What Does a Post-Charismatic Theology Look Like?

Everyone is talking about the “transition” of the Vineyard.  One of the things necessary to transition, in my opinion, is the necessity of a Post-Charismatic Missional Theology.  (The Vineyard is such a mixed bag of ecclesiology, I wonder if it could ever have a central missional theology?)

Here are some elements I think are necessary for a post-charismatic theology:

1. An emphasis on competence and character (integrity) as primary.  Potentially over/against gifting.
   1. People who display gifting are put on the “platform” in the charismatic world.  This isn’t always bad, but in some cases causes deep hurt to the charismatic body of Christ when said leader does something wrong in public.  See Todd Bentley.
   2. It appears that people with “charisma” (gifting) get caught up in chasing fame and fortune more often than not.  The New Testament model is of Christ followers boasting in suffering, not gifting!
   3. Because of this, I think it is necessary for mentoring systems and structures to be built to test a person before they are released into ministry.  This will enhance missionality, b/c churches will always be in the process of mentoring missional leaders to be sent out.
2. A robust pneumatology that is not married to a truncated eschatology.
   1. Charismatic theologians have developed a robust theology of Spirit.  Both in thought and in practice.
   2. This pneumatology has been especially powerful in two areas:
      1. The equipping of the saints for the ministry of the church.
      2. Healing and deliverance and the value of “experiential” knowledge of God as measured against scripture.
   3. Often, especially in the late 20th century, this pneumatology was tied to eschatology.  The pouring out of the Spirit in the 20th century renewal movements was seen as proof that we were living in the last days.  It appears they were off a bit.
   4. We must rethink this.  Revival and renewal always displays signs and wonders, so marrying these signs and wonders to any particular eschatological perspective, which predicts the end of the world, is suspect.  Whether monastic movements pre-reformation or missionary movements post-reformation, signs and wonders accompany the spread of the Gospel into un-reached areas.
3. A dependence on the Spirit as primary to the risk-taking activity of missional living.
   1. As the Western world is (re)presented as a mission field, the always present motif in scripture of God’s presence invading a place he has not been, requiring response and repentance from the people in that place, and then instigating a diaspora of his newly converted people, begins in Genesis and continues through Revelation.  Why would it be any different now?
   2. The biblical picture is that the people that took this on were always uncomfortable, mostly unwilling, ill-equipped, etc.  God always says, “do not be afraid, I am with you.”  He is with us in the Spirit.  We must learn or re-learn to depend on the Spirit as we leave the church facility and take the Gospel outside.  It is the Spirit’s work!
4. This will most likely lead to “power” encounters.
   1. These power encounters will be present in new evangelistic efforts, or in healing and deliverance (which is all biblical).
   2. But in the new era, it appears it will not happen at conferences, outpourings, or in mega churches, although it might and probably will still happen there.
   3. There appears to be a new generation of apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor/teachers unwilling to go down that road.  These people also appear hellbent (no pun intended) on taking the Gospel out of the building or the conference center and into the streets, homes, coffee shops, marketplace, schools, political centers and any other context necessary to reach people unwilling to engage Christianity on its territory.

Some might say, how is this different from the renewal of the 20th century.  I think the “telos” is different.  In the 20th century it moved from Spirit activity to Church activity.  I think the missional generation is done with church growth and will find a way to take this thing to a new arena.  God’s Kingdom will come in the world, not inside the church building.

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