GENEralities

I have a confession to make.

Last year around this time at one of the Thursday morning pastors’ prayer meetings at the Alliance church I came out of the closet. I finally had to acknowledge that I am a charismatic.

What does that mean? It means that I believe that the Holy Spirit is still very much alive and active in the church today. It means I believe that God still heals people and that miracles still happen. It means that I believe that God speaks to his people today through prophecy and words of knowledge and wisdom (check out 1 Corinthians chapter 12). And, yes, I even believe in the gift of tongues.

There. It’s out in the open.

Why am I writing this now, a year later? Because I’ve just been to my fourth New Wine conference in Strathmore and it reminded me of what I am. It was after the New Wine conference last year that I came out of the closet. Last week once again I saw God at work through Holy Spirit inspired worship, teaching and prayer. I saw people from my church healed, blessed, puzzled and challenged. I saw them laugh and weep together. It was grand.

So, does being a charismatic Christian mean that I think I am right and people who think differently are wrong? No. But I do consider myself blessed. I enjoy the wonderful freedom of knowing that as I try to follow Jesus and lead my people, I am empowered by the Holy Spirit, not in some distant or theoretical way, but intimately and practically, moment by moment, in ways that surprise and delight as a preach and pray and make plans and hang out with my people.

Hi. My name’s Gene and I’m a charismatic.

Tweet this!