YES! steve7150 earlier called this "throwing the baby out with the bathwater." I've also heard it put this way-- we have to learn to swallow the meat and spit out the bones.I realize that you distance yourself from Word of Faith teachers, but do you feel that some of us distance ourselves so much that we dismiss the Spirit's power in our lives?
At my church, about 4 years ago, there was a subset of people who were much more charismatic than our congregation at large. ultimately it caused some tension with the head pastor, and ultimately they left the church (about 20 of them or so). They werent doing anything strange in the meeting- they were just more aggressively going after the things of God in a well, more charismatic way. I suppose that if back then i was where I am now in my walk, I would have been in that subgroup and likely have left as well.
At any rate, our pastor felt "burned" by this large group of people leaving, so he became very suspicious of anything charismatic. Those of us who lean that way (or are trying to) do it in an underground sort of way.
There are definitely different "flavors" of charismatic teachers; some I cannot hardly stomach (Hinn, Copeland, to name a couple). However, others, like Andrew Wommack, I really like. I have learned TONS from listening to Andrew Wommack's audio teachings.
I have also learned tons from listening to Michael Brown and Bob Gladstone- who are both associated with the FIRE Church and School of Ministry in Concord, NC. You can check some of their sermons out at that website, and also sites like fireonthealtar.com. They are charismatic, but more along the lines of trying to get today's church into a more apostolic mindset the way God intends. They would teach that performing healings and deliverances is part of our church mission today, although that is not their main focus.
I find that if I am going to learn more about what it means to be "charismatic," then I am going to have to find out on my own. That's what I have done, primarily by listening to people noted above. I have a long commute, so I listen to hours and hours of teaching per week. Steve G talks about being charismatic, and I have listened to his series on the gifts, etc but he doesnt go into a lot of practical things (unless I have missed it).
Elsewhere on the forum I asked if anybody has heard anything about Bethel Church in Redding, CA. I have read a lot of things on their website; a lot of it looks very good, but decidely charismatic (but not in an "icky" way. more of a challenging way) The website is www.ibethel.org.
Anyway, that's probably too much info.
Like Andrew W. s fond of saying, I may not have arrived, but at least I've left.
TK
