Neo-charismatic movement

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The Neo-charismatic (also third-wave charismatic or hypercharismatic) movement is a movement within evangelical protestant Christianity which places emphasis on the use of charismata (or spiritual gifts) such as glossolalia, prophecy, divine healing, and divine revelation, which are believed to be given to them by the Holy Spirit. The Neo-charismatic movement is considered to be the "third wave" of the charismatic Christian tradition which began with Pentecostalism (the "first wave"), and was furthered by the evangelical charismatic movement (the "second wave"). Neo-charismatics are now believed to be more numerous than the first and second wave categories, combined, as a result of the growth of postdenominational and independent charismatic groups.^[1] As of 2002, there were estimated to be approximately 295 million adherents or participants in the neo-charismatic movement.^[1]

Defining characteristics

The term "Neo-charismatic" is descriptive of a theological movement which is loosely organized around a set of emergent doctrines, and does not exist as a formal denomination or organization. As a result, there is very little documentation of the movement's membership and doctrines, and even less which is not biased either towards or against it. Neo-charismatics, like Apostolics, Pentecostals and other charismatics, believe in and stress the post-Biblical availability of gifts of the Holy Spirit, including glossolalia (speaking in tongues), healing, and prophecy; moreover, they practice laying on of hands and seek the "infilling" of the Holy Spirit, although a specific experience of baptism with the Holy Spirit may not be requisite for experiencing such gifts.

In terms of congregational governance, no single form, structure, or style of church service characterizes all neo-charismatic services and churches. They consider themselves part of the Nondenominational Christianity.^[2] The general definition calls them "Christian bodies with pentecostal-like experiences that have no traditional pentecostal or charismatic denominational connections, (and sometimes only very slender—if any—historical connections)".^[1]

These doctrines are often considered to be defining characteristics of the Neo-charismatic movement:

• Dominionism (often specifically the "Kingdom Now" variant)
• Direct revelation from God to Christians today, through prophecy, dreams, or visions
• Fivefold Ministry (distinct from standard evangelical doctrine due to the belief that the offices of apostle and prophet should exist in the church today)
• "Healing in (or by) the Atonement", which states that the substitutionary atonement of Christ through the crucifixion atoned not just for sins, but also for sickness and injury through divine healing
• Power evangelism, or "signs and wonders"

Adherents and denominations

By 2002, some 19,000 denominations or groups, with approximately 295 million individual adherents, were identified as neo-charismatic.^[1] Neo-charismatic tenets and practices are found in many independent, nondenominational or post-denominational congregations, with strength of numbers centered in the African independent churches, among the Han Chinese house-church movement, and in South American (especially Brazilian) churches.

References