Mark Tanner: The Introvert Charismatic

Mark Tanner, The Introvert Charismatic: The Gift of Introversion in a Noisy Church (Oxford, England, Monarch Books, 2015), 224 pages, ISBN 9780857215888.

A number of years ago I read Adam McHugh’s book Introverts in the Church and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found it to be very insightful and helpful. It helped me to better understand myself, because I am an introvert. When I learned that there was a book about introverted charismatics this captured my interest. While the context of both books is the church, this present volume brings the discussion at little bit closer to home for me. For almost forty years I have spent the majority of my church life in Pentecostal churches or churches that were open to the charismatic gifts.

The author, Reverend Mark Tanner, is Warden of Cranmer Hall in Durham. He has been a participant in the New Wine ministry in the United Kingdom; this ministry is charismatic in nature. So he writes not merely as an observer of the Charismatic Movement but rather as a participant.

Rev. Tanner poses an interesting question in the preface of the book. He writes “Is introversion a sin to be forgiven, an illness to be healed, or some kind of oppression to be defeated?” (page 14). He promptly answers these questions by saying “I have come to believe that introversion is none of those things. It is a creation gift. It is part of the image of God” (page 14). He goes on to say that becoming a Christian did not cause him to have another foot, become a girl, nor did it turn him into an extrovert (page 15).

In chapter 2, the author discusses characteristics of introverts, these include: drawing strength from the inner world, having a desire for reflection, and working well by themselves (page 32). He also dispels some common misunderstandings or misconceptions that people have about introverts. Tanner tells us that introverts are not necessarily shy, antisocial, arrogant, inarticulate, or self-sufficient.

Chapter 3 looks at introversion in the Bible. The author admits that it is not really helpful to try to identify introverts in the biblical text; however, he does identify traits that introverts typically have which are found in the lives of a number of biblical characters. He offers a very limited number of examples. He mentions: Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Paul, and Martha and Mary.

Tanner defines what he means by “charismatic” in chapter 4. He sees a charismatic as a Christian who walks in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, who seeks to do the works that Jesus commanded by the power of the Spirit, and does them for the glory of the Father (page 83). Writing as a member of the British church he feels that this understanding of “charismatic” is more general than the view held in North America (page 72).

Chapters 6 through 8 focus on the challenges and benefits that introverts can experience within the charismatic movement. Challenges for introverts include, the loudness of the meetings and the highly social dynamics of the gatherings (page 123). The fact that an introvert typically does not feel comfortable with these things and does not completely enter into the demonstrative part of the meetings can cause a sense of guilt in them (page 123). On the positive side, the charismatic movement can draw an introvert out of both their comfort zone and themselves, give them a greater faith perspective, and provide a place where they can share the gifts that God has given to them.

Chapter 9 lists a number of contributions that introverts can make to the charismatic movement these include: a familiarity and comfort with the inner world, practicing reflection, offering space to wrestle with questions, offering space to others to engage with God, listening and taking note of things, a desire for the heart of God, and the practice of searching for wisdom.

In chapter 10 the author lists steps, or courses of action, that introverts can take to help themselves grow as Christian introverts. He calls these things “Six Steps Towards Fullness of life.” The growth of the introvert will not only help them as an individual, it will also benefit the other believers that he or she interacts with.

If you are an introvert you may very well see yourself in this book, I know I did. When the author mentioned the uneasiness that introverts feel when the leader of a meeting decides that everyone there should do something very outward and demonstrative I could relate to that uneasiness. The book is very honest and fair. It not only describes what an introvert is, but it mentions both the strengths and weaknesses of introverts. While one may think of introverts as being the fearful ones the author also mentions the fears of extroverts. Introverts are not better than extroverts and extroverts are not better introverts, we compliment one another. I think that this book could be helpful to both introverts and extroverts in understanding “how the other half lives.” One thing that this book makes clear is that one can be an introvert and a charismatic!

Reviewed by John Lathrop

Publisher’s page: http://www.lionhudson.com/display.asp?k=9780857215888

Preview The Introvert Charismatic: https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Introvert_Charismatic.html?id=rO5CBgAAQBAJ