Is there a such thing as Calvinistic Pentecostals?

I have grown up in a Pentecostal church all my life, and for the past four years I have almost driven myself to insanity trying to figure out what I believe. I believe in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but I also believe in the doctrine of Sovereign Grace. The problem is that I don't know of any church or preacher that believe's in both. Maybe Paul Washer, or John Piper (I don't know for sure), but does anyone know of any?

I remember hearing Paul Washer speak of his younger years when the Spirit of God would fall on congregations when he preached...

He also said he almost died spiritually trying to live off the memories of past experiences rather than going to God for present revelations of Himself.

A lot of what those who would identify themselves as "charismatic" usually have a reformed background of some sort. Of course, this is not always the case. But, such individuals as Art Katz were reformed in their theology in regards to salvation, but Pentecostal in view of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts.

Yes, there is such a thing.

C.J. Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries would be the most prominent example.

I actually visited the congregation in Crestview, FL a few years ago.

www.sovgracemin.org

Hi Timmy,

I think that an answer might be difficult to find simply because there are varying definitions for the words "Calvinist" and "Pentecostal."

I don't know many "calvinists" who embrace EVERY last tenant of Calvinism. In addition, I know some believers who reject the gifts of the Spirit who still consider themselves to be "Pentecostal." Even the extent in view regarding the "doctrine of Sovereign Grace" tends to vary from person-to-person and fellowship-to-fellowship. Do you see the difficulty with answering a question like the one found in the title of this thread?

That said: I do know some people who consider themselves "classical Pentecostals" who embrace at least some elements of Calvinist ideology. In fact, I attended a men's Bible study breakfast with a couple of Calvary Chapel congregations on Saturday. The speaker seemed to embrace some aspects of Calvinist thought. However, I have attended some Calvary Chapel congregations that held to the opposite view on the matter.

I agree with King Jimmy in that most "classical Pentecostal" fellowships tend to reject most of the tenants of Calvinism. As far as Paul Washer and John Piper are concerned, you might shoot them an email and ask about the extent of their views in regard to both Calvinism and Pentecostalism.

[b]I received a private message asking for more information on Sovereign Grace Ministries. I thought my response may be helpful to all, so here you go:[/b]

Thanks for the message.

Honestly, I didn't know they were charismatic at the time. I just liked C.J. Mahaney and knew that he was one of the leaders of that fellowship of churches. But, I've since learned more about them.

They have a traditional, historic understanding of the Five Points of Calvinism.

They have a much more physically expressive worship than you would typically find in a Reformed Presbyterian/Baptist church.

They believe in the continuing role of the gifts of the Spirit. Here is an excerpt from their statement of faith: "All the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the church of the first-century are available today, are vital for the mission of the church, and are to be earnestly desired and practiced."

That being said, they do believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit is received at the time of conversion.

They are Baptist in terms of the application of actual Baptism - they do not baptize infants.

I hope this helps you get a better feel for what they are like.

From my experience, they will be very sound on the gospel, loving, and very serious students of the Scripture.

With care in Christ,
Taylor

Piper's sermons on the gifts of the Spirit definitely seem to show his church to be charismatic reformed. Also, the guys who run the Reformation Theology website have written articles to the effect that they too are charismatic reformed. Sovereign Grace Ministries is definitely that. Me too.

However in modern practice more Pentecostals are becoming more open to OSAS type views. This view is rife within Charismatic Protestant circles.

A lot of this is probably due to the charismatic renewal movement of the 1960's causing a theological blur of sorts. Pentecostals, as you say, were historically Wesleyean/Arminian, and their experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit pretty much kept them isolated in their own little respective camps. But when people with other theological persuasions began to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit, this sort of opened classical Pentecostals to other theologies, and vice versa.

At my own church, though we have many people who have been Pentecostal most of their adult Christian lives, we've seen a lot of individuals coming from other theological persuasions. Indeed, I would say we have almost as many people in our church with a S. Baptist view of salvation as people who hold to an Arminian view. Thankfully, we all get along and there hasn't been a rift in the church. The love of God shed abroad in our hearts has kept us from biting and devouring one another :-)

One of the more popular systematic theologians of today who is definitely a Calvinist is Wayne Grudem. He is charismatic/pentecostal.

One of the more popular systematic theologians of today who is definitely a Calvinist is Wayne Grudem. He is charismatic/pentecostal.

Indeed. As it is, I believe most of the Evangelical church is becoming Pentecostal/Charismatic. Many even within dispensational theologies, which have almost always been cessationist, have started warming up to Pentecostal/Charismatic theologies.

Thanks for all the feedback. I checked out Sovereign Grace Ministries, I might go visit the church in Crestview. I also did some reading on Piper and Grudem. It is very exciting to see believers who hold to reformed doctrine and believe in experiencing the power of God.

Thanks again,
TimmyJoe

I was raised Pentecostal (Assembly of God) and even attended an Assembly of God university (Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL) and I am Reformed and have been for five years now. I am coming back to more of a Pentecostal pneumatology although I have gone through phases where I was technically Charismatic and Third Wave. John Piper is my favorite preacher. It was Piper and Wayne Grudem that convinced me of the doctrines of grace outside of the Bible. I like the multicultural emphasis in Pentecostalism. I think the Reformed camp could really learn a lot from Pentecostalism in that area. I also like Francis Chan, Louie Giglio, Michael Youssef, David Platt, and Sam Storms. As far as I know all of these men are Reformed in soteriology and continuationist when it comes to spiritual gifts.

Other well known Reformed continuationists would include:

Mark Driscoll
Tim Keller
Tope Koleoso
Adrian Warnock
Joshua Harris
Ed Stetzer
Beth Moore
Priscilla Shirer

And a few that have questionable theology in certain areas (at least from the perspective of some) that would include:

RT Kendall
Rick Warren
Tony Evans
Andy Stanley
John Wimber

And some recording artists such as:

Mandisa
Shane & Shane
Kirk Franklin (Tony Evans is his pastor)
Lecrae
Mainstay
Chris Tomlin
Kristian Stanfill
Fee
Christy Nockels
Anthony Evans

I'm sure that I've left out someone but these are some of the people that I have been encouraged by over the last few years. There is one man that I know of that embraced the Pentecostal label and was also Reformed. His name was Ern Baxter. There is a very good sermon that he preached that you can listen to on YouTube called "The Eagle Christian".

Also, check into the following organizations:

Sovereign Grace Ministries
NewFrontiers International
Acts 29
Association of Vineyard Churches (As I understand it, a good number of Vineyard churches hold to what amounts to a Reformed soteriology as something they call "living in the tension", a reference to their views on the Kingdom of God that were influenced by the Reformed theologian George Eldon Ladd.)

Indeed. As it is, I believe most of the Evangelical church is becoming Pentecostal/Charismatic. Many even within dispensational theologies, which have almost always been cessationist, have started warming up to Pentecostal/Charismatic theologies.

I know of a couple of notable examples. Tony Evans is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary which is a Cessationist Dispensationalist seminary. But, Evans is sort of Bapticostal. He said in a book that I flipped through a few years ago that he believes in speaking in tongues and prophecy and all of that and that it's for today.

The other example is Francis Chan. He went to John MacArthur's Bible college but in his book on the Holy Spirit "Forgotten God", he says that while he was in Bible college, he was filled with the Spirit at a Charismatic prayer group.

Hi,

We have here in Sweden one calvinistic Pentacostal church.
They belong to the pentacostal movement here but hold to reformed doctrines.

The original Charismatics were the Puritans.

They were very "feeling" and "personal experience" based and still are.

You see it in all of their writings. Do you want examples?

In Christ,
Sarah