From Charismatic to Reformed

My purpose in writing this post is to provide a little insight into my background. I realize most of my readers may not be aware I was part of the charismatic movement.

Early Years
I have been involved in the charismatic movement for some 15 years. I was formerly a member of a non-denominational church with charismatic beliefs where I attended Sunday school since age 10. From young, I have been taught charismatic gifts such as speaking in tongues and prophecies are part of a bona fide Christian experience.

Before I entered my teens, I remember my dad used to play Christian music from Maranatha Music in the car while he took me to school. I also remember I love listening to songs from the Psalty cassette tapes by Ernie Rettino. Besides church activities and Sunday school camps, I have attended children programmes organized by the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International. I also recall attending an evangelistic crusade where Reinhard Bonnke was the main speaker.

All these took place somewhere between the mid-eighties and late-eighties.

Early Teens
I was 14 when I was involved in a ministry. I became part of the sound crew. I served for around 3 years before joining the youth music ministry as a pianist after my GCE “O” level exams. During those times, I became interested in Christian music. I would go to Christian Growth and Trumpet Praise, two Christian stores in Paradiz Centre to purchase cassette tapes. The first tapes I bought were by Integrity Music – Highest Place by Bob Fitts and Chosen Treasure by Bob Kauflin. The first time I attended the Festival of Praise was in 1990 where I bought the tape Pray For This City by Rick and Patti Ridings.

Since then, I have bought quite a number of Integrity Music tapes. Besides tapes from Integrity Music, I remember Bob Fitts’ albums as one of my favorites, for example Live Worship With Bob Fitts (Maranatha Music) and Take My Healing To The Nations / Sacrifice. The first CCM (Christian Contemporary Music) album I bought was by Twila Paris called Cry For The Desert.

During my early teens, I became interested in reading about apologetics, mostly reading books by Josh McDowell. Some of the McDowell books are Understanding the Occult, Understanding Secular Religions, More Than a Carpenter, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, 1 & 2. Other popular books that I read during my teens include The Bondage Breaker and Victory over the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson and Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster.

At 15, I was baptized by immersion. It was an interesting baptism as I was baptized at the East Coast beach by the sea.

Mid to Late Teens
I believe I switched from cassette tape to CD in my mid-teens. I began to discover worship music by Kent Henry. I was quite a big Kent Henry fan back then, having bought many of his CDs. I also remember Petra, a Christian rock group, which I listened to. Some of the Christian artistes and worship leaders whose albums I bought during that time include Lenny LeBlanc, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael English, Ray Boltz, and Dennis Jernigan. I have also bought worship albums from Christ for the Nations.

There were a couple of events I have attended during those years. I was consistently attending the Festival of Praise every year. There were events that have artistes like The Continental Singers, Bobby Michaels, Ron Kenoly and a Christian trumpeter whose name escapes my memory. I have also attended a seminar by Bill Gothard from the Institute in Basic Life Principles.

I was about 18 when I began serving as a pianist in the Sunday main service, in addition to serving in the youth music ministry. I was also involved with Campus Crusade for Christ as well, having attended their basic and intermediate training.

Into Adulthood
After my National Service, I was still serving as a pianist in the main service, though I was no longer serving in the youth music ministry. By that time, I have already participated in a couple of music-related and evangelistic church events. I have gone for mission trips and retreats.

During this time, I have read Charismatic Chaos by John F. MacArthur, as well as bought the book Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by Jack Deere.

It was probably during this time when I became interested in the history of Christianity. It was mainly because I was interested in examining the doctrinal errors of Roman Catholicism. I was still an Arminian then. One thing basically led to another. I learnt of the five Solas. From there, I became interested in theology. One book that got me interested in theology was By Faith Alone: The Doctrine that Divides by R.C. Sproul. I also bought the book The Doctrine of Sanctification by A.W. Pink. At that time, I did not know that these books were by Reformed writers. In fact, I have never heard about Calvinism or TULIP.

After reading By Faith Alone, I felt as though I have gone through an experience similar to Martin Luther; when he discovered the cardinal truth of salvation. I began to buy more theological books such as The Roman Catholic Controversy by James R. White and Protestants & Catholics: Do They Now Agree? by John Ankerberg and John Weldon. These books make me more appreciative of the five Solas. I have also bought an abridged version of John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion even though I was not a Calvinist then.

During that time, I was still buying CD albums from Christian music groups like Hillsong Music Australia, Youth Alive Australia, and Planet Shakers. Some CCM artistes whose albums I bought that comes to mind are Point of Grace, Amy Grant, Rebecca St James, Rachael Lampa, Jaci Velasquez, Russ Lee, and Michael W. Smith.

As I immersed myself into these theological books, I began to turn more and more towards the Word of God. Before this, I was not a serious student of the Word of God, not giving it priority over my love for charismatic worship. Yes, I did read the Gospels and knew the popular Bible stories, but I have not paid much attention to sound doctrine.

The book that was instrumental in turning me into a 5-point Calvinist was Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul. While By Faith Alone awaken me to Sola Fide, Chosen By God impressed upon me the doctrine of Sola Gratia - the sovereign grace of God. From then on, I began dive into the Reformed faith, examining theological arguments by Arminians, buying books by Reformed writers, and not least, carefully studying the Word of God.

At Present
I am still listening to charismatic worship and CCM music, though not as much as I used to when I was a teenager. Nowadays, I find myself enjoying the hymns in the church service much more than the modern stuff i.e. Hillsong, Planet Shakers, Passion Worship Band etc. The sermons have become the most important part of the Sunday worship service for me. I am also more selective in the music I am listening to nowadays, favoring songs with meaningful lyrical content over songs with shallow “Jesus-is-my-Boyfriend” lyrics.

I now hold a cessationalist view of the Apostolic spiritual gift of prophecy, healing and tongues. However, I am a "weak" cessationalist as I believe these visible manifestations only occur under extraordinary circumstances and they are by way of exception rather than the norm.

Like all Calvinists, I do believe in miracles because the miracles God performing today, since the beginning of Creation, is regenerating the hearts of His elect. For without these miracles, evangelism and missions is useless. I do not have to go to a "healing" crusade to see miracles. Just look around you. Believers who are saved through the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ are visible walking proofs that God is still actively performing miracles today.