From the 1980s to the early 2000s, churches in the Chinese mainland experienced a period of remarkable growth. During those two decades, the Charismatic movement—in particular—entered what many describe as its "explosive phase." In both rural and urban churches, practices such as "speaking in tongues," "visions," and "healing and exorcism" became widely pursued as marks of spiritual vitality.
Yet decades later, that once-fiery movement has significantly contracted and become increasingly marginalized. In some churches and among some believers, "Charismatic" has even become synonymous with "extreme" or "dangerous."
Pastor Chen, who has served in a northern Chinese city for many years, witnessed these developments firsthand. Looking back, he feels a deep need to reflect on this journey.
In Pastor Chen's view, the Charismatic movement gained rapid traction in the Chinese mainland—especially in rural areas—because it offered emotional immediacy, experiential spirituality, and a highly energized communal atmosphere. It broke through the rigid, formulaic patterns that characterized many traditional gatherings at the time. Through these Charismatic experiences, many Chinese Christians felt, for the first time, that their faith was "real," personal, and alive.
But without the guardrails of sound teaching and spiritual maturity, such fervor could easily veer into extremism. The side effects of extreme Charismatic practices, he argues, ended up far outweighing their short-lived benefits—and some of the damage continues to haunt Chinese churches even today.
When Passion Turns Dangerous: The Human Cost Behind the Fervor
One woman—a respected, mild-mannered schoolteacher—attended several extreme Charismatic meetings out of town. She began obsessively pursuing tongue-speaking and being "slain in the Spirit." Her behavior became erratic, her speech incoherent, and eventually she lost emotional control altogether. Her family had no choice but to hospitalize her.
Cases like this occurred across the country. Pastor Chen once saw a participant, overwhelmed after a meeting, jump uncontrollably and grab low-hanging electrical wires in a rural home—ancient wiring whose insulation was dangerously worn. What some interpreted as "the Spirit's power" could have ended in immediate tragedy.
In another incident, a man collapsed during a service. Because it was a Charismatic meeting, people shouted, "Don't touch him—it's the Holy Spirit at work!" Only after a long time, when he remained motionless, did someone check on him. His body was already cold. Doctors later confirmed he had died of sudden heart failure.
"These are not manifestations of the Holy Spirit," Pastor Chen says. "They are emotional overload, collective suggestion, and the loss of self-control." Far from glorifying God, such incidents made churches appear irrational and reckless, reinforcing negative stereotypes and bringing dishonor to God's name.
When Leaders Fall: The Moral Costs of Extremism
Another recurring problem in extreme Charismatic circles, Pastor Chen observed, is moral instability among leaders. "In my experience," he said, "seven or eight out of ten core promoters of extreme charismatic practices eventually fall into financial misconduct or sexual immorality."
Without grounding in Scripture, spiritual formation, or true godliness, the movement's emphasis shifted disproportionately toward feelings, visions, and displays of power, while neglecting the cross of Christ. Over time, emotional manipulation and personal charisma replaced biblical authority.
One leader, initially passionate and gifted, gradually became obsessed with expanding his personal influence. Financial irregularities surfaced, and it was later revealed that he had engaged in an extramarital affair with a married church member.
Such scandals were not rare—and when they happened, the pattern was predictable: quiet internal "handling," followed by the individual resurfacing elsewhere to start again.
The Escalation Pattern: From Tongues to Rejecting Medical Treatment
Pastor Chen notes another hallmark of extreme Charismatic movements: an incessant need for escalation. Like drinking or even addiction, people soon require ever-stronger stimuli to experience the same excitement. It may begin with tongues and ecstatic dancing, then progress to collapsing, visions, deliverance rituals, or apocalyptic predictions. In the most extreme cases, people refuse medical treatment altogether, insisting on "divine healing" alone.
Across China, tragedies occurred—families abandoned proper treatment for sick relatives, resulting in preventable deaths; believers developed severe psychological disorders from the pursuit of supernatural experiences; and congregations descended into fear and chaos due to end-times speculation.
Pastor Chen argues that the root issue is a neglect of biblical truth. Many Charismatic groups downplay doctrine and elevate subjective experience. Believers lack discernment and are easily attracted by novel practices. This anti-intellectual tendency often leads to rejection of traditional teachings and doctrine—dismissed as "dead rules"—and elevates personal revelations above Scripture. Anyone who questions or exercises discernment is quickly labeled "faithless" or "quenching the Spirit," while a spiritual elitism emerges around those with dramatic experiences. This hierarchy of "super-spirituality" damages community life and contributes to division, pride, and shame among those who feel they cannot measure up.
Toward a Healthy Church: Rethinking the Charismatic Legacy
True work of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Chen emphasized, does not produce chaos but bears the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits require time, discipline, and deep roots in truth.
Miracles and signs are indeed part of God's work—but they are not its center. The heart of the Christian faith is Jesus Christ and him crucified. When believers shift their focus from Christ to experiences, the results are inevitably distorted.
To build healthy churches, Pastor Chen suggests four priorities. First, churches must return to Scripture, making God's word the final standard for faith and practice. Systematic teaching helps believers develop discernment and a firm foundation. Second, churches must balance the word and the Spirit, recognizing that the Spirit is the Spirit of truth who leads believers into truth. Third, believers must cultivate daily spiritual disciplines, understanding that genuine faith grows through perseverance, not momentary excitement. Fourth, churches must form accountable, spiritually mature leadership teams—leaders who possess not only zeal but also biblical grounding, integrity, and lives that reflect the gospel.
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited and translated by Elena Li
