What do you think?
Rate this book
Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist
Sam Storms contends that nothing is more important than the CONVERGENCE of Word and Spirit, mind and affection, principle and passion in the life of the Christian and the Church. In this book he demonstrates from his own life and preeminently from Scripture itself how one can embrace both the centrality of the written Word and the charismatic power of the Holy Spirit.
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
8 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Sam Storms
78 books137 followers(Some early works written as C. Samuel Storms)
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 3, 2015
As a Charismatic who could never embrace cessationism and yet at times has found himself quite frustrated with some of the teachings and the fluffy foolishness within the Charismatic world, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was VERY refreshing to read!
Dr. Storms has a high regard for the scriptures and for Christian orthodoxy yet he has also seen the reality that God has not ceased doing miracles.
I especially appreciated how Dr. Storms compared the two camps and brought out the common tendencies and beliefs / views each group often embraces and how those views can stifle their own spiritual maturity. His insights brought much more clarity to the topic and helped me understand my cessationist brothers and sisters more deeply. Now when I hear them ranting or even ridiculing and mocking my fellow Charismatics it doesn't sting quite as much as it used to. And I see where they're coming from. I also respect that they place a high value on the scriptures and the gospel. And Dr. Storms helped me see why they tend to embrace a post-Biblical and dare I say it, an unbiblical doctrine of cessationism.
Like a skilled theologian, and even pastoral counselor, Dr. Storms challenged both groups to try to see the good in the other as well as to examine where some of their own beliefs may not line up with the scriptures like they assume. He encouraged all believers to value both the Word and the Spirit, the mind and the heart, the traditions and the gifts.
And I especially enjoyed the section on affections and how passionately expressing our admiration for God in worship is a good thing and not the carnal "emotionalism" so many accuse Charismatics and Pentecostals of engaging in.
This is a book I wish every Christian would read. Even the ones who never leave cessationism or accept that tongues and prophecy are legitimate gifts in the church today. If nothing else, it will bring understanding to this divide in the church.
Regardless of your background and the doctrines you hold, I think you will find this book helpful in your walk with God, or at least full of challenges to go deeper in the scriptures and to love God and believers of different doctrinal convictions more fully.
Dr. Storms has a high regard for the scriptures and for Christian orthodoxy yet he has also seen the reality that God has not ceased doing miracles.
I especially appreciated how Dr. Storms compared the two camps and brought out the common tendencies and beliefs / views each group often embraces and how those views can stifle their own spiritual maturity. His insights brought much more clarity to the topic and helped me understand my cessationist brothers and sisters more deeply. Now when I hear them ranting or even ridiculing and mocking my fellow Charismatics it doesn't sting quite as much as it used to. And I see where they're coming from. I also respect that they place a high value on the scriptures and the gospel. And Dr. Storms helped me see why they tend to embrace a post-Biblical and dare I say it, an unbiblical doctrine of cessationism.
Like a skilled theologian, and even pastoral counselor, Dr. Storms challenged both groups to try to see the good in the other as well as to examine where some of their own beliefs may not line up with the scriptures like they assume. He encouraged all believers to value both the Word and the Spirit, the mind and the heart, the traditions and the gifts.
And I especially enjoyed the section on affections and how passionately expressing our admiration for God in worship is a good thing and not the carnal "emotionalism" so many accuse Charismatics and Pentecostals of engaging in.
This is a book I wish every Christian would read. Even the ones who never leave cessationism or accept that tongues and prophecy are legitimate gifts in the church today. If nothing else, it will bring understanding to this divide in the church.
Regardless of your background and the doctrines you hold, I think you will find this book helpful in your walk with God, or at least full of challenges to go deeper in the scriptures and to love God and believers of different doctrinal convictions more fully.
Read
December 17, 2015Very, very thoughtful and insightful. (Full disclosure: I work for and with the author.) This book combines scholarly care and clarity with warmth and compassion for "both sides of the aisle". In detailing how Charismatics and Calvinists—broadly named—can find convergence in the testimony of Scripture, Storms gives a beautiful rendering of Scripture's theology of the "heart".
In my favorite chapter, chapter ten, he takes Edwards's rarely explored "Religious Affections" and puts the cookies down on the shelf by showing how there is no ultimate opposition between the so-called head and so-called heart. What we call "head" and "heart" are in fact simply the two inseparable and deeply interconnected aspects of the "heart" or inner self as Scripture portrays it. Our heart is made up of our understanding and our inclination. We believe and we desire. We think and we want. There is no true affection for God that does not proceed from a right understanding of God, and there is no true understanding of God that does not lead to true affection for God. Instead of pitting them against each other, we must understand how the latter only flows from the former, and how the former must always produce the latter.
In my favorite chapter, chapter ten, he takes Edwards's rarely explored "Religious Affections" and puts the cookies down on the shelf by showing how there is no ultimate opposition between the so-called head and so-called heart. What we call "head" and "heart" are in fact simply the two inseparable and deeply interconnected aspects of the "heart" or inner self as Scripture portrays it. Our heart is made up of our understanding and our inclination. We believe and we desire. We think and we want. There is no true affection for God that does not proceed from a right understanding of God, and there is no true understanding of God that does not lead to true affection for God. Instead of pitting them against each other, we must understand how the latter only flows from the former, and how the former must always produce the latter.
February 22, 2016
In a fusion of charismatic testimony and reformed scholarly exploration the author takes the reader through a thoughtful and Scripture-based approach to the experience of the Holy Spirit for present day Christians. In the telling of his own story the author reveals the way in which God opens the horizons of even the staunchest of deniers to a place where experiences previously believed to be heretical become the norm for this new Christian life. The critique of the cessationist perspective, balanced with a call to Scriptural depth on the part of the charismatic, leads the reader to a middle ground where Spiritual gifts and the miracles of God's kingdom are expected and eagerly pursued, while at the same time whole-heartedly embracing the Scriptures and its faithful study as the revelation of the Gospel message. At times the interplay between the two (Word and Spirit) is blurry and mysterious but neither is meant to be neglected. Sam Storms here provides a much needed call to Christian maturity rooted in the affectionate experience of a loving God; the quintessential Christian life.
February 24, 2024
Well it appears that i'm not a cessasionist.
"There's no escaping the fact that when knowledge is made an end in itself it can easily become a source of intellectual pride that diminishes ones passion for Jesus and compassion for people. I can personally testify to countless hours debating the ultimately unfruitful intricacies of theological minutia all the while men and women around me were hurting and dying. At the end of the day I often felt smug and self-satisfied for having "won" yet another debate. But my love for God and brokenness for a lost and dying world were unaffected. But good theology should never diminish zeal. God never meant it to. When truth is searched for, discovered, and defined it has the power to inflame the heart and empower the soul and energize the will to do what otherwise may seem burdensome and boring. Theological truth is not the problem. Arrogance is. Contrary to what some charismatics have suggested, the flesh is the enemy, not the "mind"."
"A preacher or teacher must never open the Scriptures flippantly or casually, as if setting forth the truths of the gospel were no different from any other form of communication. The same applies anytime anyone shares the gospel with a passing stranger in a restaurant or distributes a tract to a friend.
Just think of it: when you speak or write or share the message of the cross, "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as revealed in the face of Jesus"
(2 Corinthians 4v.6) is shining forth. What an awesome calling we have! What an exquisite treasure we carry! (4:7)"
"The reason why men are not affected by such infinitely great, important, glorious, and wonderful things, as they often hear and read of, in the Word of God, is undoubtedly because they are blind; if they were not so, it would be impossible, and utterly inconsistent with human nature, that their hearts should be otherwise than strongly impressed, and greatly moved by such things."
"Is it too much to believe that one can feel God's tender touch in the sermon and learn more of his ways and means during worship? Is it too much to expect that one might return home on Sunday afternoon having both learned and loved, having been stretched both mentally and emotionally, having been both edified by a biblical text and healed of a physical affliction? Dare we hope and strive and settle for anything less than both the thrill of theological insight and deliverance from demonic oppression?"
"We sing because God has created not only our minds but also our hearts and souls, indeed our bodies as well, in such a way that music elicits and intensifies holy affections for God and facilitates their lively and vigorous expression."
"There's no escaping the fact that when knowledge is made an end in itself it can easily become a source of intellectual pride that diminishes ones passion for Jesus and compassion for people. I can personally testify to countless hours debating the ultimately unfruitful intricacies of theological minutia all the while men and women around me were hurting and dying. At the end of the day I often felt smug and self-satisfied for having "won" yet another debate. But my love for God and brokenness for a lost and dying world were unaffected. But good theology should never diminish zeal. God never meant it to. When truth is searched for, discovered, and defined it has the power to inflame the heart and empower the soul and energize the will to do what otherwise may seem burdensome and boring. Theological truth is not the problem. Arrogance is. Contrary to what some charismatics have suggested, the flesh is the enemy, not the "mind"."
"A preacher or teacher must never open the Scriptures flippantly or casually, as if setting forth the truths of the gospel were no different from any other form of communication. The same applies anytime anyone shares the gospel with a passing stranger in a restaurant or distributes a tract to a friend.
Just think of it: when you speak or write or share the message of the cross, "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as revealed in the face of Jesus"
(2 Corinthians 4v.6) is shining forth. What an awesome calling we have! What an exquisite treasure we carry! (4:7)"
"The reason why men are not affected by such infinitely great, important, glorious, and wonderful things, as they often hear and read of, in the Word of God, is undoubtedly because they are blind; if they were not so, it would be impossible, and utterly inconsistent with human nature, that their hearts should be otherwise than strongly impressed, and greatly moved by such things."
"Is it too much to believe that one can feel God's tender touch in the sermon and learn more of his ways and means during worship? Is it too much to expect that one might return home on Sunday afternoon having both learned and loved, having been stretched both mentally and emotionally, having been both edified by a biblical text and healed of a physical affliction? Dare we hope and strive and settle for anything less than both the thrill of theological insight and deliverance from demonic oppression?"
"We sing because God has created not only our minds but also our hearts and souls, indeed our bodies as well, in such a way that music elicits and intensifies holy affections for God and facilitates their lively and vigorous expression."
September 1, 2018
Good book. Would agree theologically at least with Dr. Storms. But I would have liked to hear his take on Paul Cain and Bob Jones and their obvious lack of integrity in ministry. Was Storms endorsing them as "prophetically" gifted men who we should model ourselves after? I sure hope not. Is Storms comfortable with endorsing these different movements that are characterized by bad theology, fanaticism, and even cultic practices (Toronto Blessing, etc.). I hope not. What about Jesus, Peters, and John's warnings against false prophets (who will be among you--in the church)? How do we judge them? If prophecy can be flawed in practice in the New Covenant era (which I partially agree with) then what do we have left to judge them by? Character? Theology? If that's the case then were Paul Cain and Bob Jones false prophets??? I would think so.
March 19, 2009
His personal narrative is very encouraging. It's nice to know there are other Calvinists who believe in the continuity of all the spiritual gifts.
June 6, 2022
Sam Storms offers an unconventional perspective in this book. It's not that he's a former cessationist turned continuationist. Many Christians have made that switch, just as many Christians have gone from being continuationist to cessationist (Costi Hinn is a good recent example). What is unconventional about Storms is that he seeks to draw on the best from both camps, rather than identifying exclusively with one and creating distance from the other. This book describes his journey, and his present outlook of "convergence." Obviously, he doesn't seek to reconcile the positions of cessationism and continuationism because they are contradictory by nature. What he does seek to do is encourage both camps to learn from each other. He accurately identifies the strengths and weaknesses of cessationists and continuationists. He then offers a gentle appeal for all the initial spiritual gifts continuing today. After reading this entire volume, this continuationist-turned-cessationist isn't persuaded by his Biblical arguments. I am persuaded, however, to be more considerate of my Charismatic brothers and sisters in Christ and not to vilify them as some cessationists tend to do.
As I've finished this excellent work, the main question that comes to mind is, "Why is this book out of print?" Even though I'm a cessationist and he's a continuationist, I find great value in what he's presented here. I highly recommend it, if you can find it.
As I've finished this excellent work, the main question that comes to mind is, "Why is this book out of print?" Even though I'm a cessationist and he's a continuationist, I find great value in what he's presented here. I highly recommend it, if you can find it.
November 4, 2016
Overall, not super great. The best thing Bro. Storms does is identify caricatures of both cessationists and continuationists, and then encourage us not to use them. It is too bad that he does that very thing in his epilogue. Comparing cessationists to the rigid and unbelieving pharisees in John 9. This book offers no help to those wanting to obey the command to "desire in earnest the spiritual gifts," or those who already are continuationists, who seek to be more biblically careful and practice these gifts in accordance with God's commandments for order and word saturated worship.
November 16, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Especially the first half. I appreciated how balanced Sam was, he was always careful to qualify his statements when objections were likely. Given his background, he’s the perfect person to write a book like this, and he has not only the theological training but the experience as well. I think everyone who reads this book should start with the epilogue and compare themselves to those who doubted that the blind man was healed and then read with an open bible and an open mind.
June 16, 2025
While the general debate of reformed vs. charismatic is something I find very tiring in our American culture (we have a uniquely polarizing dynamic), I appreciated the story of a journey to wrestle with truth. A lot of the book focused on comparing strengths and weaknesses of both groups of thought, and ways we could meet in the middle. IMO, this book was better than his books focused on apologetics for charisma.
August 24, 2017
Fantastic discourse juxtaposing cessationism and continuitionism. Approached biblically back filled with stories. This is important because you can't shape theology with experiences and stories backfilled with scripture. sola scriptura
#goodreads
#goodreads
January 11, 2018
This book really helped me flesh out my thoughts on the apparent discontinuity with my Theological belief in Calvinism and my experiential and theological believe in the Charismatic understanding of the present work of the Ministry gifts in the Modern Day.
March 4, 2017
Convergence is a memoir of a Calvinist theologian who once wrote books for Cessationism, yet is now one of the leading Charismatic apologists.
Sam Storms presents a fair assessment of both parties, exposing their strengths and weaknesses. He proves that one can be balanced without being neutral.
I left my former church because I'm scripturally convinced that they have Charismatic malpractices that even Dr. Storms would rebuke.
Having studied the Charismatic arguments, I find Dr. Storm's arguments, so far, the most compelling. Although I'm still more leaning to the Cessationist camp, Dr. Storms humbled me to love my Charismatic brothers by not stereotyping them through their malpractices, but rather appreciate and learn from their passion.
Sam Storms presents a fair assessment of both parties, exposing their strengths and weaknesses. He proves that one can be balanced without being neutral.
I left my former church because I'm scripturally convinced that they have Charismatic malpractices that even Dr. Storms would rebuke.
Having studied the Charismatic arguments, I find Dr. Storm's arguments, so far, the most compelling. Although I'm still more leaning to the Cessationist camp, Dr. Storms humbled me to love my Charismatic brothers by not stereotyping them through their malpractices, but rather appreciate and learn from their passion.
October 21, 2020
Growing up and only being exposed to a very limited number of ideologies, you begin to put people in a doctrinal box. If someone's a Calvinist, it follows they're a cessationist. If they're a Pentecostal, they reject OSAS. However, Sam Storms taught me that not everyone fits into a nice box, and that God can invade your life and leave you holding doctrinal truths that defy every circle you've known. Storms finds himself as a Charasmatic Calvinist, a Reformed guy holding to the doctrines of grace while affirming the continued gifts of the Spirit.
What does he do well? He converges the emphasis of studying God's Word found in Reformed Circles and the emphasis of the Spirit's ministry found in Charasmatic Circles and you end up with a balanced view of experiencing God in a way that's doctrinally safe and yet experientially satisfying. Does that even make sense? To us who have come face to face with the false dilemma of either "dead formalism or chaotic emotionalism" its a camp we've been searching for. To rest in the safety of God's Word and comfortably enjoy His presence without fear of heresy is the balance I was searching for, and didn't even know it.
What does he do well? He converges the emphasis of studying God's Word found in Reformed Circles and the emphasis of the Spirit's ministry found in Charasmatic Circles and you end up with a balanced view of experiencing God in a way that's doctrinally safe and yet experientially satisfying. Does that even make sense? To us who have come face to face with the false dilemma of either "dead formalism or chaotic emotionalism" its a camp we've been searching for. To rest in the safety of God's Word and comfortably enjoy His presence without fear of heresy is the balance I was searching for, and didn't even know it.
May 30, 2012
This book really brings out the "two camps" of Christianity and how they view one another. Sam Storms has a unique perspective having lived deeply in both camps, and somehow moving freely between them 'without getting shot.'
If you're looking for the 3rd wave or the 4th wave or whatever, you're going to benefit from Sam's research and experience faithfully bringing together the power of the Spirit and the wisdom of the Word.
Great Book.
If you're looking for the 3rd wave or the 4th wave or whatever, you're going to benefit from Sam's research and experience faithfully bringing together the power of the Spirit and the wisdom of the Word.
Great Book.
January 1, 2010
This was one of Todd and my favorite books of the year. He is thoughtful and speaks to both the reformed and charismatic Christian about what we need to learn from each other. He is a professor at Wheaton and quite scholarly. The first half is experiential, the second is very Biblical and more of an apologetic. Good stuff!
December 28, 2012
Sam Storms brings the conversation to the table. He brings Cessationists and Charismatics together to share struggles, fears, misconceptions and applies Biblical care to their two sides. Yes. There is room for both to meet and worship, grow, learn together.
My only negative is that I think he could have written this book with better editing. It seemed repetitive at times.
My only negative is that I think he could have written this book with better editing. It seemed repetitive at times.
March 26, 2011
I did not finish this book because I have other books I should be reading. But it is an excellent book for those who are interested in the movement towards each other of the Calvinists and charismatics.
October 15, 2010
Great book that talks about the interesting schism between charismatics and conservative Christians. It's also pretty cool that he's my pastor back home. Must be honest though, it gets a bit tough to read from the middle portion.
June 4, 2008
Perfect read for who hold (or have held) a skeptical/non-continuationist viewpoint regarding the gifts of the Spirit.
August 12, 2008
So much of what Sam writes seems like my own journey/story. I appreciate his transparency and Scriptural integrity.
March 24, 2015
Really enjoyed the first 2 thirds. Final third seemed disjointed.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews