Can a Baptist be Charismatic?

Sure they can. I think the better question is, should they be. I would say no.

Joseph Botwinick

 

It's been my experience with charismatics(had friends for a long time, even visited their church, and another of their friendly churches,a nd questioned them about common beliefs of the other friendly charismatic churches) that they do not beleive the bible is the sole authority, they believe experience is authority, and can even over ride scripture when they conflict, which they do frequestly.

 

Seriously,

With the Baptist Distinctives of soul liberty and Local Church Autonomy, A Baptist Church could be charasmatic. I do agree with you, however, that they shouldn't be.

Joseph Botwinick

 

People consider different things as charismatic. There are some people that lift their hands during worship service. While this may not be common in some baptist circles some do not consider it to be charismatic while some do. Sorry if this is sort of off subject but I thought it may pertain to the discussion.

As far as tongues, prophecy and words of knowledge I do not believe they belong. I have had alot of experience in pentacostal/charismatic churches. There have been services I've visited where two or three people all tried to speak words of knowledge at the same time. Now, does God interrupt God? No. Sometimes people seem to seek "gifts" rather than the Giver.

I hear the term "full Gospel" used to describe some churches. If I go to a Baptist church that upholds to the Bible as the Word of God they are a full Gospel church. Correct me if I am wrong because I do not know your churches, but they are full Gospel churches. They believe the entire Bible. Any truly baptist church should be.

Just my 1 and a half cent.

In Christ,

Brooks

 

I would agree that "charismatic baptist" is a more likely term. Pentecostal doesn't mean just "full gospel". Rather Pentecostalism has its roots in the Wesleyan holiness tradition - arguably quite different from the Baptist distinctives.

I do believe that one can be a baptist and be charismatic - although that person would most likely be attending a nondenom charismatic church.

If we look at 1 Cor 13 we don't see any absolute prohibition on tongues - but we also see in Galatians 5 that the fruits of the Spirit do not include speaking jibberish!

 

Is not John Piper an example of a Baptist who thinks that they are not mutually exclusive?

Karen

 

Topic: Can a Baptist be Charismatic?

Sure, cuz charismatics can do anything they want to!

You useth logic, they don't.

Indeed, anyone can be a charismatic, but you are correct in your thinking, to be logical you couldn't be a baptist and charismatic.

This reminds me of a portion of a charismatic book I read years ago. The author stated that the problem with fundamentalists was their brains. He suggested that fundys ought to box up their brains and send them to the moon. Now, I read that as, if you want to be like them you have to be brainless, but I wouldn't want to read anything into what he said

 

If the shoe fits!

 

You are absolutely correct.

In fact, I have considered 1 Cor 13 as part of the context of correcting the Corinthian church of many bad doctrines. I think "tongues" and "prophecy" were abused, much like Pentecostals do today.

Rather than telling them flat out that they were wrong, Paul put so much stipulation on it that it would only be correct if done they way he said.

For example: Someone must interpret what is said, that requires two people with the same gift. This was apparently for the people who did not speak that language. The Corinthian church had different languages and no doubt tongues were used some.

I think this was done somewhat different than the day in Acts when everybody heard in his own tongue. Obviously, this is the ability of a person to speak another language that he does not know. This would be the reason to require an interpreter, because apparently the miracle is on the speakers side, whereas the first miracle in acts was on the listener side.

Paul had to be careful not to discourage Corinth. They were a big church and very active, just really messed up. So, after he got done taking care of the REAL doctrinal issues, such as sexual sins and idolotry, he had the minor doctrines left. So, in my opinion he was simply putting a Biblically correct, but very tough requirements in order to slow down its abuse.

Just some thoughts of mine. . .

 

This question reminds me of one my brother ask me this last Thanksgiving. He ask me because I just recently moved into Ky. He said, "Is it possible to have a 'CSI Kentucky'?" He then said, "absolutely not". I ask him why. He said first of all, all the DNA in Ky is the same and secondly there are no dental records down here.
I do not believe you can be Charismatic and Baptist.
Thanks -----Bart

 

My two cents - a Baptist can have "charisma" without being "charismatic." Most folks think of upbeat services with praise songs and raising of hands when they think of the term "bapticost." As a matter of fact, in my little church, we do those things, but we hold tight to the Baptist distinctives. We've actually been accused of going pentacostal, but most people who say that simply don't know what they're talking about.

 

Good point USN2Pulpit. The only problem I have is more of an opinion.

Upon seeing people raising their hands to music, often people are confused and think that it is Pentecostal and maybe other beliefs are too.

This is the main reason that I would not really like this is because it could be confusing to those who are new Christians or non-Christians trying to figure out what is right. When they see the Baptists making the same hand signs that were well known as originating with the Pentecostal groups, then they may consider that there is nothing difference between Baptist and Pentecostal, a very dangerous situation.

I don't think contemporary music is an issue any more since many Baptist churches use it. Remember, hymns were contemporary at one time. Many of the praise songs will no doubt be in the next issue of the Baptist Hymnal if there is one.

Why raise hands anyway? Is this an emotional thing? Does it help increase emotion, much like raising your arms on a roller-coaster?

If it hadn't have originated and been used so deeply in the Pentecostal groups, and it is such an optional thing (makes no difference if it is used or not). I would just soon not seeing Baptists doing this.

Even you mentioned people getting confused over your own church and accusing you of going Pentecostal. How many people who don't tell you that they don't know any difference between your church and a Pentecostal and wind up going to a Pentecostal church when they leave your church because they have trouble finding a Baptist church that does the same thing?

 

http://www.pfwb.org/

http://www.fullgospelbaptist.org/

 

No contradiction in my mind at all -you can be both in good conscience. Many Pentecostals and charismatics see themselves as adhering more closely to the Bible than non-charismatic evangelicals with their interpretation of I cor 12 and Acts 2ff. Now, we may disagree with their interpretation but we do that all the time with each other as Baptists and that doesn't mean that they - or we - don't take the Bible seriously.

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

Yes of course it's possible. My pastor is one for a start. The way it works in such cases is simple: any word given MUST be in line with scripture.

Liz

 

So, these Baptists believe that they are Baptised by the Holy Spirit as shown by speaking in tongues? Instead of this occuring at the point of salvation?

These Baptists don't believe in eternal security?

You know...just a few of the BASIC Pentecostal doctrines?

 

Uh, the Church of Christ takes their Bible study EXTREMELY serious.

When you start interpreting basic doctrines (such as salvation, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, etc.) wrong, then you have a problem.


This is starting to sound like the thread about Billy Graham in the top subject of Baptist Debates.

"Doesn't matter how you get to God as long as you do something." This is where Baptists need to start sticking to their doctrines and preaching them. People today are confused and they do not know there is a difference between Pentecostal and Baptist, except one is a little louder than the other.

They do not realize that basic salvational doctrines are not compatible. We should seperate ourselves from those who believe in false doctrines.

 

I was referring to Pentecostals there not Baptists

Yours in Christ

Matt