What immediately comes to mind when I hear a discussion like that is something a dear friend said years ago: "Every person is called to charismatic renewal; some are called to the Charismatic Renewal Movement."
Let's examine the word charismatic.
Webster says it is derived from the Greek, charisma, and means gift, favor, grace.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: "Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world." 799
So how and when do we receive the charisms, or gifts, of the Holy Spirit? When we received the sacrament of Baptism we became members of the Body of Christ and were gifted with the Spirit.
The Catechism says Baptism: "makes the neophyte a new creature, an adopted son of God, who has become a `partaker of the divine nature,' member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit." 1265
And it continues: "...giving them (the baptized) the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit;" 1266
Thus, through Baptism we're all charismatic, forgiven by God, reborn into a new life and graced by and with the Holy Spirit. We become "living stones, built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood". 1 Peter 2:5 The baptized are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people that they may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9
Since we are all charismatic, then perhaps the anonymous speaker in the first paragraph is confused about what I call being a "Big C, little c" charismatic.
As my friend said, we are all called to charismatic renewal, to be refreshed, restored and grow in the use of our gifts. But, renewal happens in many ways.
I have friends who made their Cursillo, went on retreat, participated in the Diocesan RENEW faith sharing process, or attended a Holy Spirit Seminar and suddenly found themselves, their gifts and their relationships with the Lord revitalized.
It happened for me when I made my Seminar in 1988. Because it happened to me, and others, through the Charismatic Renewal Movement does not mean it's the only way renewal occurs.
As Christians, responding in obedience to the Lord, we are constantly called to grow and mature; the process is different for everyone. And, as Christians called to love one another as Jesus loved us we cannot stand in judgement of another's journey.
Let's not forget Paul's advice to the Corinthians. Christians there were struggling with their environment, surrounded by corruption and sin, much like the world we live in today. The spiritual gifts were splitting the Corinthian's church instead of unifying it. The gifts had become signs of spiritual power and were causing rivalries.
Because of their gifts, people were seeing themselves as spiritually superior-I would have said they were copping a spiritual attitude.
Paul taught that all gifts are to be respected as from the Lord, and that all believers should strive for "the most excellent way", love. Without love as the foundation our gifts will produce very little.
It is easy to label someone, or something, but labels are limiting. I am a mother, wife, writer, prayer group member, volunteer and more.
Am I a charismatic or a Charismatic? As editor of a charismatic newsletter, leader in my prayer community and worker on my parish's Life in the Spirit Seminar team, call me Charismatic-one called to the Charismatic Renewal Movement.
As a human being, traveling through life, sharing myself and my God with the people I encounter daily, call me charismatic - one called by Baptism to share the light of Christ.
Before I ever prayed in tongues, prophesied, or shared word of knowledge at a prayer meeting I used my gifts. I used them to guide my child as she grew, counsel friends who suffered heartaches and endure the hardships that came my way. Since the day I was Baptized the Holy Spirit has guided me, guarded me and led me in His ways of love.
Would I have called myself [c/C]harismatic before I experienced my renewal? No, I wouldn't have known what that meant. Is that all I call myself today? No, I am God's child, filled with potential, still waiting to discover all God created me to be.
Matt. 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise your Father."
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