What I Mean By “New Charismatics”

Last updated on: August 16, 2018 at 2:21 pm by Zach Hoag

What I Mean By “New Charismatics” 2018-08-16T14:21:32-05:00 Zach Hoag

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Screen Shot 2015-12-12 at 9.56.00 PM

As I relaunch this blog as Faithfindings, I want to designate a space here for posts by and about the New Charismatics.

But who are the New Charismatics, you ask?

I wrote this piece for Onfaith a few months ago that gives at least a summary glance at what I mean by the term. It’s not a formal category (you know, like Southern Baptist or Episcopalian), but it is descriptive of a stream, a movement of sorts, that a growing number of us identify with. And no matter what you call it, there are characteristics that we seem to hold in common – 10 that I came up with, and more that I probably overlooked:

1. We are spiritual . . . AND religious.

While the infamous “nones” are known for avoiding organized religion in favor of an independent spiritual path, New Charismatics are seeking a both-and way. On the one hand, we understand our faith primarily as spiritual experience, or rather, Spiritual experience. On the other, we are passionate about rooting our faith in the Great Tradition of the church, so it is both historically connected and futuristically sustainable.

You can find some of us New Charismatics inhabiting liturgical or traditional churches and denominations, and you can find others of us bringing liturgical rhythms to our evangelical churches, seeker churches, or charismatic churches.

2. We are Eucharistic holy rollers.

While we resonate with the passionate worship styles that charismatics have largely innovated, we are seeking a deeper, contemplative center in the regular practice of the Eucharist. We meet and receive from Jesus uniquely in this quiet but intense moment — a moment that grounds the charismatic tendency to seek a shallow or contrived spiritual high.

Read the rest of the list over at Onfaith!

And stay tuned here for a growing number of posts from New Charismatic voices – voices like Brian Zahnd, Sarah Bessey, Jonathan Martin, Ed Gungor, Chris Green, and more.

We’d love for you to hang out with the Eucharistic Holy Rollers :).

Previous Post

November 17, 2015

Some Jesus-Centered Voices on Paris: Bruxy, Volf, Merritt, Smith

Next Post

December 13, 2015 Introducing Faithfindings

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2018 August 2018 July 2018 July 2017 May 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 March 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz