Customer Reviews

Empowered Evangelicals: Bringing Together the Best of the Evangelical and Charismatic Worlds

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Within Evangelicalism exists many branches. In this book, the authors contrast Pentecostal Evangelicalism with classical Evangelicalism, looking for common ground for the future. Often these two groups are at loggerheads. The authors are trying to get beyond the various "straw man" cariacutures that overgeneralize and stereotype each others' camps. They appeal for fresh reasessments of thorny theological issues like spirit-baptism, healing, Christian scholarship, and supernatural manifestations. The most interesting part of the book is when the authors discuss paradigm shifts. A paradigm is an accepted assumption, a relatively unchallenged "given". Our reading of scripture, our management of emotions, our theological assumptions are so firmly entrenched that we often cannot see an issue clearly. Think how much paradigm shifting was done to in Acts to blow away cherished theological constructs. Saul was struck down by Jesus on his way to persecute Christians(and becomes Christianity's chief spokesman!). Peter finally gets the message that the gospel is for Gentiles also(but only after much supernatural intervention by God!). Are we immune from such a state? Do we have no blind spots? Admittedly, there is already some cross-pollination betweeen these two groups. The future for the church may well be a sort of hybrid betweeen classical Pentecostalism and classical Evangelicalism. If the issues are approached in humility, perhaps Nathan and Wilson are right: we could have the best of both worlds. Perhaps God still has some paradigm blasting to do in our age!

Empowered Evangelicals serves as an excellent resource to help dispell fear in seeking MORE of God's presence and power in a more experiential way in church life. Coming from a conservative evangelical background, the book helped me feel more comfortable with the new wave of renewal and the resulting manifestations. A satisfying discussion of two worlds that need not clash but merge to be one burning church on fire to reach the lost and heal wounded people.

Nathan and Wilson score on this collaboration! Great for pastors and church leaders looking for guidance in how to have a church that is both strong in Word and strong in Spirit. This book, along with Doug Banister's Word and Power Church, argues convincingly that the best of the Evangelical and Charismatic worlds can be mutually embraced. The authors write carefully and thoughtfully as they strike a balance between the often characterized two extremes: mind and emotion.

The only weakness of this book is that it is difficult to keep up with who wrote what. I frequently found myself thumbing back several pages to try to place who exactly was sharing a personal story (Nathan or Wilson?).

If you are extremely Pentecostal or extremely anti-charismatic, you will probably disagree with the conclusions drawn in this book, but if you have an open mind, "Take up and read!"

the writers do an ecleenet job of showing the simularities and differences charismatics and non-charismatics have. Their plea for unity and understanding is to be commended. Both sides of this issue need to move towards the middle and this books shows how we can make that happen.

What I like especially about this book--and I like a lot about it--is that it corrects an imbalance in the thinking and feeling lives of fervent Bible-believing people.

For a long time, what we've gotten is a lot about what Paul thinks about things. And as a consequence, we've gotten a lot of emphasis on sin, sin lists, sin avoidance, sin management, sin identification, sin angst, sin taking over the world, sin in the schools, sin on TV, sin in the newspapers and magazines, sin on the Internet, sin in our neighbors, and so forth. A sense of the Christian life as a battle against sin.

But this book reminds us that Jesus and the love of God and the love of our neighbors are where our hearts should be. It reminds us to expect God's power in our lives. To open our hearts and minds to this. And this is welcome. Most welcome. Highly welcome. It is indeed good news.

I enjoyed the thoughts of both Nathan and Wilson. I was a member of the church that R. Nathan pastors at, when I left it was to take a staff position at the church I currently am at. When at Nathan's church, I became very trusting of him because of his preaching the Truth in humility. Therefore, as a result of my deep appreciation for Nathan's faith in Christ, I may be a bit bias in my review. The book gives sincere examination of both classes, Evangelicals, and Charismatics. The examination is performed with the purpose of unifying the body of Christ. A kind of "best of both worlds" approach. My friends, Jesus desires much more unity among believers, and this book is a service to that desire. I reccomend this book to all. Peace.

This was a terrific book examining the new surge taking place in the Christian religion. Very well written and extremely enlightening. Highly recommended for just about anyone to read.