Orthodox Critique of the Charismatic Movement
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Charismatic Renewal began to move into the Orthodox Church in America. At the time, the Orthodox Church was one of the smallest denominations in the USA.
It created a keen discussion within the church, with some priests embracing the Renewal, while the majority remaining suspicious.
Around this time, Fr Seraphim Rose wrote a book discussing American Christianity called ‘Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future‘. It addressed UFO religions, the New Age and Eastern meditation practices as well as the Charismatic Renewal.
I feel he was rather harsh upon the christians who became involved in the movement, but some of the critiques were fair, from an Orthodox perspective. And these might serve as a reasonable counter-balance to some of the excesses of Hyper-Charismaticism.
I’ve also researched several other sources and below is a list of concerns the Orthodox Church have about the Charismatic Renewal.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
To an Orthodox person, the Church already has a Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is called Christmation and is similar to a confirmation service. So if a Charismatic tried to explain the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, it wouldn’t make sense to an Orthodox Christian. They already have one.
Early Church Writings
The Orthdox church is steeped in the teachings of the Early Church. Within these texts are many writings about Christian mysticism. From an Orthdox perspective, they are wary and suspicious of random mystical experiences as they are taught that it can mislead them.
I have heard of one story about a monk who begs to experience something like a Charismatic Holy Spirit experience. He felt warm when he started to pray, he would prophecy and would occasionally fall over. His bishop explained that these were to be ignored as they were a distraction from the Christian life.
Church Renewal
From an Orthodox perspective, the Church doesn’t need a renewal. They believe it is just as the apostles handed down to them through the ages.
The phrase, Charismatic Renewal, doesn’t make sense to them. What is it renewing?
God Speaks To Anyone
The Orthodox community were confused as to why God was speaking so readily to Charismatics. From their perspective, God speaks most clearly to those who pursue Him with all their hearts over an extended period of time. People who have absolutely dedicated their lives to God’s service.
So from an Orthodox perspective, it seems a strange that someone who has been a Christian for only a few moments, can hear God perfectly and go on to unpack the deepest mysteries of God.
The Charisma Gifts Never Ceased
As far as the Orthodox Church are concerned, the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians never ceased. Even to this day, miracles, signs and wonders still happen in the Orthodox Church. So the idea that these need to be brought back into the Church was a strange notion.
Spiritual Deception
Another concern expressed by Fr Seraphim Rose was the tendency that Charismstics might fall into spiritual deception.
He puts forward two types of deception. Firstly, the tendency to obsess over signs and wonders and heightened spiritual experiences. The desire to see great visions, to receive deep prophecies and to hear the audible Voice of God at all times.
The second involves an obsession with ‘divine feelings’. This is where the ‘peace which passes all understanding’ or ‘soaking’ becomes the focus of the Christian life rather than Christ.
Both of these lead to deception, because the believer is distracted by the experience, rather than seeking the source, the Holy Spirit.
Defence Against Hyper-Charismaticism
We can see from above why the Orthodox Church was reluctant to accept the Charismatic Renewal. What can we take from this Orthodox critique which will help against Hyper-Charismaticism.
Firstly, I would say the Charismatics need to be aware of spiritual deception. They can passionately want God so much, that they may get distracted and deceived by their desiring. Rather than focussing on being faithful and remaining humble in our worship of Christ, they may choose to chase after the experience.
Another defence is to become acquainted with the early church writings around mystical spiritual experiences. They were living within pagan cultures where there were many alien theologies, which distracted the early Christians. These writings will help to provide wisdom about how to deal with these experiences.
Finally, all Christians need to pray for discernment in these times. This is the greatest defence against Hyper-Chatidmatic practice. We discern what is theologically true by measuring these new spiritual innovations against Scripture, against the writings of the early Church and in discussion with our church leaders and fellow believers.
2 Corinthians 11 v 3
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.