The Third Wave of Charismatic Christianity

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The Third Wave of Charismatic Christianity

The charismatic third wave was founded by C. Peter Wagner and John Wimber, and has since grown to be a worldwide phenomenon. Its ideas were initially tested in a highly controversial Fuller School of Missions course, and then spread through a core group of evangelicals. These evangelicals embraced Wagner’s ideas and were not limited to a particular denomination or theological orientation. They were able to cross denominational lines and the bitter divisions between evangelicalism and Pentecostalism.

The gospel accounts describe Jesus performing miracles in the name of God. But these miracles only occurred in the presence of Christ, and they were limited to healing the sick. His apostles never performed miracles, such as feeding the 5,000 or walking on water. They were given the power to heal the sick and raise the dead, but only after the Lord had risen. These miracles were to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, and to point to him as the messenger of God.

A charismatic Christian’s focus on evangelism and conversion, persisting in the faith of the saved, and facing the world’s demonic powers is the hallmark of a charismatic Christian. These Christians know they are engaged in a titanic end-times battle with demonic forces. While Satan and his demons are real, they have the power to rule entire nations, and they are actively seeking to prevent Christian evangelization of the world.