The Problem with the Charismatic Renewal
by Bob Van Cleef
During the years that I have involved with the Charismatic Renewal,
I've listened to many people comment, or rather complain, about the
health of the Charismatic Renewal. They talk about the ``good old
days'' when prayer groups were large, loud, and jubilant. They lament
that lack of enthusiasm expressed by people at the various prayer group
meetings and liturgies that they attend. One leader was asked at a
national conference to write down what is good about the Renewal in his
diocese. He answered, ``Nothing!''
Why are the prayer groups too small? Why is the attendance at
Charismatic functions and liturgies so light? Why don't we have
volunteers like we use to? I've heard dozens of opinions as to the
cause of all these ``problems.'' Some blame the Church; ``The bishops
and priests don't support us like they should.'' Some blame the
liaisons; ``They are too busy with their `real' jobs to pay any
attention to our needs'', ``If we only had a priest assigned to us
`full time' everything would be OK.'' Others point to the failings of
lay leadership, the lack of a renewal center, the lack of committed
volunteers, improper advertising of events, competition between events,
and rivalry between groups. All these explanations point to symptoms of
the problem, but have nothing to do with the real problem itself. You
could cure any one of these symptoms and the problems would remain.
Nothing would happen. The Renewal would not grow. Revival would not
come.
The Lord has spoken for many years, in many forums, telling us what is
wrong and what we need to do. Those who hear these words agree that
they sound right, but then, many assume that the real problem is with
someone else.
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``My children, I live in sorrow because you have refused to open the
gifts that I have placed before you. I've given you all that is needed
to bring new life to this world of pain and suffering, but those gifts
sit, still in their wrappings, unused and unappreciated. People are in
desperate need of your help, but without those gifts, those talents,
those charisms still wrapped in their packages, they will never receive
the help that they need, there will be no revival.''
It is all a matter of focus
A while back, I listened to a group of leaders lament that their pastor
had instituted a Charismatic Mass without their involvement. They
complained about the fact that the prayer group at that parish had been
faithful to the Renewal all these many years, but that they had been
ignored when their pastor decided to have a parish sponsored
Charismatic liturgy. Sadly enough, their problem was solved. Thier
pastor is no longer at their parish and the parish sponsored
Charismatic liturgy has been discontinued.
Instead of rejoicing in what the Lord was doing, they couldn't get past
their personal disappointment that they were not involved, consulted,
in charge! God had blessed them with a chance for a parish wide
renewal, and they complained about their personal feelings. Thus, it
appears that God withdrew that blessing. Their focus was on themselves
and not on the needs of the Lord or of their parish.
It is all a matter of style
For over six years we have had a Charismatic liturgy once every two
months at a parish whose pastor does not welcome Charismatics. For at
least five years this Mass did not have the same priest two months in a
row. The two lay leaders have succesfully recruited priests from all
over the area. Some were very ``Charismatic'' and some were not. The
music ministries and the style of music have changed many times. The
only things that have remained constant are the anointing, the prayer
focus and commitment of the two leaders who do all the work, the
consistent reports of healings--especially inner-healings, and the
focus on our Lord Jesus Christ.
Those who attend readily testify to the anointed nature of this
liturgy. Yet, from the very beginning, the Charismatics have stayed
away. Less than twenty percent of those who attend are involved in the
Charismatic Renewal in any fashion. Why? Because the style of the Mass
is not ``jubilant'' enough, or they don't sing enough at the Gloria, or
they don't sing in tongues long enough, or... the list goes on. The
Mass just isn't done the way a Charismatic liturgy is supposed to be
done according to their standards, so the Charismatics don't come. Of
course it is the absence of those who practice the gifts of the Spirit
that has led to those gifts not being manifest on a regular basis, but
that is not ``their'' problem. For those Charismatics who do attend on
a regular basis, the anointing is clear and the blessings are
powerful.
It is all a matter of commitment
There was a prayer group that was led by an older couple. They had
faithfully led this gathering every week for over seventeen years. They
always lamented about the small size of the group--average attendance
between ten and fifteen people. They were also disappointed that many
people joined the group, stayed for a couple of years, and then got so
involved in parish ministries that they stopped attending. The leaders
understood that the group was being used of the Lord to raise up new
leaders in the parish, but still they looked back to the good old days
of large prayer groups. Nevertheless, they were faithful!
Finally, however, the member of the prayer group who changed the
transparencies for the music during the praise and worship portion of
the meeting had to leave. The leaders asked for someone else to step
into that role and no one volunteered. Out of the ten people who
consistently attended every week, not one would make that commitment.
Every week they had to draft someone to do it ``just this one time.''
Finally, given this and many other minor frustrations, they gave up and
shut down the meeting. Everyone was willing to attend, but no one was
willing to take on any commitment, no matter how small. Now, years
later, people still lament the loss of that prayer group, but don't
seem to understand that they were part of the reason it shut down.
It is all a matter of leadership
A few years ago, I shut down a local ministry that provided monthly
teachings around the area, because of the lack of attendance at the
events that we were sponsoring. The anointing appeared to have been
removed, and without God's anointing we struggle in vain.
(John 15:5) I asked the central leadership team to discern God's
vision for the Renewal in our area, so that we could focus our efforts
on doing His will and meeting His needs. That question was never
answered. We are still a people in a ``night without vision.''
(Micah 3:6)
It is a matter of attitude
The most visible thing wrong with the Charismatic Renewal today is the
attitude of many of its members. They are proud and arrogant, knowing
the ``they'' have the truth. They are ready to forgive themselves and
the members of their little cliques for many things, while they sit in
judgement of those outside their clique. They are ready to complain
about the lack of commitment and faithlessness of others, but are
faithless themselves. They joke about being on ``Charismatic Time,''
when they are simply late, rude, and inconsiderate. And, most
importantly, they don't believe that they need more time for prayer and
repentance, either individually or as a community. Leaders talk of
prayer and healing, but only for others. They talk of days of renewal,
but only so they can teach, not listen. [1]
At any event, everything must be done in accordance to their wisdom,
knowledge and understanding or they condemn everyone involved. They
cannot trust God's Spirit to make things right, they must do it for
Him. I've heard leaders teach their own understanding of the validity
of the different spiritual gifts; rejecting those gifts and ministries
that do not fit their own, private revelations and ignoring the teachings
of the Church.
In a recent discussion, one leader said, ``There are too
many divisions, you must work for healing.'' He was immediately
contradicted by another leader who answered, ``No, all we need is a
full time priest, assigned as Liaison.''
Let me rephrase that statement the way it sounded to me
in the context of that meeting. ``Sorry, you are wrong. There is
nothing wrong with us. We do not need healing. There are no divisions.
Give us what we want and everything will be all right.'' Putting it
that way makes it sound rather arrogant, doesn't it? Yet, that is what
I hear, time and again, from leaders; ``We know what is wrong. Give us
what we want and we will fix everything.''
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`My children, I do not need your help to `fix everything'! I want your
hearts, so that I can fix them. Full time leaders will not guarantee
the success of a ministry, a full time commitment to serving my Son,
Jesus Christ, will.''
It is a matter of waiting
The real source of trouble is impatience. The Lord has placed us in a
``holding pattern.'' What I've seen are dozens of ministries that are
called to faithfulness and patience.(Psalm 27:13-14) Those that have
been patient and faithful have grown to a point where they are
carefully sustained and held there. Those who are not patient, who
cannot wait for the revival, struggle, experience fluctuations in
support, and may or may not survive. The problem is in how they've
responded to being placed on hold.
The periodic Mass may finally be discontinued, after over six years of
receiving practically no support from anyone outside of the original
two people who were called to serve. They prayed, they stayed, and
hundreds have been served. On the other hand, the parish sponsored Mass
did not last six months.
The prayer group lasted almost 20 years before the leaders lost heart.
During that time hundreds of people were introduced to the Renewal,
grew in the Gifts of the Spirit, and have gone on to serve the
community.
The ministry that I shutdown is still inoperative and will most likely
never be resurrected. We needed to spend time in prayer, as a
community, seeking for the Lord to show how we are to serve in this
time of waiting. (Psalm 37:7, 8, 34) That time was never spent and the
sponsoring community has since fragmented down to almost nothing.
Getting back in focus
What is your focus in life? Jesus said, ``But seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you.'' (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) Are you willing to let God renew His
church using His methods? Are you willing to spend time in prayer,
repenting your arrogance and the arrogance of your community?
(Luke 6:27-28) Are you willing to spend time in prayer interceding
for those who you believe have hurt you and your community?
(Daniel 9:3-19) Are you willing to forgive them and embrace them
as brothers and sisters? (2 Corinthians 2:9-11)
You are a child of the Most High God! (1 John 3:2) Your big
brother, our Lord Jesus Christ, is interceding for you at the right
hand of the Father. (Romans 8:34) Do you live that revelation? Do
you fellowship with those who will exhort you and help you grow?
(Hebrews 3:12-13) Do you walk in the righteousness of God,
trusting Him with all things, including the attendance numbers at
prayer meetings? (1 John 1:6-7)
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``My children, as members of the Charismatic Renewal, you should be the
foundation that I use to bring the next revival. If, however, during
this time of preparation you continue to murmur against Me, if you
continue to judge your brothers and sisters, you will find yourselves
left behind, unable to participate in the revival, unable to cross over
the Jordan, for you will have grieved the Lord, your God.''
(See Numbers 14:20-23)
Postscript
The faults and concerns I've described are not remote or isolated
events. Many are things that I have seen, felt, and done! I write of
these concerns from my own sense of culpability and I realize that my
own leadership has been flawed. I pray that God will grant us the grace
to ask forgiveness from those that we have hurt. We are all part of the
problem. I pray that God will allow us all to be part of the
solution.
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``The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
Amen.''
(2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV)
[1] When was the last time you went on a retreat
where you were not in a servant role?
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