L
luke2219
Guest
I’d like some help understanding the Charismatic movement. There are a few things that don’t jive with me.
Now, I understand that there can be and are several different spiritualities that are all legitimate and orthodox. But some things in the Charismatic movement just seem wrong. I’ll get to those things at the end. I understand that in any movement or thing like that, there is a danger of some people taking some aspects too far or the wrong way and falling into heterodoxy. And that since the Charismatic movement is attractive to people on their way Home but not there yet, there is even more things that I could see a particular person doing that could be in error.
Now, the Charismatics that I’ve gotten to know are solid, orthodox and even traditional. Plus, our Holy Father and Stubenville all endorse the Charismatic movement. And, it’s producing vocations. So, what I’m asking for is help in distinguishing what is Charismatic and orthodox, and what is called Charismatic and an abuse or an error. What I see at the Catholic Charismatic Center in my area sometimes makes me want to run away, but what I hear from orthodox Catholics about it makes me attracted to it.
Here are my sticky points.
Praying in toungs I can deal with. The way I understand it is that praying in toungs is not a supernatural gift, but just what you do when you want to pray and adore God, but you don’t have the words or you just don’t want to worry about the actual words. This doesn’t fit with my spirituality, but that’s okay, I don’t see anything wrong with it although, the discussion we had Friday about not ‘babbling on’ did raise some questions for me. Speaking in toungs, however, is a supernatural gift, the kind you never ask for or seek, and requires someone else around who can understand it. God gives these gift to people only for the building up of His kingdome and without someone who can interperet it, how could it serve that purpose?
I see a lot of times people trying to gain some of these gifts like, healing or prophecy and an attitude that somehow having one of these gifts means you’re holier than people who don’t. The way I understand it, you never, never, seek these gifts, and having them has nothing to do with how holy you are. God gives them to whoever, whenever, for the sole reason of building His kingdome and not as rewards for being holy. Is this what the Charismatic movement teaches? Are the people who are seeking these gifts and wearing them like a badge of honor in error? Is the attitude I hold about the supernatural gifts on target? What’s the truth about these supernatural gifts and is the truth what the Charismatic movement teaches?
Slain in the Spirit. What is that? Is that the same as Baptism of the Holy Spirt? What is Baptism of the Holy Spirt? Why do we need it when we have Baptism and Confirmation. The Holy Spirit is very active in both of those Sacraments. And, if Baptism of the Holy Spirt is such a high holy thing, then why isn’t it a sacrament? Are the Charismatics downplaying the Sacraments and trying to replace them with their own thing? Or are they building up the Sacraments by trying to bring out a renewal of them so that more of their fruit is realized?
The same stuff goes with the Healing Masses. How does this not detract from the Sacrament of the Sick? Why have a Healing Mass when we can have the real Sacrament? And what does the Charismatic movement say when God doen’t heal you?
Praying over people sometimes scares me as well. Of course I believe in the Priesthood of all Believers. But with the laying of hands and stuff, sometimes it looks to me like we’re blurring the lines between clergy and laity too much with that.
I hope that didn’t come off as an attack. I know email can have that effect. I see so much good fruit coming from it, but I have all those difficulties that I expressed. I’d also like to be able to defend the Charismatic Center to my SSPX friend.
Pax et Bonum
Now, I understand that there can be and are several different spiritualities that are all legitimate and orthodox. But some things in the Charismatic movement just seem wrong. I’ll get to those things at the end. I understand that in any movement or thing like that, there is a danger of some people taking some aspects too far or the wrong way and falling into heterodoxy. And that since the Charismatic movement is attractive to people on their way Home but not there yet, there is even more things that I could see a particular person doing that could be in error.
Now, the Charismatics that I’ve gotten to know are solid, orthodox and even traditional. Plus, our Holy Father and Stubenville all endorse the Charismatic movement. And, it’s producing vocations. So, what I’m asking for is help in distinguishing what is Charismatic and orthodox, and what is called Charismatic and an abuse or an error. What I see at the Catholic Charismatic Center in my area sometimes makes me want to run away, but what I hear from orthodox Catholics about it makes me attracted to it.
Here are my sticky points.
Praying in toungs I can deal with. The way I understand it is that praying in toungs is not a supernatural gift, but just what you do when you want to pray and adore God, but you don’t have the words or you just don’t want to worry about the actual words. This doesn’t fit with my spirituality, but that’s okay, I don’t see anything wrong with it although, the discussion we had Friday about not ‘babbling on’ did raise some questions for me. Speaking in toungs, however, is a supernatural gift, the kind you never ask for or seek, and requires someone else around who can understand it. God gives these gift to people only for the building up of His kingdome and without someone who can interperet it, how could it serve that purpose?
I see a lot of times people trying to gain some of these gifts like, healing or prophecy and an attitude that somehow having one of these gifts means you’re holier than people who don’t. The way I understand it, you never, never, seek these gifts, and having them has nothing to do with how holy you are. God gives them to whoever, whenever, for the sole reason of building His kingdome and not as rewards for being holy. Is this what the Charismatic movement teaches? Are the people who are seeking these gifts and wearing them like a badge of honor in error? Is the attitude I hold about the supernatural gifts on target? What’s the truth about these supernatural gifts and is the truth what the Charismatic movement teaches?
Slain in the Spirit. What is that? Is that the same as Baptism of the Holy Spirt? What is Baptism of the Holy Spirt? Why do we need it when we have Baptism and Confirmation. The Holy Spirit is very active in both of those Sacraments. And, if Baptism of the Holy Spirt is such a high holy thing, then why isn’t it a sacrament? Are the Charismatics downplaying the Sacraments and trying to replace them with their own thing? Or are they building up the Sacraments by trying to bring out a renewal of them so that more of their fruit is realized?
The same stuff goes with the Healing Masses. How does this not detract from the Sacrament of the Sick? Why have a Healing Mass when we can have the real Sacrament? And what does the Charismatic movement say when God doen’t heal you?
Praying over people sometimes scares me as well. Of course I believe in the Priesthood of all Believers. But with the laying of hands and stuff, sometimes it looks to me like we’re blurring the lines between clergy and laity too much with that.
I hope that didn’t come off as an attack. I know email can have that effect. I see so much good fruit coming from it, but I have all those difficulties that I expressed. I’d also like to be able to defend the Charismatic Center to my SSPX friend.
Pax et Bonum
