Charismata. It is a well-known word nowadays. We even know a movement that is called after it: the charismatic movement. In that movement the gifts of the Spirit are central, and people are sceptical towards the existing churches because there too little is done with the gifts of the Spirit. People point with the term “charismata” in general towards four specific gifts: the ability to speak in tongues, the receiving of prophetic revelations, the gift of healing, and the casting out of evil spirits. In short, speaking in tongues, prophesying, healing, exorcism. These are “the charismata.” A church without these gifts does not have the right to call itself “charismatic.”

In two articles I will, in a nutshell, outline a few things about the “charismata.” In the hope that it is useful for “the charismatic confusion” (John F. MacArthur Jr.) of this moment.

Gifts⤒🔗

First something about the term “charisma.”

Some have pointed out that there is a difference between what “charisma” means in the use of these words by the people today, and what it stands for in the Bible. That does not go together! In the popular language “charisma” means: speaking in tongues, prophesying, healing, and exorcism. But in the Bible the word “charisma” nowhere is limited to those four. Charisma in the New Testament is a very common word for a “gift.” It just stands for “something you have received.” “Eternal life” can be called a charisma (Rom. 6:23). And “the grace of Christ” (Rom. 5:15). According to Van Bruggen, Paul even calls the married and also the unmarried state a charisma! Married and unmarried people both have their “special gifts” (1 Cor. 7:7). Then we are talking about quite a different thing than charismata as it is meant in the present meaning of the word.

And there is more we can mention. In the chapter about the charismata – 1 Corinthians 12 – charisma is not yet a confined notion. It goes with “serving” and “working.” These are not of different magnitude. They are, according to J. van Bruggen, three types of the same things that can be found in the congregation. “Charisma” is here alternated with: a “function in the church” or “a striking work of God.”

More Than Four←⤒🔗

In Romans 12 the apostle writes about charismata as “gifts church members have.” It is remarkable that he does not mention the four gifts mentioned above, but others: faith, knowledge, serving, teaching, exhorting, acting in mercy, leading, and helping. Very ordinary things, we would say! Do you have to think about that also when talking about charismata? Yes! Maybe not so according to how many people use this word, but for sure in the Bible!

This is an important point. When by speaking about charismata you exclusively or mainly think of the four things (speaking in tongues, prophesying, healing, exorcism), it is not according to Scripture. There is in the Bible no reason to think that charismata is about a few very special gifts. Charismata are all those gits of which answer 55 of the Heidelberg Catechism says that every member of the congregation must use his or her gifts for the benefit and well-being of the other members of the body of Christ. These gifts given by the Spirit for the upbuilding of the congregation, which everyone of us has, are the charismata of which the Bible speaks.

Office Bearers Are Charismata←⤒🔗

Many people put “charisma” opposite “the office” nowadays. Charisma for them means the spontaneity of the Spirit. The office represents the stiffness of the institution. The one person thinks that the office is a drag on charisma and as such a disaster. The other – the opposite – sees charisma as a danger to the office. He does not want to have anything to do with it.

Against this background it is the more striking that Paul can also call office bearers charismata! At the end of 1 Corinthians 12 the apostle mentions a number of gifts of the Spirit as first ones: apostles, prophets, and teachers! The office itself is a charisma, a gift from God, a gift from the Spirit to the congregation (cf. 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6).

And for those who find it difficult to connect charisma with the office: Paul talks in Romans 12 about the charisma of leadership. That includes things like leading and organizing!

Extraordinary?←⤒🔗

With all kinds of wonderful gifts among Christians, people’s thoughts very quickly go to “charismata”. Every gift that cannot be explained as normal and natural is a charisma. It is a simple worldview: you have ordinary gifts and you have extraordinary “charismata.”

No matter how convenient this model is, it is not right! I pointed out already that among charismata there are very “ordinary” things, like giving leadership or the gift of teaching or service. Ordinary and charismatic are not contradictions! Something does not have to be exceptional or extraordinary to be charismatic.

And it is also not so that everything that cannot be explained as normal is right away charismatic. The charismata are gifts from the Holy Spirit that are directed towards the upbuilding of the congregation of Christ. But there is also much more that is wonderful between heaven and earth! There are highly gifted people. There are clairvoyant people. There are people who have the ability to diagnose sicknesses in other people. There are twins who live far away from each other and still feel that there is something wrong with the other one. I think about déjà vus: you experience something that you have seen before. Inexplicable phenomena. As people we are created by God with great gifts. Sometimes you encounter pieces of that even after the fall of man into sin. That has to be distinguished from the (through the Spirit of Christ specifically presented to the congregation) charismata. These are remnants of original human abilities that can be used – and also misused! – in different ways.

We should also not think right away that certain things are typically Christian. The Bible also talks about gifts and miracles the devil and his accomplices can use. The magicians of the Egyptian Pharaoh, in the time of Moses, could perform some of the same miracles as Moses did. In Revelation we read about signs that the beast from the earth will do (Rev. 13). And speaking in a strange language or receiving messages from gods is also not exclusively Christian. From different religions we know the existence of oracles and speaking in tongues and prophets who say certain unintelligible sounds and through that pass on so-called godly messages. In primitive cultures you have medicine-men who say that they have special healing powers. And rituals to drive out evil spirits. There, too, miraculous things do happen!

It is clear: with extraordinary signs we have to really examine if they are from God (see 1 John 4:1). Because that is for sure not automatically the case.

Signs and Miracles←⤒🔗

We should not declare all surprises “charisma.” In the Bible it also speaks of “signs and miracles” that the Lord does.

These signs and miracles you do not see happen as often and with the same power at every moment in the Bible. There are long periods in the Bible where you do not hear of any signs or miracles. And there are certain periods when they happen very often. Think about the exodus from Egypt, when God with signs and miracles liberated his people from slavery in Egypt. There were also miracles and signs during the dangerous times of Elijah and Elisha, when Israel was in danger of slipping away and choosing for Baal. Signs and miracles also happened in great numbers when Christ was on earth and his gospel had to go from Israel into the world. A pagan world that had many gods and was not waiting for the gospel. Then God performed signs.

These signs and miracles are not permanent. The Lord can perform them in times when it is required! Then he shows that he is present in the gospel. The signs point to him and call strongly on everyone to acknowledge him and accept his Word.

Mark 16 also deals with such “signs.” There it is about casting out demons, speaking in unknown languages, picking up snakes, drinking deadly poison, and healing sick people by the laying on of hands. That is the part that you hear being used in charismatic circles as proof for charismata that should be among us. But in Mark 16 it is not about charismata, but about “signs.” And that is for sure something different! It is about signs in a specific situation. It is about signs “following” believers. Following? Yes following. Thus, these believers are on their way. On what kind of way? On the way of spreading the gospel. That is what Christ sent them out for. “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (verse 15). A number of signs will follow the preachers on that road. To underline the Word brought by them. And that that promise was indeed fulfilled, we see in verse 20, “The Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.” That happened at that time.

God can perform signs and miracles all over the world. To show his power to people. Because he is good. And to call people to see and acknowledge him. God also gives witness of himself to the Gentiles (Acts 14:17) and looks for their hearts. They cannot just ignore him. But again: these are not charismata.

Signs, Fruits and Gifts←⤒🔗

The Bible describes several workings of the Holy Spirit that have their own function and goal. There are “miracles” or “signs” of the Spirit. There are “gifts” of the Spirit. And there is the “fruit” of the Spirit. Those three we should not mix!

In charismatic circles the charismata is first limited to the specific four: speaking in tongues, prophesying, healing, and exorcism. And then these charismata are made a touchstone for true faith. You are a real spiritual Christian and you are really baptized with the Spirit if you display charismata. Thus, these charismata tell something about your faith! They put you on the spiritual map!

In the Bible we find a different pattern. There you have first the miracles and signs. That word “signs” is significant. These are miracles that stand for something. They point to something. To what? To the Lord, to the trustworthiness of his Word! Not for nothing do you see miracles in the Bible accompanied by the Word of God. They affirm and underline God’s Word. That is why we see them with Moses, with the prophets, and with the apostles. The signs point to Christ as the Messiah. Paul can speak about “signs of a true apostle” (2 Cor. 12:12). They are miracles that indicate whom you are dealing with. As such, you find these signs not taking place all the time, like we just saw, but at certain moments. When it really matters and God finds it necessary for the breakthrough of his gospel. Not just anywhere, but right where the gospel needs to combat unbelief, paganism, de-Christianization.

Besides, the Bible knows about the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the effect of the gospel in our life. That fruit is the new life in which the working of the Spirit comes to light in our life. Of that fruit the Heidelberg Catechism says in Lord’s Day 32, that from that we are assured of our faith by its fruit. Whether we believe and that we believe, is evident in the fruit of the Spirit. And what that entails, Paul says in Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (verses 22, 23). It is the opposite of the fruit of our sinful “I”: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissention, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these (verses 19, 20). And from the fruit you know if you live out of your sinful “I” and pursue your own desires, or that you live by the Spirit and let yourself be guided by God’s Word.

And then you have the gifts of the Spirit. They do not have the function to show if you are a true believer. But they have as goal that the congregation will be built up by them. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (verse 7). Charismata are gifts that the Spirit of the exalted Christ gives for the upbuilding of the congregation. They are meant for building up the body of Christ. For these gifts it is therefore important that you not use them for your own honor or own interest, but to help your brothers and sisters. For these gifts it is decisive that love directs you in your use of them. Not for nothing is the famous chapter about love in the center of Paul’s teachings about the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 13). That love is the heart of his talking about the gifts. That love decides what you do with these gifts. And the value of them. You can have all kinds of skills and capacities – and there are many – but those are not automatically charismata. They are that only if they are specifically granted for the benefit of the congregation of Christ.

It is this point that in 1 Corinthians 12-14 is stressed very strongly by Paul. Because in Corinth the gifts of the Spirit were used for their own glory and for their own profiling: “Look what I can do and how important I am!” Then the gifts are being used in an atmosphere of rivalry and jealousy! Things that Paul specifically mentions in Galatians 5 as works of the sinful “I.” And then you see the apostle busy correcting and restoring order in the congregation. In certain circles Corinth is seen as an exemplary and model congregation – something for us to follow. But what is striking in 1 Corinthians 12-14 is that Paul does not stimulate the behaviour of the Corinthians, but keeps it in check. He sets limits on the degeneration of it there. Do not interrupt each other, he says. Keep silent when someone else speaks (1 Cor. 14:28, 30). Do not keep yourself busy with promoting the gifts you want to show off. But let yourself be led by love and look for the upbuilding of the congregation. For those things the Spirit pours out his gifts. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). Then keep that unity. And work hard at that. It is also right on when the Heidelberg Catechism says in answer 55 that we have to use our gifts readily and cheerfully “for the benefit and well-being of the other members.” That is the message of 1 Corinthians 12-14: gifts for the benefit and wellbeing of the body as a whole!

This article was translated by Harry Janssen