CONVERGENCE

This book is an attempt by its author to bring about a convergence of the emphasis on the word of God so often present in the evangelical wing of the church, and the emphasis on the Spirit of God and the gifts He brings which is present in charismatic church circles.  The book is a valiant effort to bring about a wedding of these two apparent extremes but in some ways is rather disappointing.  It begins with a heavily autobiographical section detailing the personal pilgrimage of the author.  He has in his own life found a wholeness and happy compatibility between a true Calvinist position theologically and experience of the Holy Spirit in His gift ministry, including a demonstrative, affectional relationship with God.  Obviously, his own experience has led him to engage in a ministry in both the evangelical and the charismatic sections of the church.  He alludes to the face that he has many friends in both ‘camps’ of the church who question his wisdom in seeking to live and minister in each.  He continues to uphold the truths of the sovereignty of God so central to the Calvinist position but has rejected the idea of the cessation of spiritual gifts that has been part of that doctrinal outlook.  The experience of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, of dreams and visions into which he has been led have thus brought him to value greatly the more complete appreciation of God and His ways which he enjoys.  In the book he examines the divide existing in the churches of the west between these two main strands of belief.  The caricatures each sometimes have of the other are considered and ways in which a union could be brought about are looked at.  Is it possible that word and Spirit, mind and affection and principle and passion could be wedded together is the burden of the central section of the book.  The final section emphasizes the fact that God still speaks today and in so doing does not set aside the canon of scripture.  The author sets out the balance of the more immediate activity of God’s speaking through dream, vision and prophecy with the general tenor of scripture and shows a helpful balance between the two.  Perhaps the disappointment mentioned above is the result of a realization that there really is a divide existing that ought not to be.  Also, it appears that there is un-willingness on both sides of that divide, to really listen the one to the other.  The polarization continues where union should be sought for the good of all.  Sam Storms’ book is a worthwhile read for those ready to be led of God into that large place which is the true inheritance of the Lord’s people.