I recently posted about an unpleasant experience I’d had at a retreat hosted by a charismatic community. It was unpleasant because they took a very condescending, holier-than-thou type of attitude towards people like me who are accustomed to (and prefer) silent, more contemplative worship. They believed (or at least seemed to) that not praying “in the Spirit” wasn’t praying at all.
I’m not the only one who feels this way. I have a friend who used to teach at Benedictine. Some of his students attend retreats sponsored by this group and have made similar complaints. He now works for another diocese and is experiencing these frustrations first-hand because his boss has tried to fire him because he “doesn’t pray spontaneously”.
I shared this with Justin, who was uneasy about my criticisms, as his wife has a charismatic background. I began to associate the Charismatic Renewal with this particular group, whom Justin believes has “hijacked” and distorted the Charismatic Renewal. He recommended a book called Baptized In The Spirit by Steve Clark, who had been involved with the Charismatic Renewal since its early years.
The overall book itself is about the “signs” of spiritual baptism. At first glance, some parts seem to support the same problem I’d been running into. Upon further reading, he simply says that things like speaking in tongues, prophecy, or other Gifts of The Spirit aren’t necessarily signs of a good Christian, but rather of being baptized in the Spirit. In fact, he even says point-blank that he’s known Christians who had “clearly not been baptized in the Spirit” who were better Christians than most people who had, C.S. Lewis being one example, though he didn’t know him personally (Not trying to sound like I’m taking THEIR position now. Just pointing out that experienced Charismatics wouldn’t be on board with those who believe this way).
A key take-away for me was towards the end of the book, when Clark talks about “asking in faith” for a favor to be granted. He notes that instead of asking in faith for something, many Christians doubt the work of the Spirit. For example, one might pray to get a job that they really want, but instead of asking in trust and confidence, assumes that the prayer will not be answered and instead makes an appeal for some other outcome, as if to use reverse psychology with God (It doesn’t work).
Members of the Charismatic Renewal should read Clark’s book so that they understand what spiritual baptism really is, as I suspect that many don’t. Again, I’m not the only one who feels this way. My friend said that he’d had fifteen students personally complain to him, which suggests that others have vented to friends, families, and other professors.
“Standard” Catholics should read it as well, as the Charismatic Renewal is alien to many of them. Some are jaded by Life TEEN, which, looking back, I don’t believe is effective at providing teenagers with the spiritual depth and maturity that they will need when they leave for college, though responsibility falls on the parents, who are to be the first and best teachers of the faith.
Make no mistake: I’ll have nothing to do with any community that belittles other Catholics. However, Clark’s book has convinced me to give the Charismatic Renewal a second chance. First impressions matter; I’ll admit that I still don’t trust them entirely, but I’m willing to work on it. I’ve even opened up to being baptized in the Spirit (not that I wouldn’t have been anyway, had I really understood what it means). I was very turned off at first, but this book has redeemed the general movement for me.