I well remember the beginning of that world-wide marvellous outpouring of God's Holy Spirit in the late 50's and early 60's which became known as the charismatic renewal. It was indeed that very movement of the Spirit which propelled me back into the ordained ministry in the early 70's, having been a dropout for some ten years.

Of the many renewal books I read at the time, Cardinal Sunen's work entitled A New Pentecost touched me deeply. In those days, I began to see and truly feel that God's plan for his people was in fact to experience a new Pentecost so that the Holy Spirit does not remain simply a matter of doctrine, enshrined in creeds and doctrinal statements, but rather a living experience in the lives of believers.

At the very outset of his own ministry, Jesus was described as returning from his wilderness experience "filled with the power of the Holy Spirit" (Luke 4:14). St. Paul also in his writings strongly recommends that we be filled with the Holy Spirit. In fact, he goes on to encourage us not to "quench the Spirit or grieve the Spirit, and certainly not to fear the Spirit."

In many of my travels across Canada I have discovered in parts of the Church I love and serve that there is some fear of simply letting go and letting God's Spirit take over. In fact, you may have heard an old adage. Who wrote these words, I don't know, but they go something like this:

There was an old man who said run
The end of the world has begun
The old Holy Ghost is the one I fear most
I can handle the Father and the Son

In my travels I've also noted some misunderstanding about spiritual gifts in the Church and I would certainly echo Paul's sentiments in his letter to the church he planted in Corinth, "And now about spiritual gifts, my friends, I want there to be no misunderstanding" (1 Cor. 12:1). I am convinced that in Paul's letters, including the old 'red herring' of speaking in tongues, are for today. The spiritual gifts, especially the so-called gifts of power such as tongues, healing and prophecy, should be treated as tools to build up and revitalize the body of Christ. If there is proper and sensitive teaching about these gifts and if they are introduced in a loving caring manner, there is no need for division, spiritual elitism or power trips. In my opinion, its all a matter of how teaching on the charisms is done, but it does indeed call for sensitivity, love and much prayer.

I think that the symbol of the Holy Spirit in God's word which speaks to me most vividly is that of the wind. We all know how the wind is terribly unpredictable and, when allowed to blow freely, something always happens. What happens won't always be neat and tidy, safe and secure in nice cosy ecclesiastical compartments. When the wind blows, things do get a little bit disturbed and, if you are a control freak, as I have been at times, you can become somewhat threatened.

On the other hand, I have always found the Spirit of God to be also a gentle Spirit and, if we are truly prepared to let God have his way, his Spirit will truly begin to rekindle the flame in the beautiful fireplace of Anglicanism. As time goes on, and God leads me into my new ministry of Ambassador with ARM, I would be most delighted to come and share with you some of my experiences within the charismatic renewal and how God may help you and others become truly alive and experience a "New Pentecost" in this Third Millennium.

The Rt. Rev. Malcolm Harding
Bishop, Diocese of Brandon
Episcopal Visitor to ARM