# 20. CONCLUSIQNS: THE WAY FORWARD

Both Easter and Pentecost are vital for the Church in every age. Easter gave the Church its gospel, Pentecost gave it its power. The early disciples went our in the power of the Spirit to 'out-think, out-live and out-die the pagan world, as T.R.Glover has put it. A faith without power is as much a tragedy as a power without direction. It is possible to be doctrinally orthodox and spiritually dead. We need the balance of light and life, word and spirit.

One of the tasks of the Holy Spirit is to break up institutions that have had their day (institutions being societies for their prevention of change.) The early Christians did not have their theology and practice sorted our - they did it on the run. They had problems with unity and mission. And yet they faced the perils of a hostile political and religious environment with an almost reckless confidence in the power of the Spirit. God was with them, their Lord was alive, and nothing else mattered. The presence of the Spirit does mean freedom from conflict, but is does mean freedom from powerlessness.

Thomas Aquinas was sitting with the Pope as the revenue of the papal dominions was being brought in. The Pope said to Aquinas in an allusion to the first miracle after Pentecost, Peter can no longer say, 'Silver and gold have 1 none'. Aquinas replied, 'Neither can Peter say, "In the name of Jesus, get up and walk?'

The charismatic renewal is a judgment against mechanical worship, lifeless preaching, preoccupation with church structure and congregational success and a lukewarm faith, which expects nothing. It has helped us get in touch with the original wellsprings of the life of the church. Essentially, it is saying one thing only: ?Jesus is Lord' (Phil. 2:10). it has caused us to look again at the ingredients of authentic worship: praise, adoration, thanksgiving, reverence and service.

'As 1 observe it,' says Shervood Wirt

the most important gift God has given to the charismatic renewal is a fresh outpouring of love. Not joy, not ecstasy not tongues, not miracles, not even martyrdom, but love. The baptism of the Spirit is a baptism of love. The filling of the Spirit is a filling of love. The unction of the Spirit is an unction of love. That is the message of the Gospels Acts, Letters. When I watch some of the charismatics antics on television and hear their claims, I am amazed, then appalled. But I am not disappointed with God or the charismatic movement; just with another sinner like me. I am reminded that charismatics (like myself) are often ignorant easily hurt, insecure, and need encouragement. And I love them. (3.6)

Two things need to happen at once. Let the cautious among us be more open to renewal; conservative churches ought to welcome the joy and power for worship and service the charismatic renewal offers. Many churches are 'stuck where they were', dying or dead, because they've ostracized charismatic Christians from their fellowships.

And there's something else the cautious ought to be more afraid of: attributing the work of the Spirit to the devil. That's a very serious sin, Jesus warned. Don't be preoccupied with problems and faults and fail to see the Spirit of God at work: he might not fit into our rational/theological mind-sets. The work of the Spirit is often hidden, and sometimes surprising, and we must ask for faith-filled eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches in our day. Avoid a lifeless orthodoxy like the plague. A. W. Tozer once said 'Truth that is not experienced is no better than error, and may be fully as dangerous.' The religious enemies of Jesus were not so much victims of error, but of failing to practise what they preached. They had a form of religion, but without real power.

But charismatics haven't got it all together either. They ought to pray for a more humble, teachable spirit. Beware of exalting charisma over function, spontaneity over organization, the prophet over the priest, and inspiration over doctrine. Stay close to the church. There's a wise old spiritual dictum: 'sentire cum ecclesia' - 'to discern with the church'.

Much of the problem for both groups stems from fear: charismatics fearful of ridicule and charges of troublemaking; others with sometimes an almost irrational fear of tongues, of change and of the unknown. Let's talk to one another. Dialogue means listening as well as talking: and this process has a way of bringing about the death of mythologies.

The world is waiting for reality. 'Show us' they're saying to the church. Whatever else we mean by 'Spirit we mean life, vitality, joy and love. The charismatic renewal is about a new way of living, rather than a new way of thinking about life. It underlines the primacy of the power of Christ rather than our cleverness. We are living in a time of a truly dramatic work of grace. There may be problems with spiritual gifts in the church, but, in my experience, where there is acceptance and love, intelligent Bible teaching and wise leadership, they're minimal.

Paul sums it up: 'Make love your aim, while you set your heart on the gifts of the Spirit' (1 Cor. 14:1).