Charisma Vs. Charismania

by Chuck Smith

This book is a scripturally balanced look at the person and work of the Holy Spirit. And will equip you to avoid the extremes surrounding the subject of the Holy Spirit and arm you with solid biblical teaching. Pastor Chuck believers that the Holy Spirit does work in the lives of Christians today and he offers a sane, scriptural approach that will encourage all believers to look to the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Theology, Faith

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1983

Reviews

[Joey Roper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thankful for this balanced teaching on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. How important it is for us to do life an the power of the Spirit (charisma) and not in the flesh (charismania). This was a great reminder of the fact that the Holy Spirit is our Helper and that we must learn to call upon Him more in our daily lives.

[Lee Rubsam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid book on balanced living by the Holy Spirit's enabling in our lives. The title is a little misleading, as Pastor Smith did not spend a lot of time on talking about excesses (the charismania part) in the Spirit-filled church. He focused instead on how the Holy Spirit works within us.

Overall, I felt it was a balanced, common sense approach to living in the fullness of the Spirit. I did think he was a little too stringent about people being demonstrative in Christian gatherings. He apparently did not allow the gift of tongues at all in his church, and even disapproved of people standing with uplifted hands in worship. He said he did not want others to be distracted by such behavior. I think if I had attended his church at the time when this was written, I would have probably become totally bound up in fear of doing anything at all that might be censured. Such an extreme view could shut down a true move of God in a service, I think.

On the whole, it was an enjoyable read, with many good nuggets of wisdom.

[Michael Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

A balanced look at the work of the Holy Spirit in the church today. Smith argues from many Scriptures that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in the church but many good intentioned charismatics have abused the Scriptures and misrepresented His work. A worthwhile read to help us understand how evangelical charismatics understand the work of the Spirit.

[Abigail G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very profound book authored by a pastor known for being in the charismatic realm. He balances out what things mean without attacking too many people, trying instead to focus on giving Biblical evidence that shows the truth instead of the falsity of some of his experiences. I will say there are a few points I have to think on as I have a different view but that is okay.

[Ben B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent a couple of very odd, spiritually formative years bouncing back and forth between fundamentalist independent Baptists, and pew-jumping chandelier-swinging charismaniacs. I learned a lot from both camps, but needless to say, my theology gradually settled down nearer the center of Biblical tension (to borrow J. Robertson McQuilken's wonderful phrase).

This book was very helpful to me in sorting out what was crazy, and what was not, about the Pentacostalists I spent time with. Chuck Smith is a sound theologian with an accessible style.

[Lee Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful man; well-balanced theology.