Dear Editor,
I am so enjoying Adam Ramsay’s series on Martyn Lloyd Jones – thank you for publishing it. As a first-year student in London, for the first time I had the choice of attending any church from a vast array of options. Wanting to remain fairly local to my student accommodation, my best options were a conservative evangelical offshoot of a well-known larger “parent” church, or a large, well-known charismatic church in the area.
I loved the commitment of the former to rigorous Scriptural study and robust theology, but I found the (sometimes arrogant) dismissal of charismatics bewildering in light of what I read in the New Testament, and in light of my own experiences of a miraculous healing, accurate words of knowledge spoken to me, and several tangible encounters of the love of God, by revelation from the Holy Spirit.
I eventually committed to attending the charismatic church to fellowship alongside like-hearted brothers and sisters (who often seemed more full of joy and less concerned about knowing the right answers), and devoured rich Biblical teaching through Christian Union, the Christian Medical Fellowship, and many excellent books and online sermons.
Happily, after graduating 13 years ago, my husband and I joined a church that describes itself as both Reformed and Charismatic, where we enjoy excellent, Biblical, conservative teaching in a vibrant community of brothers and sisters who confidently use their spiritual gifts to build up the church (“supernatural” and otherwise – prophecy and administration are both great gifts to the church!) I don’t know if some people feel that “Reformed Charismatic” is an oxymoron (I await the publication of May’s instalment in the essay series) but for us it feels the most Biblically faithful expression of God’s plan for His church.
I would urge anyone on any “side” to be wary of further polarisation, especially in light of Jesus’ prayer for complete unity among believers in John 17. I felt during my student years that there was a degree of suspicion toward “charismatics” from “conservatives” which led to me feeling that I should feel a sort of shame for having experienced many of the “supernatural” workings of the Spirit in my Christian life (or worse, that I and others like me were inventing or imagining things – which rather detracts from God being glorified). The fact is that these experiences, in tandem with the richness of the Word, brought me a deeper joy and a more concrete certainty of the Truth. God’s heart throughout Scripture, culminating with the Incarnation, is to be present with His people. My “charismatic” experiences seemed only to affirm the truth of His closeness, and to encourage my longing to introduce my non-believing friends to the wonder of following our incredible, living, tangible Saviour.
I have honestly found this essay series one of the most affirming, hope-giving things I’ve read in en. My university years were such a wrestle for me in terms of finding somewhere I felt I “belonged” spiritually, and I’ve found certain pockets of conservative evangelicalism almost hostile in their attitudes towards charismatics, as though we were not all brothers and sisters under the headship of Christ. It’s been quite healing reading these essays. Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Laura Buckley
Salisbury
Dear Editor,
I’ve enjoyed reading Adam Ramsay’s series on D.M. Lloyd-Jones’ and the relationship between the Reformed faith and spiritual experience. I wish Adam well in his research programme.
Of particular interest was Lloyd-Jones’ response to the faith-healer, Kathryn Kuhlman, who he details as one whose ministry has medically verified physical healings and appeared clear on the gospel. However, he warned against other factors.
This certainly highlights the problem of public figures with celebrity status where the tendency is to ignore the questionable aspects as you become immersed in the acceptable.
If there is a gift that we need in any age it has to be discernment.
Yours sincerely,
Graham Pickhaver
Melton Constable
Dear Editor,
Well done, Adam Ramsay (en May, online version here). Please publish your thesis soon! On healing, ML-J might be quite close to that wise old pentecostal Donald Gee (1891–1966). He explained his position in a book called Trophimus I Left Sick.
Yours sincerely,
David Bowler
Perth
