Book Review: Charismatic Christianity: Introducing Its Theology through the Gifts of the Spirit

Rarely do I find a book that evokes the warmth of a comforting hug or the familiarity of coming home. However, Helen Collins’s work, Charismatic Christianity: Introducing Its Theology through the Gifts of the Spirit, achieved precisely that for me. Despite growing up in Charismatic/Pentecostal churches, most of my adult life has been spent outside of that realm. Elements of the movement have lingered in my memory, aspects that I have longed for but struggled to articulate.

Collins’s book, organized around exploring seven interconnected emphases of Charismatic Christianity evident through the practices of Charismatic/Pentecostal Christians, sheds light on how these practices are rooted in scripture and connected to broader Christian movements. Notably, Collins does not romanticize this tradition; she takes time to address the potential dangers and excesses within the Charismatic/Pentecostal context. These seven emphases include:

1. Expectancy
2. Enchantment
3. Encounter
4. Expression
5. Equality
6. Empowerment
7. Enjoyment

Later in the book, a sentence defining a doctrine of mission encapsulates many of these themes, underscoring their interrelatedness: “The relational, sovereign, triune God is bringing Christ-centered, universal, transforming salvation to a loved, interrelated and broken humanity and a congruent, distinct, incomplete creation using a Spirit-led, hospitable, holy church that participates in a confronting, cooperating, and persevering mission to establish the already, not-yet, promised kingdom of God” (page 149, italics original). This densely packed statement comes alive for the reader after delving into the content preceding and following it.

Collins has eloquently captured the essence of my experiences in Charismatic/Pentecostal churches, articulating the elements I have yearned for and missed throughout the years. Reading and digesting her work is a gratifying experience, whether as an introduction to the movement or as a source of additional language for lifelong participants seeking to define and describe this beautiful tradition.