More Team Teaching: A Response to the Charismatic Experience

5 January 2011 | Alden Thompson

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Last November, we featured an article called The Fear of God: Learning to Trust the Holy Spirit by Caleb Henry. Much conversation followed in the comment section, and several of our readers asked for a follow-up article on the subject. We thank Alden Thompson for providing us with one.
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Caleb Henry’s forceful defense of the charismatic impulse has triggered an intense dialogue in the Spectrum blog. And the invitation to contribute to the conversation has opened a pandora’s box of memories for me, if I may borrow one of Caleb’s metaphors.

But an unrelenting deadline, a persistent editor, and an Ellen White quote have all conspired to keep this piece shorter than it might otherwise be.

The quote is tantalizingly relevant for both length and content. Writing in 1905, she spoke passionately about the articles in Adventist papers: “Let not the articles be long or the print fine,” she urged. “Do not try to crowd everything into one number of the paper. Let the print be good, and let earnest, living experiences be put into the paper.” – RH, May 25, 1905.

“Living experiences.” Could that mean “charismatic” in its modern sense? Probably not. But I am convinced that the charismatic impulse could be a great blessing to us. David Larson is an esteemed academic colleague, Caleb Henry a valued former student. Let’s find a way to genuinely appreciate each other without sinking into a sea of relativity.

Caleb has noted the key passages documenting Ellen White’s participation in the charismatic manifestations among early Adventists. I suspect that for most “rational” Adventists, both liberal and conservative, reading the section on “Opposition of Formal Brethren” in Ellen White’s autobiography (Testimonies 1:44-48) would be an unnerving experience. It was for me when I finally got brave enough to actually read the Testimonies. “Prostrated by the power of God....” “Helpless....” “Cold formality began to melt before the mighty influence of the Most High,” she exclaims, affirming those body-numbing events. Caleb’s experience is tame by comparison. But neither her experience nor Caleb’s can match the biblical illustrations of Saul’s Spirit-led nakedness (1 Sam. 19:24) or the Spirit-led dramas in Ezekiel (e.g. Ezek. 4, 12, 23, 26). In Scripture, it’s not hard to find exceptions to our idea of a dignified and gracious prophet.

Our uneasiness over Ellen White’s involvement in the Israel Dammon incident (see Spectrum 17:5 [August 1987]) would have been tempered significantly had we taken her own story more seriously. In 1845 Dammon was arrested for disturbing the peace after a loud and reputedly fanatical worship service at a farmhouse in Atkinson, Maine. Young Ellen Harmon was there as well as her future husband James. Neither of them was involved with the law, but their names are mentioned in the transcript of the trial. Interestingly enough, the Adventist right is almost as traumatized by the specter of the Dammon trial as is the Adventist left.

In her later writings, Ellen White does not advocate the vivid manifestations that marked her early experience. But throughout her life she consistently warned of the dangers of “cold formality.” And this may be the bridge between Caleb and his detractors. David Larson, for example, is not prepared to endorse Caleb’s experience as a valid one. Yet I have frequently heard Larson expound the advantages of the Wesleyan quadrilateral: Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and Reason. His enthusiasm for our Wesleyan heritage is first of all a stand over against a Calvinism that resists admitting the role of “experience” in shaping theology. But might the Wesleyan appeal to “experience” also make room for more diversity?

I believe the charismatic impulse can help us experience a livelier sense of God’s presence. Typically Pentecostals carry the label of “fundamentalist,” though charismatic movements have now emerged in a host of non-fundamentalist churches, including the Roman Catholic and Episcopalian. But our labels quickly smudge. Though Pentecostals formally hold to the inerrancy of Scripture, in practice they part company with most “inerrancy” communities in actively supporting women in ministry. So what if Paul said that the women are to keep quiet in church (cf. 1 Cor. 14:33-35; 1 Tim. 2:12) – the Spirit has moved! A charismatic knows that when the Spirit calls a woman to ministry, mere humans dare not stand in the way. I suspect most “liberal” SDAs would be delighted for that kind of help.

Typically Adventists are at home with the Calvinist tradition of rational exegesis. Most Calvinists, like most traditional Adventists, are deeply troubled by the charismatic impulse. But if we can take seriously the Wesleyan quadrilateral with its explicit appeal to experience and reason, and if we are faithful to our Adventist heritage, Adventism can be a dynamic community alive with diverse voices.

In the turmoil of the 1888 General Conference, Ellen White came down on the side of charismatic guidance rather than rational exegesis. Returning to her room after a divisive debate, she wrote in anguish:

Many hours that night were spent in prayer in regard to the law in Galatians. This was a mere mote. Whichever way was in accordance with a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ my soul would say, Amen, and Amen. But the spirit that was controlling our brethren was so unlike the spirit of Jesus, so contrary to the spirit that should be exercised toward each other, it filled my soul with anguish. – Ms 24, 1888 (EGW1888 1:223)

I don’t think Ellen White would really want us to shrug at the task of interpreting Scripture. But when quarrels over exegesis threatened to cripple the church, she opted for the “spirit of Jesus” – which ends up being a very reasonable thing to do! The editor of Pascal’s Pensees, A. J. Krailshammer, put it this way: “The paradox is that only reason can persuade reason of its own inadequacy.” – Penguin edition, p. 28.

I am not a charismatic, but I am a lonely pietist who struggles to find a “fervent” community that can nurture my soul without killing my mind. I believe it can be done, though the answer is not in the extremes, but in the creative tension between the charismatic and rationalist impulses.

As a Bible teacher, I continue to be challenged and encouraged by Ellen White’s counsel that “different teachers should have a part in the work, even though they may not all have so full an understanding of the Scriptures.” Since the minds of people “differ,” she argues, the variety of writers in Scripture match that need. Her counsel includes this amazing “post-modern” quote:

So today the Lord does not impress all minds in the same way. Often through unusual experiences, [432/433] under special circumstances, He gives to some Bible students views of truth that others do not grasp. It is possible for the most learned teacher to fall far short of teaching all that should be taught. – Counsels to Parents and Teachers, 432-433.

Sounds to me like a call for Maggie, Graeme, David, and Caleb to work together on a team-taught course at an Adventist university.
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Alden Thompson is a prolific Adventist author and speaker. He recently retired from his position as Professor of Biblical Studies at Walla Walla University, where he still teaches half-time. His publications include Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God? (Paternoster, 1988; Zondervan, 1989), Inspiration: Hard Questions, Honest Answers (1991), Escape from the Flames: How Ellen White Grew from Fear to Joy and Helped Me to Do it Too (2005), and Beyond Common Ground: Why Liberals and Conservatives Need Each Other (2009).

Marianne Faust - Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:14

Thank you Alden Thompson! I love what you write...especially: "I am not a charismatic, but I am a lonely pietist who struggles to find a “fervent” community that can nurture my soul without killing my mind."
May be you are not so lonely after all...

Tom Zwemer - Wed, 01/05/2011 - 16:48

Discovery is exciting but excitment doesn't lead to Truth!"

As deacon I was a door usher at the LLU Church. My associate was the Chair of Pathology. During the service we were in the narthex to assist any later comers or to answer the phone.

During a quiet period, my associate asked me: "Tom what do you know about piezoelectricity?" I said, "I never even heard the word before!" He replied: "Piezoelectricity is the current generated by compression of a calcium crystal. Bone and even bone matrix exhibt piezoelectrical potentials.
I said: "Bingo that's how teeth move in orthodontic correction of malocclusion--my specialty. I was directed to the work of Dr. Frost at Henry Ford hospital. I set my graduate students to work on experimental animals. One of my graduate students gave a report of our findings at a regional conference. Later both the University of Penn and Ohio State University expanded those studies and clearly demonstrated the function of piezoelectrical response to both tension and conpression forces on human teeth.

Later my wife said: "Tom we even heard you in Church!" But that was after I learned about piezoelectricity not before!

Tom Z

Renee Hernandez - Wed, 01/05/2011 - 20:36

It is my experience that SDA's are very cold & very afraid of emotion & expressions of it in worship.

Herb - Thu, 01/06/2011 - 08:39

Alden alwlays serves up a delicious meal with plenty of nutritious dessert! I, too, have wondered for years why "feeling" and "enthusiasm" are scary for some. Start with Jesus and the picture gets much clearer and very motivating! He, most of the time, had a smile on His face. Kids loved to jump into His lap! Surely He laughed with them!

Yes, take a look! Ellen could laugh and sing and play. Just read her letters, all of them! Read the accounts of those who listened to her "moving" sermons, who responderd to her "altar" calls, etc.

Perhaps we "hold back" because we are more concerned about what others think about our real feelings--and we are not sure that we are as authentic as we want to be. Cheers, Herb

frank7 - Thu, 01/06/2011 - 09:51

He, (Jesus)most of the time, had a smile on His face.

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Herb...

This is an appealing picture that I would love to believe. But, where do you get this in the pages of the NT? How do you know if Jesus always had a smile on his face?

Just looking at photos from the late 19th and early 20th c. reveals that smiling was not considered dignified enough for a portrait or group shot of adults. Laughter and humor...and even smiling, seem to have been viewed differently than we view it today. Add to this the fact that Jesus lived in an eastern culture close to 2000 years ago, where even the physical act of running was considered a shame to an adult man, and I wonder how we can conclude that Jesus was always walking around with a smile on his face.

I'm glad that Jesus offers us his joy, but I'm just not so sure that it manifested itself in constant smiles. At least that's not the picture I get reading the NT. Sounds a little like cultural eisegesis?

Thanks...

Frank

Carlitas - Thu, 01/06/2011 - 11:57

Thank you Dr. Thompson for putting some context on the SDA mistrust of charismatic spiritual expression. In my family rationality is king and I felt a palpable uneasiness from my family even with the smallest expression such as "Jesus be praised" or "God willing". The altar call was the peak of this discomfort.

I had never connected it to Calvinist ideas but it rings true.
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Carolyn Parsons

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Carolyn Parsons

Trevor3130 - Thu, 01/06/2011 - 23:09

A "team-taught course"? New to me, so over to http://www.ntlf.com/html/lib/ictt_xrpt.htm for a clue. OK, got the picture.
A team effort would require very clear goals at the outset, right? One of them would be a bail-out clause? How would outcomes be measured, and would there be an expectation that lessons learned could be put into practice without further ado?
Seems to me a more worthy investigation, before plowing into the emotional dynamics of groups, would be something along the lines of "ethics of preaching".
I can see a sermon proceeding from assumptions about the facial expressions and demeanour of the Messiah and regressing into a mess of "experience".
At a minimum, Alden, any church wishing to explore the benefits of experiential worship should look into their insurance cover first. A bunch of uncoordinated, newly unloosed folk cavorting in the aisles will lead to injuries.

Trevor3130 - Fri, 01/07/2011 - 00:45

Here's one article on the "ethics of preaching" (OK, OT, I know). http://www.nph.com/nphweb/html/pmol/pastissues/2005Pentecost/ethics.htm
The writer makes some good points.

Colin MacLaurin - Fri, 01/07/2011 - 05:51

I'm excited (er, not too much...) to read these articles by Caleb and Alden. As a youth myself I share the enthusiasm of Caleb for 'charismatic' experience. As usual, Alden is kind, wise, and thought-provoking.

Colin MacLaurin God in All .org

Tom Zwemer - Fri, 01/07/2011 - 08:37

There is an old Voice of Prophecy Quarter recording of Joy Bells Rings. What does that recommend? There is another Children's song Oh Happy Days.

I think the enthusiasm of the Gospel is to go and tell your brother the Good News as found in John 1: 38-42. Andrew finding Peter and bringing him to Jesus.

Certainly Christ standing for me in judgment is Great News--worthy of telling it on the mountain. Tom Z

rc - Fri, 01/07/2011 - 19:05

So does this mean that the Adventist church has gone full circle? That we now look to Ellen White as our example of how to live and how to worship and how to exegete.

Now when we debate topics we can know we are right if Ellen said men in her soul. I suppose that may be a new area of denominational study to find out on what Ellen said amen to in her soul.

I suppose we should also have the new branch of study defining the “spirit of Jesus” as it relates to different topics. I suppose condemning and name calling will then become acceptable in some instances because even Jesus did that so we will just have to determine upon what subjects we can do that so it is clear this branch of study must be tied to the topics determined in the other denominational branch of study e.g. the teachings that Ellen said Amen in her soul to.

On consideration it seems this whole concept seems totally flawed. And way out of step with how one should deal with a human being even if we think of her as a prophet.

Adventist Media and Conversation Blog

andrea lawson farley - Sat, 01/08/2011 - 15:13

Alden is such a gift to the Adventist Church. He is a masterful bridge-builder in the church and a devoted student of Ellen White. As a former student, I personally have witnessed the "spirit of Jesus" in him as he advocates relentlessly for reconciliation and love despite differences. His presence of challenging the boundaries of traditional SDA thinking, while irksome to many in the face of a growing push to make the SDA boundaries more exclusive, allows many wonderful people to continue feeling at home within the Adventist lines. Thank you, AT, for another example of allowance of diversity in the experience and understanding of the Holy Spirit.

Anderson John - Sun, 01/09/2011 - 02:17

Many of us in the church who have had to deal over the years with "crusty" members of local church boards, and conference/union conference/institutional officers with "crusty" ideas about how members and non-members ("gentiles") should be treated, have absolutely no adrenal glands left, thus preventing any charismatic experience whatsoever! Our emotions, our energies, and our anxieties are spent beyond human limits. We choose not to be directly involved today, except on the periphery where it is safe and where a sane mind can be maintained away from the confusing signals.

John Anderson
Yucaipa, California

Anderson John - Sun, 01/09/2011 - 02:18

John Anderson
Yucaipa, California

davidrlarson - Sun, 01/09/2011 - 07:07

Irrespective of what David did in Biblical times, I believe that today Christian ministers leaders should not dance naked in the streets. I say the same thing about some of the things Ellen White did in her early years. If this makes me a "cold formalist," great! Might I please have more ice?

Tom Zwemer - Sun, 01/09/2011 - 07:44

David

Great analogy. But, you seem to have passed over the out-put of the pen of Ellen White in her Elmshaven Years. Now there was a caustic pen--based largely upon the reports of son Willie.

I will certainly agree that the Chapter entitled Prayer in the little book Steps to Christ is worth the price of the book. However, the preceding chapters are as cold as ice.

Far better would be the Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson in which Christ is the One who seeks and saves the lost. Yes Christ descended into Hell for me. I agree with Calvin on this that His descent was at the moment on the Cross when He cried out: "My God, My God, why hast Thou foresaken Me?"

Christ tasted hell for me, that I might enjoy Heaven with Him. If one can cull that thought out of the reams of testimony of Ellen White--Why isn't it the headliner of the Fundamental Beliefs? Thus we would have a book entitled: Steps With Christ.

Never was Christ as close as when I waded ashore on three assault landings in WWII. Now again, at 85 I am soon to wade ashore again. Christ continues as a close associate. So, I don't turn to the Red Books making lists. I am reading, John Stott, Philip Yancey, Tony Compolo, Fred Craddock, certainly not Clff Goldstein. As much as they differ, I enjoy the unpublished writings of Graham Maxwell and Alden Thompson--I wish Sumts would do a Fred Craddock and publish his narrative sermons.

With two hip replacements fully clothed or naked, I can't dance--but I rejoice that Jesus found me! Tom Z.

icexist - Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:53

For those wondering about why people weren't smiling in the 19th and 20th century photography:

The cameras of the day, since photography was fairly new, took about 2-10 minutes for the exposure to be taken. During that time, the subjects had to sit perfectly still otherwise blurring the picture. It was easier for them to sit without smiling than smiling in the pictures. Try and hold a smile in the exact same place for 10 minutes.

Maggie - Sat, 01/22/2011 - 19:00

While I hardly think Elder Thompson is serious about team-teaching a university course, I think in the larger sense, his suggestion is intuitively valid.

Life itself is a team-taught university course, I think. Elective, of course.

If David Larson needs ice to numb himself from feeling too much dangerous stuff, I'm sure he can find all he needs without help.

That will work as long as it works. Maybe until he dies, I suppose, when hypothermia will set in earnestly.

I don't feel nearly as polarized as he, it seems.

I wouldn't particularly feel enthusiastic about the prospect of seeing Adventist pastors dancing naked in the street, and dancing naked doesn't prove the Holy Spirit is animating one, but, from long experience, I maintain an open mind about that Wild Man, God....

Maggie - Sat, 01/22/2011 - 21:29

Happy New Year, Rachel. :)

dvd - Sat, 01/29/2011 - 00:44

To all non-Adventists who happen to stumble upon this site--the views expressed by Alden Thompson on this subject are NOT those of this denomination.
1) Some equate "charismatic" with speaking in tongues (the gibberish kind) which is not from God. True speaking in tongues was the speaking of foriegn languages for spreading the Gospel in the early days of the church. Of course who knows what is really meant on this site by "charismatic"?
2) Some may also interpret "charismatic" to be emotional-touchy feely stuff. The feel-goodism and "positive thinking" psycho-babble of Norman Vincent Peale, Joyce Meyer, Robert Shuller, etc.
3) My apologies to Adventist who stumbled across Spectrum and thought this was a site for Joel Osteen or the emergent church and Leaonard Sweet.
4) True Christianity isn't about "feelings". It is about turning to the God who gently bent over and breathed the breath of life into Adam. We owe all to Him.

dvd

F Furter - Sat, 01/29/2011 - 04:38

To everyone who stumbles on this site, sda or not, what dvd says is in no way representative of the SDA church or Spectrum. Perhaps they are as representative of the person behind the comments as his name!

dvd - Sat, 01/29/2011 - 20:51

I apologize for Spectrum to any Adventists out there.

dvd

DH - Sat, 01/29/2011 - 20:54

I apologise to the world for dvd.

Fay Crombie - Sat, 01/29/2011 - 21:59

apology accepted

Maggie - Sat, 01/29/2011 - 23:14

Dr. Thompson said:

Very brave of you to take this on!

Perhaps this tendency to rational exegesis (and rational excess?) and fending off the charismatic impulse stems from never really coming to terms with our history. Kind of a defense, you might say, against processing and integrating that, yes, that history was just kind of messy and embarrassing, and lots of people make fun of it to this day.

And, well, the Bible stories are pretty off-putting too, and who could be comfortable with all that? Not I, likely. I sure don't want to chase after experiences like in early Adventism or the Bible!

Do we really want to have to explain more strange stuff to a world we're trying to fit into and be cool, modern and intellectual, while living down all the other stuff from Israel Dammon to David Koresh?

And bringing Ellen White's views in when she's become such a lightening rod? Yeah. Great.

I mean, really, David has a point in wanting to not touch this radioactive pile with a ten-foot pole.

Wow, I'm really talking myself out of this now that I don't have David to push against. This could go so wrong so fast. It's easier to keep a fire from starting than put it out after its taken hold.

Dr. Thompson probably suspects I'm not done. I'm probably not, but right now, my adrenal glands are pathetic little rags and I don't have a charismatic bone in my body.

BobRyan - Sat, 01/29/2011 - 23:17

At some point "you would think" that a bit more focus on 1Cor 12, 1Cor 14 or Acts 2 would have "come up " in an article about the gifts of the Spirit.

Just a thought.

in Christ,

Bob

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"The Truth shall make you free" John 8:32

frank7 - Sat, 01/29/2011 - 23:59

True Christianity isn't about "feelings".

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No, it is not based on feelings, but it can certainly produce very intense emotions. Check out David's psalms and see what he had to say...or sing...on the topic.

This is the kind of downplaying of the emotional side of the Christian experience that I've heard for years, that seems more based in rationalism and Enlightenment thinking than it does with what one finds in the Bible itself. The encounters between people and God are often highly emotionally charged, from Jacob's wrestling, to David's music, to Elijah on Carmel, to Jesus in Gethsemane.

Why are we so afraid of authentic, spontaneous emotional expressions towards God of worship and doubt, joy and pain, courage and fear, that go beyond quantification, verbal parsing, and exegetical ruminations? I'm certainly not exempt from such distrust.

Yes, we owe all to the God who gently breathed into us the breath of life. And, that breath animates our thinking and our feeling, our reasoning and our intuitive emotional capacities. Both are gifts from his hand, and both are appropriate in "wholistic" worship of God.

How this finds expression across various cultures and different generations is also another story.

Thanks...

Frank

Matt Britten - Thu, 04/14/2011 - 23:34

It is awesome to see such a "lively" debate re the charasmatic. Sounds like more emotion happening in the comments than actual Caleb's experience! I am a great fan of Alden Thompson from my first reading of "Inspiration" back in the 90's, and enjoy reading his response.

While it might be possible to be deceived by experience, deception is guaranteed without experience. When Jesus called the 12, it was primarily a call to be with Him (Mk 3:14). That meant, thought provoking theology and life changing experiences. They got to hear the best sermons around, sleep in the dirt along side Jesus and participate in miracles beyond belief. Their minds were stretched to the limit and they often found themselves struggling with their faith or lack of. The supernatural became an integral part of their walk with Jesus and to seperate it, is to make "god" in our own image, where the human mind becomes king.
May we find the radical middle of the road which includes "sound theology" and the Holy Spirit's power. When we settle the big question: Who will rule the church? (man or God) Then we find the Jesus breaking through our doors and messing up our services as He did 2000 years ago.

Matt

Jess - Fri, 05/06/2011 - 23:32

I think one thing to realise is that we cannot, it is not at all possible for us to rationalise God. I'll say it again, it is impossible!

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways" says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

In my opinion this verse clearly states that there is really no room for rationalism in the church. If God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, higher than even the smartest human being on this earth, how can we sit at our computers and squabble over rationalism vs. charismatic. In everything we should seek the Lord. A lot of those commenting on these articles do not seem to be seeking the Lord in all they do, they seem more to me to be expressing their own preformed views of how people should act and how the church should be run. Jesus was an absolute radical in His day. I am inclined to believe that the rationalists here would have been like the pharisees and looked for any way they could of making Jesus transgress the law.

Stop worrying about rationalism, charistmaticity, liberalism, legalism. Start encouraging your brothers and sisters in Christ in their walk with Christ, pray for them, pray with them, teach them the Word NOT your own ideas, and love your neighbour as you love your self.

The ten commandments are summed up by 2 things - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. And, Love your neighbour as you love yourself.

If you do these 2 things that Jesus instructed us to do what does everything else matter? You live your life in obedience because YOU love God. And do everything you do to the Glory of God. Do not worry about what other people eat or drink or what day they observe or how they worship. Those issues are up to God to solve when HE sees fit, not you. God will convict people of the sins and misconceptions in their lives as HE sees fit, in HIS time. All you will do by arguing about it is turn people away from the Father.

Just some thoughts from an Adventist in Australia

frank7 - Sat, 05/07/2011 - 05:45

In my opinion this verse clearly states that there is really no room for rationalism in the church.

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Jess...

You seem to be taking Isa. 55:8-9 out of context. In it, God is speaking about his thoughts of mercy and forgiveness towards his people, that he will abundantly pardon. His people were anticipating him to abandon them, and/or to act in retaliation...as we human beings would to someone who has offended us. In this sense he describes his thoughts are far above human thought or attitudes.

While it is true that we can find ways of rationalizing retaliation, this is not a blanket condemnation of human, rational thinking. In the same book, Isaiah quotes God as saying, "Come let us reason together." God has created us as thinking creatures, and he appeals to our reason, as well as to our consciences and emotions. He calls us to learn to use our capacities to think, not to simply bypass them. From a Christian perspective, this is to be informed and guided by the Spirit and the Word....sanctified reason. It is also helpful when done in community, thinking for ourselves, but not by ourselves as we grapple with the intersection of Scriptures, the world around us, and our own lives.

With that said, I do agree that God's mind is infinitely greater than ours, and that there are many points where I must humbly bow before one whose ways are beyond my best efforts to understand.

Thanks...

Frank