I recently got to know someone from a Charismatic church lately. She was cool and normal when we said hi, and then when I told her I attend church too, her character somehow transformed into an overwhelmingly loving and adoring sister-in-Christ, saying Amen to everything I said, as if suddenly some veil had been stripped off and Christianese was the common language between the two of us.

I'm not wanting to be provocative by writing that. I have my roots in a Charismatic Church. My dad's Charismatic, his family's very charismatic (there are pastors, counsellors and all). And yet even though her husband's Christian, my mum, well, my mum wouldn't have anything to do with Christianity thanks to the overwhelming emphasis on living the Spirit life, and was driven to the very last end of the backsliders association board room, arms folded with pursed lips. Sort of the reason why my parents are not together anymore.

Anyway before I get tempted to play the blame game, I must admit that I do adore the Charismatics, and by nature I am very charismatic. To put it mildly, had I not have my roots in charismaticism, I probably wouldn't have been able to relate to the figure of God as a real person, the presence of the Holy Spirit as utterly real and that Jesus Christ really lived, died, lived again. All of those stuff just would have been very textbook to me, just information for me to digest… so for me, being Christian requires a good fistful of charismaticism in order to truly embrace and welcome the heavy weight that comes with all that persecution that Christians are required to endure.

But being Charismatic in nature doesn't explicitly mean there is a requirement for me to attend a Church that embraces the Spirit only when it is bursting in flames. This is where I choose to deliberately become provocative, so if you're attending a Church that claims to be 'more spirit-filled' than another, be warned. You can stop reading now.

So back to my new friend from the very Charismatic church. I recall quite clearly telling her how being busy at work, family and extra-work activities didn't mean I had to sacrifice my spiritual life, and how the human body is made for such extraordinary capacities, I felt it was necessary to push myself as much as possible to make use of God-given time in the best way that I can.

'Wow! You're Christian too, do you attend church? I attend church too, it's XXXX XXXXXXX, its very very charismatic.'

And then she transformed from the prim and proper lady with crossed legs and straight back to someone who was now genuinely interested in what I thought about Christ. Legs now uncrossed, with a different kind of energy pumped into her being, she asked, 'SO where do you attend service?'

'I go to a church near my office, BLC, you know it? Yah. I've been there for a while now.'

'Really? Is it very charismatic too?' Said my new friend, hands flying all over the place.

'You could say that we're charismatically sound. Wait, what do you mean very charismatic?'
'You know,' she said, eyes sparkling. 'VERY CHARISMATIC. We have the holy spirit in us.'

'Oh that, yah He's here. Yah we are.'
'Oh AMEN! So where do you serve in church? '

'Well, whereever I can whenever they need me. I don't always get to attend Sunday service because I'm so busy,' I said. 'My job's in PR, plus I'm also here quite often.'

'How many days? I'm in the nursery, Children's ministry, youth (lost her somewhere here…), It's so busy lah…'
'Wow. So you can't find to do other things?'
'I don't think its necessary.'
'Well, you know we were not called to served in the church. We're called to serve the world.'
'Hahahaha…Amen, amen… so funny hahaha.'

Excuse me but did I say something wrong there?

'Anyway honestly, I feel what I'm doing at work, here, at the church, it's all answering His call,' I said in an attempt to 'speak her language'.

'Amen!'
'You get what I mean right?'
'Amen amen! Praise to God!'
'Okay..'
'Hahaha Amen!'

Eh hello, cannot say 'yes' is it?'

See this is what I seriously don't get, why is it NECESSARY to transform into some Christianese blurting weirdo when you meet up with Christians? Is it NECESSARY to be different in demeanour and language and say yes in Hebrew in order to qualify to be one of His children? And seriously, WHATEVER happened to being out there for people, salt of the world? Since when did Jesus come to save only Christians and therefore serving in ministry means only serving in the church?

Actually, I did say that last line to her, that I don't believe that ministry means only serving in the church, and that's why I make it a point to ensure my walk in Christ is extended to the people at work, most of whom are non-Christians.

'OH YOU'RE SPREADING THE GOSPEL IN THE WORK PLACE! Amen, amen hopefully more people will come to know Christ as personal saviour.'

-_-"

Lost cause. Sorry hoh, I just had to sound condescending and unChristian, kay?