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I am a practicing Roman Catholic. Does the Charismatic church recognize Sacraments? What are the main Theological differences between the two churches? Does the church have a hierarchy? What Protestant denomination is the Charismatic church closest to?

To my knowledge there is not a formal organization known as the "Charismatic Church." Rather, the term "charismatic" is taken from the apostle Paul's use of the word in 1 Corinthians 12:4 that refers to the "gifts of God's grace" for use in the church.

In today's terminology, the term "charismatic" is used to refer to any person who believes that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are active in the church today. Usually such persons exercise one or more of those gifts for the sake of edifying the body of Christ.

There is a "charismatic" renewal movement in the Roman Cathollic church as well as most of the churches of the Reformation. In such instances the normal liturgical practices of those churches are followed.

In the early 20th century there emerged a number of denominations known as "Pentecostals" that accepted that the gifts of the Spirit are still active in the body of Christ. These groups developed from several Protestant denominations such as the Methodist and Baptist, and usually carried over the church government and worship practices of their origins.

Most Pentecostals are accepted as full members within Protestanism and many Pentecostals have good relationships with Roman Catholic charismatics.

Speaking in tongues is a characteristic of Pentecostals and charismatics and is based on Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 14. Sometimes the language is a known language (not to the speaker but to the hearer) but usually the language is an unknown language, sometimes called a "heavenly language." One purpose of speaking in tongues is that the Holy Spirit searches our inner person and conveys in prayer
to our Father things that we cannot consciously speak. In this sense, there is a therapeutic purpose as well as other purposes related to edifying the body of Christ.

For more information I refer you to two books that are available through amazon.com: 1) Plugged In To God's Power by Doug Beacham (Charisma House, 2002) and 2) The Century of the Holy Spirit by Vinson Synan (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001). Both books provide a good historical overview of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement including information about the Roman Catholic Charismatic Movement.

Thanks for your question and God bless you.

Doug Beacham
Executive Director
World Missions Ministries



		I am a practicing Roman Catholic. Does the Charismatic church recognize Sacraments? What are the main Theological differences between the two churches? Does the church have a hierarchy? What Protestant denomination is the Charismatic church closest to? To my knowledge there is not a formal organization known as the "Charismatic Church." Rather, the term "charismatic" is taken from the apostle Paul's use of the word in 1 Corinthians 12:4 that refers to the "gifts of God's grace" for use in the church. In today's terminology, the term "charismatic" is used to refer to any person who believes that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are active in the church today. Usually such persons exercise one or more of those gifts for the sake of edifying the body of Christ. There is a "charismatic" renewal movement in the Roman Cathollic church as well as most of the churches of the Reformation. In such instances the normal liturgical practices of those churches are followed. In the early 20th century there emerged a number of denominations known as "Pentecostals" that accepted that the gifts of the Spirit are still active in the body of Christ. These groups developed from several Protestant denominations such as the Methodist and Baptist, and usually carried over the church government and worship practices of their origins. Most Pentecostals are accepted as full members within Protestanism and many Pentecostals have good relationships with Roman Catholic charismatics. Speaking in tongues is a characteristic of Pentecostals and charismatics and is based on Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 14. Sometimes the language is a known language (not to the speaker but to the hearer) but usually the language is an unknown language, sometimes called a "heavenly language." One purpose of speaking in tongues is that the Holy Spirit searches our inner person and conveys in prayer to our Father things that we cannot consciously speak. In this sense, there is a therapeutic purpose as well as other purposes related to edifying the body of Christ. For more information I refer you to two books that are available through amazon.com: 1) Plugged In To God's Power by Doug Beacham (Charisma House, 2002) and 2) The Century of the Holy Spirit by Vinson Synan (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001). Both books provide a good historical overview of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement including information about the Roman Catholic Charismatic Movement. Thanks for your question and God bless you. Doug Beacham Executive Director World Missions Ministries


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