.
All
who thirst draw water from the river
of life
“On
the last day of the feast,
the great day, Jesus stood
up and proclaimed, "If any
one thirst, let him come
to me and drink. He who
believes in me, as the
scripture has said, `Out
of his heart shall flow
rivers of living water.'"
Now this he said about the
Spirit, which those who
believed in him were to
receive; for as yet the
Spirit had not been given,
because Jesus was
not yet glorified.”
–
John
7:37-39
In this issue
This year, 2017, marks
two significant anniversaries: the
500th Anniversary of the beginning of
the Reformation and the spiritual
renewal movements its spawned, and the
50th Anniversary of the beginning of
the Charismatic Renewal in the
Catholic Church which in turn gave
rise to a new and vital
ecumenical work among
Pentecostals, Catholics, Protestants,
and Orthodox engaged in charismatic
renewal.
Charismatic
renewal of the whole Body of
Christ
Dr. Vinson Synan, author of The
Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition:
Charismatic Movements in the
Twentieth Century, is an
eminent historian who has studied
the origin and development of the
charismatic movements (the
Pentecostals, Neo-Pentecostals,
Catholic charismatic renewal, etc.)
which began in the United States and
then spread rapidly around the
world. His articles in
this issue of Living Bulwark (Century
of the Holy
Spirit,
and Building
Charismatic
Bridges)
can give you a
good
understanding
of the origins
of these
movements and
why they have
a key role in
building
bridges across
the Christian
traditions.
Steve Clark, in
his article on
Ecumenism
and
Charismatic
Renewal,
reminds
us that "the
Lord is at
work through
the
charismatic
renewal not
simply in
individual
lives but in
the corporate
life of the
church." The
Second Vatican
Council stated
clearly that
genuine
renewal of the
Catholic
Church in the
20th century
must address
itself to the
question of
Christian
unity.
"Ecumenism is
part of church
renewal. In
fact, those
working for
the full range
of church
renewal sooner
or later must
become
concerned with
ecumenism if
they are to be
authentically
Catholic."
The
goal is not
simply to have
a charismatic
movement but
to have a
complete
renewal of
Christian life
in the power
of the Spirit.
The baptism in
the Holy
Spirit is not
captive to any
particular
camp or
individual
movement. The
baptism in the
Holy Spirit
and the
spiritual
gifts are for
the whole body
of Christ and
for the normal
life of the
church.
Unity in
the Holy Spirit
All
the charismatic
movements have been
ecumenical from their
beginnings. This
should not surprise us
because the Holy
Spirit unites rather
than divides, builds
up rather than tears
down, and restores
what has been broken
and lost. What unites
us is greater than
what divides us. The
real source and power
that unites us is the
Holy Spirit. There can
be real unity in the
Spirit, even where
divisions and
disagreements exist,
because true unity is
rooted in the Lordship
of Jesus Christ and
the power of the Holy
Spirit who renews,
reforms, and
transforms God's
people into the image
and likeness of the
crucified and risen
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Rediscovering
roots that
refresh and
bring spiritual
life
There have been many
renewal movements
throughout the course
of Christian history
because the Lord
constantly calls his
church, the body of
Christ, to deeper
conversion and
holiness of life. At
times these movements
have led to unintended
divisions. This fact
contradicts what Jesus
asks the Father in
John 17:23: “that they
may become completely
one, so that the world
may know that you have
sent me and have loved
them even as you have
loved me.” That is why
ongoing renewal must
begin with repentance
and reconciliation -
confessing our sins
and praying for
forgiveness and
healing for the wounds
which have resulted
from our divisions. As
we name these sins we
recognize how they
have become a wall
which divides us.
Commemoration of the 500th Reformation
Anniversary
The
commemoration
this year of
the 500th
Anniversary of
the beginning
of the
Reformation,
is an
opportunity
for Christians
of all
traditions to
first of all
rejoice in
what unites us
- the Lordship
of Jesus
Christ, the
Gift and work
of the Holy
Spirit, the
Holy
Scriptures,
Baptism,
Apostles
Creed, etc. -
and to build
bridges so we
can grow in
deeper
relationships
with brothers
and sisters in
Christ across
the various
church
traditions.
And to pray
and seek the
Lord together
in fervent
intercession
and humble
reconciliation
for renewal
and
restoration of
the broken
body of
Christ.
May we
all drink
deeply from
the streams of
living waters
which the Lord
Jesus provides
for all who
thirst for
him. May we
thirst for
deeper
holiness,
greater
purity, deeper
knowledge of
his truth and
goodness, and
a more fervent
love and
greater
measure of
expectant
faith for what
the Lord
intends for
each of us
individually
and together
as his
redeemed
people, the
body of
Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
Don Schwager
editor
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