stuff. I have never hear the coined phrase of Charismissional.
I agree 100% with these articles!!!
Seriously I am not just saying, but I really do. I deeply resonated with this post. Thanks Grace!
Grace, I loved all the articles. I especially was interested in the one from both you and Bro. Maynard about the prophetic. This was good stuff. I'm ready to step out and just live it.
Thanks
Thanks Grace! Great summaries...I look forward to the reading.
Aww come on Grace, now you're just making them up!
Are we just putting "l" on the end of everything now?
pointless excersisal, what is wrongal with the original wordal?
Jeremy,
I'm glad that you liked the articles. Charismissional is a word I made up about a year ago. My intent was to emphasize the necessity of the holy spirit in missional living.
Barb,
From what I know of your background, I'm sure there is some familiarity, particularly in the prophetic article.
Erin,
I hope you enjoy the articles.
Alex,
Missional already had an "al" on it. I didn't do that. And if I were simply adding an "al", then wouldn't the word be "charismatical"?
Yes, charismissional is a made up word, but as I said to Jeremy, my intent in merging the words was to emphasize the importance of merging these two aspects of spirituality.
I'm not expecting the word to make it into Webster's, but since I made it up, I plan to use it when and where I like.
So there"al"! ;)
Yeah, I was really bummed to have missed out on the comparison section between the both of you that you did not include. I could have added some stories, good and bad.
I guess I can't argue if you want to invent your own words, heck I do it too- which is fine when you're blogging.
It's when the leadership team of your church picks up on the latest buzzword and uses it mercilessly and without holding back during their latest buzzword filled sermon that really gets up my nose.
Too much reinvention of words and not enough reinvention of hearts.
Some very interesting reading there. Our pastor has been doing a "class" about our church's DNA, referring to what makes us distinct (but not separate or better or more right or...) compared to some other congregation. In other words, why we are the way we are. He has enumerated three areas of discussion (Evangelical Priorities, Charismatic Spirituality, Lutheran Theology). Aside from the last one, the other two really fit well with your term Charismissional. I also think Luther would applaud your comment regarding dualism - creating a divide between the sacred and secular. (note to commentators, we do not lift Luther up as the be all and end all of theological beliefs.)
Enjoy reading your blog and its category\label-destroying thought ... is it X, is it Y, who cares?
Great article!
In light of that I don't think we need another "post-something" category (post-charismatic) ... but I do sympathise with the need to go beyond the all-too-common boundaries of charismatic thought and practice and recapture the sheer breadth of the Spirit's work and influence.
It is also great to read an article that does not throw away what is good in the existing charismatic world esp. that there is a personal, experiential dimension to this, but also insists on painting on a larger canvas and reclaiming the Holy Spirit for ALL of the body of Christ e.g.
"God has a big-picture plan for the reconciliation of all of creation. However, in the midst of that, there is also a very real plan for our personal healing and deliverance. Healing and deliverance is a part of our ongoing salvation, of being restored to the wholeness that God intended for us."
I love the Brother Maynard quote under "Prophetic ministry, Reimagined missionally".
Lots to revisit here.
Thanks
Richard
Barb,
Obviously, the naming of names couldn't be published. ;) It was surprising to me how few "friends" Brother Maynard and I knew in common.
Alex,
I hear you. We sometimes play with new ideas instead of doing what we know to do.
inheritor,
From what I've read, your congregation has been intentional about applying spiritual gifts in practical and missional ways. That was one of the reasons I was so excited about the conference of Graham Cooke and Michael Frost that was held last year. I really want to see the merging of different streams, emerging, charismatic, house church, etc. to bring the strengths of each to the Body of Christ.
Richard,
Thanks for your comments. I spent some time snooping around your blog today, and I've linked it in my blogreader. I love your creativity.
Awww Grace, I used to like you, and now I find out you are a charismatic....
Even though I try not to let it bother me, alarm bells still go off in my head and I become very wary of anyone who admits to being 'Charismatic'. That even happend when I was listening to Wayne Jacobsen's Transiton series (whom I like very much).
I guess that's my problem honestly, you see I have 2 CLB's. I fled the Charismatic scene in the early 90's after witnessing some abuse, and found a nice safe haven in a Baptist (now maybe your alarm bells are going off :-) ) Congregation. At least there, my spirituality wouldn't be questioned if I didn't get 'slain in the spirit' or couldn't speak in tounges.
Anyway I do like much of what was said, and I liked the idea of Spirit empowered mission. Just not a fan of 'Charis'-anything (the term, not the idea of gifts).
Rick
Rick,
Don't give up on me yet!
One of my biggest complaints with charismatics is the divisions that have been created concerning outward manifestations.
I would call myself an inclusive charismatic in that I believe in the importance of the empowerment of the holy spirit, yet I believe that His empowerment is evident in the lives of many noncharismatic believers as well as some charismatic believers.
A lifestyle exhibiting the fruit of the spirit (love, humility, etc.) is a better indication of spirituality than outward experiences in my opinion.
I think as believers, we should all make ourselves available to the transforming work of God's Spirit.
One of the phrases in Robbymac's book, Postcharismatics, which addresses the abuses and hype of the charismatic movement, is "post-charismatic, but not post-Spirit." That's how I see myself.
The Vineyard movement has long aimed to be "post-charismatic, but not post-Spirit". With many Vineyard churches now seeking out what it means to be missional, my recent exposure the movement has lead me to be familiar with many of the concepts presented in these articles. Thanks!
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