Customer Reviews

Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist

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Let it be known that I am a HUGE fan of Sam Storms - he is placed on the top of my bookshelf along with my other favorite authors, along-side others like John Piper, Wayne Grudem, C.J. Mahaney, Mark Driscoll, and Jonathan Edwards. Having read his 4 latest books (many of his others are currently out of print, though I hear "Chosen by God" is being updated and re-released later this year), I must say that this is not his best. Yes, the content is good, and much needed, and ANYONE - and I do mean ANYONE - who is struggling to find their place in this spiritual world in the midsts of asking simultaneous questions about both the sovereignty of God and the proper practice of the spiritual gifts will have a lot to benefit from in reading this. However, if you're a skeptic of either, this book will not convince you. Personally, I would like to see Convergence put in the hands of an excellent editor, moving entire sections of the book around (ideally, following chapter 1, the last half of the book which addresses more doctrinal issues, would do well being moved towards the front, or interspersed between segments of Sam's personal story), and helping to clarify some sentances, and simply fixing a few grammatical errors, then reprinted in a second - updated edition. Apart from that, however, Storms is worth listening to, and this is still a worthy addition to your library, especially if you're asking the same questions that Sam is addressing here.

p.s. - and afterward, if you haven't read "A Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts" or "Pleasures Evermore", you absolutely must. There are clearly Sam's best in-print work to date!

This is a great book. Sam Storms has shown that a passion for Truth and a desire for experiential manifestations of the Truth are not at odds with one another, at least they should not be. Storms shares some absolutely amazing in-breaking(s) of the Kingdom of God that he has witnessed that should encourage all believers alike. If you are reformed in your soteriology and think that this means you must be a cessationist, think again. Storms is a gift to the body of Christ. Storms is one of those individuals whom God in His providence is using to help unite the body of Christ. If you have been blessed by Grudem, Piper, and Mahaney than I think that you will be blessed by the writings of this man who has a passion for the supremacy of God in all things.

I appreciate the difficult task of trying to communicate to different worlds when you have one foot in both. As the author says, you open yourself up to being shot at from both directions. Yet if we are ever going to rise above mere caricatures of those in different groups than our own, we must have a conversation like the one this book attempts to have.
The author takes great pains to say he would rather not talk about his own life and does so only because he feels compelled to give testimony to what God has done for him. I actually think the book would have been more effective if he had made it almost exclusively autobiographical. Hearing someone's life story has a way of opening us up beyond the sometimes rigid categories we settle into.
I did not agree with all the author's conclusions, his logic or even his attitude at times. He made me mad at a few points. But I appreciate his effort.
He is a theologian and so it must be expected that he attempts to by systematic and theological. I do not think the theological aspect of the book will be found to be especially convincing or compelling to either side. On the other hand, it takes a large soul who loves people and loves truth enough to be willing to dive into the middle of a contemporary church division.

I wrote a commentary about two years ago, posted below, when I believed I was the only Christian in the world thinking along the lines of Charismatic Calvinism. This past summer I learned that not only am I not the only Charismatic Calvinist, but that the movement started over twenty years ago. I have been on my own journey toward the same conclusions explored in Convergence. This journey has often been one of discouragment, and loneliness.

Convergence was very encouraging to me in this journey. It has clarified issues that I had already begun to understand, and given answers I didn't have yet. I strongly encourage you to buy this book. So many Christians need to read it, especially pastors. Hopefully my commentary here will help you understand the importance of Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist.

The Charismatic movement and the Calvinist movement are two distinct halves of Christianity. Both are true in their own respects, but both are dead wrong in their rejection of each others' beliefs. The two need to come together to form a whole and complete Christianity. Only then will we have true New Testament Christianity.

The real crux of this whole issue is twofold: 1) Cessationists acknowledge that the church is built on the foundation laid down by the ministry of apostles and prophets as spelled out in the New Testament. However, they insist that this foundation was laid at a singular point in history (during the NT period) and is in no way continual or constant. Charismatics insist that it is continual through the church age.

2) Charismatics acknowledge that God laid the foundation of the church further through the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. However, the Reformation is little more than a historical fact to them. Charismatics have no more desire for the Reformation to be a living reality in their lives than cessationists desire for the gifts of the Spirit in their lives. Calvinists insist that the proclamation of the gospel, and Christianity proper, requires the continual laying down of the same foundation stones laid by Luther, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli, et al, until Christ returns. So, how do you convince a Calvinist that the foundation laid down by apostles and prophets must be laid continually in every generation and in every local church? And how do you convince a Charismatic that the work of the Reformation must continue in the same way? It is clear that the Holy Spirit is leading His church through this convergence. Charismatics must become Calvinists, and Calvinists must become Charismatics. Generations from now, students of church history will read about the current rift in history books.

As much as I hate cessationism, I think that, overall, Charismaticism is beset with many more problems than Calvinism. Yes, Calvinists need more of the power of the Holy Spirit, and more affection towards the Lord. But the errors of trichotomy and the separation of the 'heart' and 'mind', are integral to Charismatic anti-intellectualism. Historically, Calvinists have always understood that heart, mind, spirit, and soul are all synonyms. The anti-intellectualism inherent in trichotomy and the heart/mind separation is the root of the Charismatic movement's worst errors. From this root grows religious empiricism and pragmatism, and a general distaste for knowledge, education, books, analysis, logic, and critical thinking skills, not to mention a sweet tooth for mystical nonsense. Philosopher and theologian Gordon H. Clark is a most fitting antedote for this poison. Read Convergence; and then start reading Gordon Clark's works. Start with God's Hammer: The Bible and its Critics, and What is Saving Faith?.

Now for what I wrote two years ago:

It takes a Christian like me a long time to find the right books and other materials that will support his faith and convictions. I have found answers in the past 8 years that I was searching for when I was a teenager. I'm 38 now. I have had a Charismatic belief background since my childhood, but I found these answers in Calvinism.

Last night I was reading the essay "The Very Pernicious and Detestable Doctrine of Inclusivism," and I was overwhelmed by the clarity and power of the gospel as taught by Dr. Robert Reymond. What grieved me was that these very Calvinists who know and teach the gospel so well do not know the power of what they hold in their hands.

The gospel was birthed, and first began to spread, in the power of God. Read the book of Acts. It is so clear. Having been birthed in God's power, how could the gospel continue through history without that power? Yet, the Calvinists teach that miracles and the Charismata ended sometime around the closing of the canon. The arguments for this have historically been empirical, not biblical. Calvinism is famous for its insistence on dogmatism as a basis for doctrine. Cessationism is contrary to this honorable tradition. Both premises of the cessationist syllogism must be found in Scripture. No empirical premise is acceptable.

Jesus said He was going to leave us (his disciples). He said He had to so that the Comfortor would come. If He did not leave us the Comfortor would not come. He did leave, and then the Holy Spirit came upon His followers with great power, with the sign of unknown tongues. If the Calvinists are right, Jesus should have come back when the canon closed. He did not come back because when He sent the Spirit to us, it was for ALL the church, to the end of time. Would God have left us without Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

So, my judgement is this: Charismatics don't think logically and can't judge biblically (relating to experience and what is of God and what is not), and Calvinists deny the power of God for today (cessationism). Each side knows God and His Word very well in their own ways, but each side is also grossly deficient in their own ways. Each side is so unwilling to consider the beliefs and ideas of the other side. This rift is unacceptable. I believe that God is going to visit each side according to their need in the not-too-distant future. (Update: He had already been doing so when I wrote this, but I hadn't heard of it.)

As for myself, I would have to be as blind as one of them to choose one over the other. Just as God is overall and sees both sides objectively, so I also am removed from them and judge them biblically. Accuse me of pride if you wish, but I know what God has shown me! I will neither accept the irrationalism of the Charismatics (or other Arminians), nor the naturalism (cessationism) of the Calvinists. I affirm the primacy of the intellect in all matters of faith and godliness, and the reality of the power of God through the Holy Spirit with supernatural manifestations for today. "Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me, Amen."

The attempt to converge Calvinistic theology with heartfelt worship is commendable! The book reads as a fast paced novel and overall Storms has produced a significant amount of material to help people know Christ. However, I found myself disappointed over some of the ways he described certain acts of the Spirit in his biography section. Prior to presenting the list, I would like you to know that I embrace Reformed theology, remain open, but cautious in regards to the gifts, and do not believe they have ceased. To help other readers understand the things Storms is advocating here are a couple points I found troubling...

1. His daughter saw a physical demon inside their home
2. Several strange dreams were obscurely linked to life events
3. His wife saw an angel
4. His wife heard chimes in the house while awake and Sam did while asleep
5. There was a demon possessed man in the church that produced a strong odor
6. Dreamed about a demon breaking into the house and biting their children. In the morning the children had bite marks on them
7. Prophecy was described more like fortune telling (Nothing like the way Wayne Grudem presents it)

The section on merging the word and Sprit is admirable and provides some guidance on converging. At the same time, he paints a picture of our non-charismatic brothers a little too lifeless. The last section addresses "He is there and He's still not silent" where he interacts with how God speaks to his people. He affirms God speaks primarily through his word, but argues he also speaks directly (not audibly) and not in a way that one should grab a pen and add the 67th book to the Bible.

While there is much here to commend and Storms overall ministry is solid, I would not recommend this particular book. If you would like to read about the gifts, I would recommend "Four views: Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?" where Sam Storms, Richard Gaffin, Robert L. Saucy and Douglas A. Oss are contributors and Wayne Grudem is the editor.

There is so much tension, disagreement, and even disputes among many Christians in regards to the truth about the Word of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and how they interact with each other.

On one side, we have the cessationists that believe the gifts of the Spirit have ceased and are no longer active in the church today. On the other side, we have the charismatics, who believe the gifts of the Spirit are still active and should be a regular part of the ministry. There is a separation of Word and Spirit in our lives and in the church.

These differences have been some of main reasons the church has been divided for a long time now. So much ridicule and mocking against each other, has been the main reason of no unity between these two different camps. Is there any hope of reconciling the two together? Can there be any balance? Can the church manage to put aside the differences within its own members and focus perhaps on something more valuable and important: helping the poor, caring for the needy, and most importantly--mission? Is there any chance these two sides can come into a convergence?

Sam Storms writes in a way that analyzes each camp's differences, weaknesses, and strengths. Sam Storms calls all believers to a reconciliation of Word and Spirit, mind and affection, principle and passion in both the individual and the church as a whole. The ultimate goal: to bring unity among the body of Christ for the glory of God and the spread of the gospel.

Sam Storms' book Convergence is very unique, fascinating, and thought provoking. In his book, he shows the readers of ways of embracing the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the written Word, both biblically and from his personal experience with the Lord and ministry. He has done a fabulous job in studying both sides and giving each one a fair stand without leaning or favoring on one over the other.

The material covered in his writing is very helpful to distinguish the differences between the cessationists and charismatics. Sam refreshes our minds of each camp's view of prayer and supernatural, preaching the Word and worship, and many other important aspects of life and the ministry. To recognize our own distinct weaknesses is very crucial and important to grasp on the need of reconciliation of both Word and Spirit.

1 Corinthians chapter 12-14 is a great demonstration of the unity of believers and shows the necessity of each other's gifts as a way to display love towards God and each other. "Biblical balance is pursuing everything the Bible demands with the degree of emphasis and energy that the Bible demands" (Storms, 105).

Our lives should reflect this type of biblical balance for the sole purpose of glorifying God. Our lives cannot function properly if we lean too much on one side, either side of scripture or the Spirit. Our goal should be to seek, pray, and let the Holy Spirit work in our lives life to produce the humility and balance that will ultimate lead to a better relationship with God.

Sam's life is very inspiring, motivating, and encouraging. His prayer is that we may be more sensitive to work and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to seek the heart of God for reconciliation of Word and Spirit.