GOOD THING
The argument is always “look how devout they are”. As if religious devotion was proof charismatics were on the right track! Yet religiousness is not an exclusive charismatic trait. The ardors of devotion are also components of false religions. They stand on street corners, nock on doors, volunteer at soup kitchens, work with the homeless, minister to the third world, provide war and disaster relief and send missionaries.
Yet even its fiercest critics nurture the erroneous trust that the renewal has been a useful tool to bring lukewarm Catholics to enthusiastic devotion. There are a number of problems with this. First of all, positivism is a form of distorted reality. Secondly, we would have to take it for granted that a substantial charismatic presence in the various ministries is a good thing. But most importantly, we would have to ascertain that the charismatic movement itself is a good thing.
Being devoted to God is one thing; being deceived by Satan is another. Suppose the charismatic movement is a diabolical deception of Satan. Then the newfound charismatic devotion of formerly lukewarm Catholics would not be such a good thing after all. Think about it, how could filling the Church with people bound to Satan be a good thing?
