Word, Spirit and Community: Operant Hermeneutics in Charismatic Preaching

Abstract

This research explores the hermeneutic and homiletic priorities of five Charismatic preachers through qualitative sermon analysis and in-depth interviews. These operant and espoused voices are considered in dialogue with formal and normative voices, providing robust analytical tools for reflection on Charismatic preaching.

The central hypothesis suggests that Charismatic preachers are attending to the Word, the Spirit and the Community in distinctive ways. To establish the broader context for these influences, the research considers the historical background of the Charismatic movement and considers Craig Keener’s Spirit Hermeneutics as a formal voice, providing a normative standard for pneumatic interpretation.

The fieldwork offers a rich description of the operant and espoused practices of the five preachers and generates data which serves to enrich and complexify the initial hypothesis. Whilst all preachers acknowledge the significance of the three dimensions, Charismatic emphases provide a unique shape to this triad. Four key themes arose from the empirical data that nuance the triadic model, opening rich avenues for theological reflection.

In relation to the Word, most of the preachers were adept at ‘bridging horizons’ in a way resonant with ‘Theological Interpretation of Scripture.’ This challenges the primacy of historical-critical methodologies and provides a framework to consider pre-critical interpretive models. Secondly, Charismatic preachers expand traditional Evangelical conceptions of the Gospel, advocating for a holistic Gospel that integrates a Kingdom emphasis alongside a crucicentric focus. In relation to the Spirit, Charismatic preachers adopt a unique approach to ‘prophetic preaching’, marked by timeliness, affectivity and authority. Finally, in relation to the community, Charismatic preachers are attending to the felt needs of their listeners, desiring to communicate in a way that impacts and fosters transformation. This resonates with some aspects of the ‘New Homiletic’, offering a broader context for Charismatic preachers to reflect on their practice.