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Teaching a Calvinist to Dance

In Pentecostal worship, my Reformed theology finds its groove.

It can be a little intimidating in a Reformed context to admit that one is Pentecostal. It's a bit like being at the ballet and letting it slip that you're partial to NASCAR and country music. Both claims tend to clear a room. And yet I happily define myself as a Reformed charismatic, a Pentecostal Calvinist.

It's been said that testimony is the poetry of Pentecostal experience, so permit me to begin with a personal poem to provide some background. I wasn't raised in the church; rather, I was quite "miraculously saved" the day after my 18th birthday through my girlfriend (now wife!), who was doing a little missionary dating. I received my earliest formation among the Plymouth Brethren, in a sector that defined itself as anti-Pentecostal and took a certain pride in knowing that the "miraculous" gifts had ceased to function with the death of the last apostle. Through a path that is convoluted and riddled with hurts, our spiritual pilgrimage eventually took us across the threshold of a Pentecostal church where we were welcomed, embraced, and transformed.

There, in that Pentecostal church in Stratford, Ontario—once home to Aimee Semple McPherson—God showed up. Encountering him in ways I hadn't experienced or imagined before, God shook my intellectual framework and rattled my spiritual cage at the same time.

But let me add one more layer to this story: Just as I was being immersed in the Spirit's activity and presence in Pentecostal spirituality and worship, I started a master's degree in philosophical theology at the Institute for Christian Studies, a graduate school in the Dutch Reformed tradition at the University of Toronto. So my week looked a bit odd: Monday to Friday I was immersed in the intellectual resources of the Reformed tradition, diving into the works of Calvin, Kuyper, and Dooyeweerd.

Then on Sunday we'd show up at the Pentecostal church where, to be honest, things got pretty crazy sometimes. It was a long way from Toronto to Stratford, if you know what I mean—about the same distance from Geneva to Azusa Street.

For a lot of folks, that must sound like trying to inhabit two different space-time continuums. But I never experienced much tension between these worlds. Of course, my church and academic world didn't bump into one another. Dooyeweerd and Jack Hayford don't often cross paths. But in a way, I felt that they met in me—and they seemed to fit. I experienced a deep resonance between the two. In fact, I would suggest that being charismatic actually makes me a better Calvinist; my being Pentecostal is actually a way for me to be more Reformed.

Sovereignty and Surprise

Reformed folks praise, value, honor, and make central the sovereignty of God. The theological giants of the Reformed tradition—Calvin, Edwards, Kuyper, and others—have put God's sovereignty at the center and heart of a Reformed "world- and life-view." God is the Lord of the cosmos; God is free from having to meet our expectations; God is sovereign in his election of the people of God.

I think there is an interesting way in which Pentecostals live out a spirituality that takes that sovereignty really, really seriously. In particular, I think Pentecostal spirituality and charismatic worship take the sovereignty of God so seriously that you might actually be surprised by God every once in a while. You are open and expectant that the Spirit of God is sometimes going to surprise you, because God is free to act in ways that might differ from your set of expectations.


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Comments

Displaying 1–3 of 61 comments

Carlos

May 28, 2008  8:13pm

Halleluia!! Praise the Lord for this testimony of Brother James K.A. Smith! I could not concur more with what he has shared and written, I've been longing for years to hear someone like this brother bring out what is in fact, as he so rightly states; "The Churchs' DNA is Pentecostal" absolutely correct. I love my Calvinist brothers, theologically, for the most part sound, thank God for them; but the genuine charismatic 'pentecostal' experience is what they truly need. On the other hand our Pentecostal brothers, also need the good theological foundation of our Calvinist friends; a true merger of these two great arms of the Christian faith, is what will ignite the 'fire' of the Holy Spirit, at this most perplexed time we are all living in. We need them both, may the Holy Spirit be allowed to have 'His' way in the hearts and lives of many, for the Glory of God in the fulness of His Spirit!

Nicholas

May 22, 2008  5:49pm

Excellent article! Having a deep awareness and reverence for God's sovereignty SHOULD lead to an exuberant style of worship, and appreciation for the Holy Spirit and all He wishes to do in and through God's people. Thanks for this!

Roberts

May 21, 2008  8:49am

Creative idea.... However, I notice different styles of worship during the whole history: Israel women's dance after God delivered them from Pharaoh, King David's dance before God when delivering ark of God, silent praises of early Christians in Roman Empire, Handel's symphony, and quiet prayers of persecuted churches in communist countries. I cannot say one is better than the others. As long as we do for God's glory in proper manner, it will be pleasing for Him. Note that God punished Mikhal, David's wife, when she despised her husband when he danced for God. Sadly, apparently some churches sing songs to amuse people, just like in entertainment industry. I have learned a lot from my Reformed (Calvinist) friends, especially about God's sovereignity and Christian ethics. But in soteriology, I do not agree with Calvin's TULIP (predestination etc). I believe Arminian view describes soteriology more properly.

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