Charismatic Adventism

Charismatic Adventists are a segment of Seventh-day Adventist Church that is closely related to "Progressive Adventism", a liberal movement within the church.

Beliefs

Music

Like progressive Adventists, charismatics are typically open to a variety of styles of worship music in church including Contemporary Christian Music.^[1][2]

Speaking in tongues

See also: Seventh-day Adventist theology#Speaking in tongues

Adventists commonly believe that speaking in tongues refers to speaking in earthly languages not known to the user, not to a personal prayer language or similar as practiced by many charismatic and Pentecostal Christians. The 1991 National Church Life Survey in Australia found that approximately 5% of Australian Adventists approve of and/or speak in tongues, whereas 11% have no opinion and approximately 85% disapprove. This was the highest disapproval rating amongst all denominations surveyed.^[3]

An Adventist with an acceptance for charismatic experiences could be considered progressive in one sense, particularly because traditional and moderate Adventist views are suspicious of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements. ^[4]

Fundamental Beliefs

Belief "17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries" of the official 28 Fundamental Beliefs of Adventists affirms that spiritual gifts do continue into the present.^[5] While the gift of tongues or "glossolalia" is not specifically mentioned, Adventists more often limit it to the ability to speak unlearned human languages, or "xenoglossy"; and have generally rejected the form of tongues practised by many charismatic and Pentecostal Christians, described as ecstatic speech or a "personal prayer language".^[6]

Supporting this position is Gerhard Hasel, who believed the practice refers to unknown human languages only, and not angelic languages nor ecstatic speech.^[7] His document has been frequently cited by Adventists. The Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology takes the position that speaking in tongues refers to "previously unlearned human languages" (xenoglossy), using the experience on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 as the "criterion" for later interpretation.^[8] David Asscherick also believes tongues are xenoglossy only.^[9]

See also other Adventist commentators.^[10]

History

Modern

Some modern Adventist individuals and churches have charismatic leanings. Some Adventists practise speaking in tongues, although nearly all do not. Jon Paulien describes "the Montanists, early charismatics who believed that every Christian was as inspired as the apostles or the Scriptures. Their focus on the Spirit as the key to church life is now mirrored in some Adventist circles as well."^[11]

In September 1999 "Discerning the Spirit" conferences were held in the Australian part of the church.^[12]

Adventist churches with charismatic leanings are very controversial within the denomination.^[13] New Life Celebration church was one of the earliest Adventist "celebration churches".^[14] Some such churches have had tension with the Adventist leadership,^[15] and some have left the Adventist denomination. Retired Australian Adventist pastor, evangelist and former official of the Greater Sydney Conference, E. Bruce Price has criticized the churches, which he says were introduced to the world Adventist church in the 1980s. ^{[16] [17]}

According Adventist historians Bull and Lockhart, "Adventist worship is generally restrained and carefully organized".^[18]

See also

• Seventh-day Adventist theology
• Progressive Adventism
• Historic Adventism
• Seventh-day Adventist worship

References

1. ^ "Beating Up on Upbeat Music". Adventist Today (Loma Linda, CA: Adventist Today Foundation) 9 (5). September 2001. ISSN 1079-5499. http://www.atoday.com/magazine/2001/09/beating-upbeat-music. Retrieved 2007-11-20. 
2. ^ "When cK isn't Calvin Klein" by Alissa Rouse, who describes attending an Audio Adrenaline concert.
3. ^ Kaldor, Peter; John Bellamy, Ruth Powell, Merilyn Correy, Keith Castle (1994). Winds of Change: The Experience of Church in a Changing Australia. Lancer books. pp. 76. ISBN 0-85892-536-2. 
4. ^ Bruinsma, Reinder (2009). The Body of Christ: An Adventist Understanding of the Church. Hagerstown, Maryland: Review and Herald Publishing Association. pp. 80, 81. ISBN 978-0-8280-2488-4. http://books.google.com/?id=CTjhQryjPNgC&pg=PA80&dq=%22speaking+in+tongues%22,+adventist#v=onepage&q=%22speaking%20in%20tongues%22%2C%20adventist&f=false. 
5. ^ "Fundamental Beliefs". Seventh-day Adventist Church. http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html. Retrieved 2008-08-18. . See "17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries"
6. ^ Bacchiocchi concurs in End Time Issues #194 and #195 below
7. ^ Gerhard Hasel. Speaking in Tongues: Biblical Speaking in Tongues and Contemporary Glossolalia. Berrien Springs, Michigan: Adventist Theological Society, 1991 (publisher's page); as quoted in the Handbook. One review (DjVu) is by Herbert Kiesler. Andrews University Seminary Studies 32:1–2 (Spring–Summer 1994), p137–138
8. ^ "Spiritual Gifts" by George E. Rice in Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, edited by Raoul Dederen; p616–17. See also p648 for selected Ellen White quotations
9. ^ "What the Bible Says About Speaking in Tongues" [DA106] by David Asscherick. Presentation available for purchase
10. ^ "Tongues in Early Adventism" by William Fagal. Adventists Affirm 1997, v11, p26–34
11. ^ Paulien, Jon. "Questions on Doctrine and the Church: Present and Future" (PDF). http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/21_jon_paulien.pdf.  See Questions on Doctrine 50th anniversary conference
12. ^ Patrick, Arthur (c. 1999). "Early Adventist worship, Ellen White and the Holy Spirit: Preliminary Historical Perspectives". Spiritual Discernment Conference. SDAnet AtIssue. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/discern/holyspirit.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
13. ^ One example, Tinker, Colleen Moore (March 1998). "Washington Conference Disfellowships Independent Pastor". Adventist Today (Loma Linda, CA: Adventist Today Foundation) 6 (2). ISSN 1079-5499. http://www.atoday.com/magazine/1998/03/washington-conference-disfellowships-independent-pastor-0. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
14. ^ Tinker, Colleen Moore (January 1998). "Oregon Pastor Resigns". Adventist Today (Loma Linda, CA: Adventist Today Foundation) 6 (1). ISSN 1079-5499. http://www.atoday.com/magazine/1998/01/oregon-pastor-resigns-0. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
15. ^ For example, Daily, Steve (May 1998). "The Anatomy of a Defrocking". Adventist Today (Loma Linda, CA: Adventist Today Foundation) 6 (3). ISSN 1079-5499. http://www.atoday.com/magazine/1998/05/anatomy-defrocking-0. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
16. ^ Price, E. Bruce (2005). Are the Churches Really Growing? Church Growth Experiments in Secular Australia. Here We Stand: Evaluating New Trends in the Church. Samuel Koranteng-Pipim (ed.) Berrien Springs, Michigan. Adventists Affirm/Review and Herald Graphics, p. 23-36
17. ^ "Church Growth Experiments in Secular Australia" by E. Bruce Price in Here We Stand: Evaluating New Trends in the Church edited by Samuel Koranteng-Pipim. Berrien Springs, Michigan: Adventists Affirm, 2005. ISBN 0-9677622-1-9 (publisher's page). Chapter republished in Samuele Bacchiocchi's Endime Issues Newsletter No. 130
18. ^ Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream (2nd ed.). Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. 2006. pp. 221. ISBN 978-0-253-21868-1. 

Books:

• G. Edward Reid, Battle of the Spirits, ISBN 0971113408

External links

• Counterfeit Revivals
• Ancient Future: Counterfeit Revivals And The New Spirituality Movement (Audio Sermons)
• "The Church and Worship" by C. Raymond Holmes. Biblical Research Institute
• "Applause, Hand Waving and Drumming In The Church" by Samuel Pipim
• "Shall We Dance?" by Adventist Scholar Samuele Bacchiocchi
• "Music: Its Role, Qualities, and Influence as Set Forth in the Writings of Ellen G. White". Ellen G. White Estate, compiled 1972
• Worship, Radical Ritual, by C. Raymond Holmes. Biblical Research Institute