The charismatic movement has brought great expectation into the church and a return to the standpoint of the apostles in the book of Acts, who expected God to move in power, bring people to faith in Jesus, and see healings and lives transformed. However, in many charismatic churches the emphasis is on `me' - on my needs, on my own experience of God. Many of our songs are focused on `I', as the subject is often `me and God' In Holy Spirit Radicals, Arani Sen argues that although we need this encounter with God, we also need renewal. In the book of Acts there are stories of whole communities being changed, of the excluded being included, of the barriers of prejudice and racism being broken down, of the poor and marginalised being cared for. Holy Spirit Radicals is about the church growing - a church for all people, regardless of background, race, ethnicity, social status or gender. It's also about the Holy Spirit permeating all areas of life and society, especially where there is need for social and personal transformation.
