John Collins and John Garvey discuss the strange evolution of Britain’s charismatic movement—from early Anglican involvement and university-era enthusiasm to the influence of Dennis Bennett, the Full Gospel Businessmen, and later John Wimber and the Kansas City Prophets. Garvey recounts firsthand experiences with failed prophecies, emotional manipulation, and the slow shift from Scripture-centered worship toward experience-driven spirituality. Together they trace how charismatic practices crossed the Atlantic, blended with British evangelical respectability, and created an environment where prophecy, spiritual gifts, and experiential worship were welcomed without adequate discernment.
The conversation also explores how worship music, emotional highs, and the rise of celebrity “worship leaders” reshaped the culture of local churches, paving the way for modern movements tied to Bethel, Hillsong, and NAR-style theology. John and Garvey unpack concerns over the Alpha Course’s “Holy Spirit weekend,” imported American revivalism, the diminishing role of biblical teaching, and how addictive emotional experiences can blur the line between genuine faith and spiritual counterfeits. The discussion exposes the long arc that connects historical Pentecostalism to today’s global charismatic trends.
- Introduction
- Early British Evangelicalism and First Charismatic Encounters
- Failed Prophecy, Revival Claims, and Early Warning Signs
- From Revival History to Experience-Driven Theology
- Dennis Bennett, Anglican Renewal, and Institutional Legitimacy
- John Wimber, Kansas City Prophets, and the Turning Point
- Worship Music, Emotional Reinforcement, and Church Culture
- Toronto Blessing, Alpha Course, and Long-Term Impact
- Authority, Abuse, and the Modern Charismatic Landscape
- Closing Reflections on Discernment and Scripture
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