Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvanist

Let it be known that I am a HUGE fan of Sam Storms - he is placed on the top of my bookshelf along with my other favorite authors, along-side others like John Piper, Wayne Grudem, C.J. Mahaney, Mark Driscoll, and Jonathan Edwards. Having read his 4 latest books (many of his others are currently out of print, though I hear "Chosen by God" is being updated and re-released later this year), I must say that this is not his best. Yes, the content is good, and much needed, and ANYONE - and I do mean ANYONE - who is struggling to find their place in this spiritual world in the midsts of asking simultaneous questions about both the sovereignty of God and the proper practice of the spiritual gifts will have a lot to benefit from in reading this. However, if you're a skeptic of either, this book will not convince you. Personally, I would like to see Convergence put in the hands of an excellent editor, moving entire sections of the book around (ideally, following chapter 1, the last half of the book which addresses more doctrinal issues, would do well being moved towards the front, or interspersed between segments of Sam's personal story), and helping to clarify some sentances, and simply fixing a few grammatical errors, then reprinted in a second - updated edition. Apart from that, however, Storms is worth listening to, and this is still a worthy addition to your library, especially if you're asking the same questions that Sam is addressing here. p.s. - and afterward, if you haven't read "A Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts" or "Pleasures Evermore", you absolutely must. There are clearly Sam's best in-print work to date!

I wrote a commentary about two years ago, posted below, when I believed I was the only Christian in the world thinking along the lines of Charismatic Calvinism. This past summer I learned that not only am I not the only Charismatic Calvinist, but that the movement started over twenty years ago. I have been on my own journey toward the same conclusions explored in Convergence. This journey has often been one of discouragment, and loneliness. Convergence was very encouraging to me in this journey. It has clarified issues that I had already begun to understand, and given answers I didn't have yet. I strongly encourage you to buy this book. So many Christians need to read it, especially pastors. Hopefully my commentary here will help you understand the importance of Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist. The Charismatic movement and the Calvinist movement are two distinct halves of Christianity. Both are true in their own respects, but both are dead wrong in their rejection of each others' beliefs. The two need to come together to form a whole and complete Christianity. Only then will we have true New Testament Christianity. The real crux of this whole issue is twofold: 1) Cessationists acknowledge that the church is built on the foundation laid down by the ministry of apostles and prophets as spelled out in the New Testament. However, they insist that this foundation was laid at a singular point in history (during the NT period) and is in no way continual or constant. Charismatics insist that it is continual through the church age. 2) Charismatics acknowledge that God laid the foundation of the church further through the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. However, the Reformation is little more than a historical fact to them. Charismatics have no more desire for the Reformation to be a living reality in their lives than cessationists desire for the gifts of the Spirit in their lives. Calvinists insist that the proclamation of the gospel, and Christianity proper, requires the continual laying down of the same foundation stones laid by Luther, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli, et al, until Christ returns. So, how do you convince a Calvinist that the foundation laid down by apostles and prophets must be laid continually in every generation and in every local church? And how do you convince a Charismatic that the work of the Reformation must continue in the same way? It is clear that the Holy Spirit is leading His church through this convergence. Charismatics must become Calvinists, and Calvinists must become Charismatics. Generations from now, students of church history will read about the current rift in history books. As much as I hate cessationism, I think that, overall, Charismaticism is beset with many more problems than Calvinism. Yes, Calvinists need more of the power of the Holy Spirit, and more affection towards the Lord. But the errors of trichotomy and the separation of the 'heart' and 'mind', are integral to Chari

This is a great book. Sam Storms has shown that a passion for Truth and a desire for experiential manifestations of the Truth are not at odds with one another, at least they should not be. Storms shares some absolutely amazing in-breaking(s) of the Kingdom of God that he has witnessed that should encourage all believers alike. If you are reformed in your soteriology and think that this means you must be a cessationist, think again. Storms is a gift to the body of Christ. Storms is one of those individuals whom God in His providence is using to help unite the body of Christ. If you have been blessed by Grudem, Piper, and Mahaney than I think that you will be blessed by the writings of this man who has a passion for the supremacy of God in all things.