Charismatic Christianity V

Charismatic gifts were evident during the three first centuries of the Church; however, as the church became institutionalized, the use of spiritual gifts declined. Organizing the church took precedence over the freedom and life of the Spirit.[1] Those who wanted the freedom and spontaneity of the Spirit felt ill at ease amongst the growing rituals and formality of the churches. Conversely, church leaders, who were elected to their offices without the use charismatic gifts also felt uncomfortable because those who did actively use spiritual gifts claimed to have a direct connection with God.[2]

Many Christians did not approve of the institutionalizing and secularizing of the church, or of the declining use of spiritual gifts, and any of them withdraw from the Church into monasticism. Several monks became famous for their powerful prayer life and their ability to heal the sick. They were also able to cast out demons, and many supernatural works occurred through them. A Roman Catholic cardinal, Leon Joseph Suenens, has said that at its inception monasticism was, in fact, a charismatic movement.[3] One noteworthy monk was an Egyptian, Antonius, and he has been called “The Father of Monks”. According to Athanasius through Antonius the Lord healed the physical infirmities of many and cleansed them from evil spirits. Another significant monk was Pokomios, who established a monastery in 320 A.D. in Tabennes on the east bank of the Nile. Pokomios had the supernatural gift of being able to speak languages which he had not learned. A third noteworthy monk is Hilarios (305 – 385), through whom many supernatural phenomena transpired. It is said, that, one day Hilarios found a paralysed man lying near the entrance of his residence. Upon seeing the paralytic Hilarios said “I bid you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, arise and walk.” The words were still on the lips of the speaker when, with miraculous speed, the limbs were strengthened and the man arose and stood firm.[4]

The next testimony of charismatic phenomena is from Ambrosius (340 – 397). He became the bishop of Milan in 374 AD. He taught about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity as follows: “You see the Father and Christ also set teachers in the churches; and as the Father gives the gift of healings, so too does the Son give; as the Father gives the gift of tongues, so too has the Son also granted it. In like manner we have heard also concerning the Holy Spirit that He too grants the kinds of graces. So, then, the Spirit gives the same gifts as the Father and the Son also gives them.[5]

The Church Father Augustinus (354 – 430) did not at first agree with the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit, but later in his life he describes numerous miracles, which he was personally aware of. These included healings from blindness, cancer, hemorrhoids, demon possession and even the raising of the dead.[6] Because many scholars refer only to the early writings of Augustinus, they conclude that the charismatic gifts were restricted only to the apostolic age. The so-called cessation theory was developed from this conclusion of the early writings of Augustinus. Most churches supported this, cessation theory, until the 18^th century when, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, challenged this theory. However many churches still support this heretical cessation theory.