A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library
A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library
A History of Christian Doctrine had left classical Pentecostal denominations, including participants in the post-war healing revivals and the Latter Rain movement. By the 1970s, it was possible to identify four distinct streams within the Charismatic movement. 1. Charismatic Renewal. As we have discussed, this term refers to the Charismatic movement within the mainline denominations, Protestant and Catholic. It is particularly strong within the Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The participants attend Charismatic prayer meetings, exhibit renewed zeal for spiritual matters, and enjoy relatively free and spontaneous worship in contrast to traditional liturgy. They believe in deliverance, healing, miracles, and gifts of the Spirit. 2. Faith, Word, or Word of Faith Churches. These churches developed outside preexisting denominations and emphasize positive confession, healing, health, and prosperity. The acknowledged founder of this stream is Kenneth Hagin (born 1917), a former AG minister who developed his own unique theological system. He established Rhema Bible Training Center in 1974 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, near Tulsa. Since that time his influence and ministry have mushroomed. By 1988 he had written eighty-five books, and 180 stations carried his radio program. Each year, about three million of his books and a half million of his cassette tapes are distributed. 288 Hagin’s theology owes much to the influence of E. W. Kenyon (1867-1948), an independent Baptist evangelist and teacher. 289 For instance, Hagin’s writings contain many quotations or paraphrases of the earlier writings of 292
The Charismatic Movement Kenyon (but without attribution). Other prominent teachers in this camp are Kenneth Copeland, Frederick Price, Jerry Savelle, Charles Capps, Norvell Hayes, Robert Tilton, and David (formerly Paul) Yonggi Cho. The Word of Faith teachers emphasize healing and prosperity. They typically proclaim that if a person truly has faith and makes the right confession, then he will be healthy and rich. His only limitations in these areas would be deficient faith and negative confessions. For instance, if he says, “I think I am getting sick,” then he will get sick. On the other hand, if he says, “I am not sick; I am healed,” then he will be healed. He should rebuke and deny any symptoms of sickness and confess his healing. His level of faith will determine whether he is sick or well, and his words will actually create the condition. 3. Nondenominational Churches and Fellowships. This stream consists of nondenominational, Spirit-filled churches and fellowships that sprang up in the last quarter of the twentieth century. It has become the fastestgrowing segment of the Charismatic movement. Many of the leaders were formerly in the classical Pentecostal movement but sought to operate independently of their one-time Pentecostal doctrinal formulas, ecclesiastical organization, and ministerial disciplines. Others were associated with the Charismatic Renewal in mainline churches but decided that they could be more effective by leaving their denominations and operating full-fledged Charismatic churches. Many megachurches (churches with two thousand or more in weekly attendance), a relatively recent phenomenon, fall into this category. In addition, a number of church networks emerged that fell short of being full 293
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- Page 340 and 341: Appendix C Answering the Charge of
The Charismatic Movement<br />
Kenyon (but without attribution). Other prominent teachers<br />
in this camp are Kenneth Copeland, Frederick Price,<br />
Jerry Savelle, Charles Capps, Norvell Hayes, Robert<br />
Tilton, and David (formerly Paul) Yonggi Cho.<br />
The Word <strong>of</strong> Faith teachers emphasize healing and<br />
prosperity. They typically proclaim that if a person truly<br />
has faith and makes the right confession, then he will be<br />
healthy and rich. His only limitations in these areas would<br />
be deficient faith and negative confessions. For instance,<br />
if he says, “I think I am getting sick,” then he will get sick.<br />
On the other hand, if he says, “I am not sick; I am healed,”<br />
then he will be healed. He should rebuke and deny any<br />
symptoms <strong>of</strong> sickness and confess his healing. His level<br />
<strong>of</strong> faith will determine whether he is sick or well, and his<br />
words will actually create the condition.<br />
3. Nondenominational Churches and Fellowships.<br />
This stream consists <strong>of</strong> nondenominational, Spirit-filled<br />
churches and fellowships that sprang up in the last quarter<br />
<strong>of</strong> the twentieth century. It has become the fastestgrowing<br />
segment <strong>of</strong> the Charismatic movement.<br />
Many <strong>of</strong> the leaders were formerly in the classical<br />
Pentecostal movement but sought to operate independently<br />
<strong>of</strong> their one-time Pentecostal doctrinal formulas,<br />
ecclesiastical organization, and ministerial disciplines.<br />
Others were associated with the Charismatic Renewal in<br />
mainline churches but decided that they could be more<br />
effective by leaving their denominations and operating<br />
full-fledged Charismatic churches.<br />
Many megachurches (churches with two thousand or<br />
more in weekly attendance), a relatively recent phenomenon,<br />
fall into this category. In addition, a number <strong>of</strong><br />
church networks emerged that fell short <strong>of</strong> being full<br />
293