Late twentieth-century third-wave charismatic church movement founded by John Wimber in 1982 (the formal split from Calvary Chapel over charismatic gifts occurred 1982-1983). Wimber, a former Quaker, had been associated with Calvary Chapel and developed the Vineyard's distinctive blend of contemporary worship, signs-and-wonders ministry, and a softer charismatic style than classical Pentecostalism. The movement's principal distinctives include (1) power evangelism — Wimber's teaching that gospel proclamation should be integrated with signs, wonders, healings, and prophetic ministry (his book Power Evangelism, 1986); (2) ongoing prophetic gifts as normative for the contemporary church; (3) kingdom theology — an emphasis on the already-not-yet of the kingdom as the framework for understanding contemporary miraculous ministry; (4) contemporary worship music (the Vineyard worship style has been enormously influential through Vineyard Music Group and the broader contemporary-worship-music industry); (5) the controversial Toronto Blessing (1994 outpouring at Toronto Airport Vineyard, with manifestations of uncontrolled laughter, animal sounds, and other physical phenomena; the Toronto church was eventually expelled from the Vineyard Association). The Reformed-confessional response is mixed. The Vineyard's softer charismatic style and influential worship music has gained sympathy in some Reformed-evangelical circles; the third-wave continuationist theology, the Toronto Blessing, and the broader signs-and-wonders practices have been sharply critiqued by cessationist Reformed voices (MacArthur, Gaffin) and more mildly by sober continuationist Reformed voices (Grudem, who has been generally sympathetic to Vineyard).
Late 20th-c. third-wave charismatic church movement founded by John Wimber in 1982; power evangelism, prophetic gifts, contemporary worship music, Toronto Blessing controversy; mixed Reformed reception.
VINEYARD MOVEMENT, n. (contemporary ecclesial movement; founded 1982 by John Wimber) Late 20th-c. third-wave charismatic church movement. Wimber (former Quaker, formerly associated with Calvary Chapel) developed the Vineyard's blend of contemporary worship, signs-and-wonders ministry, softer charismatic style. Principal distinctives: (1) power evangelism (Wimber's Power Evangelism, 1986); (2) ongoing prophetic gifts; (3) kingdom theology (already-not-yet framework); (4) contemporary worship music (enormously influential through Vineyard Music Group); (5) controversial Toronto Blessing (1994 Toronto Airport Vineyard outpouring; manifestations of laughter, animal sounds; Toronto eventually expelled from Vineyard Association). Reformed response: mixed.
Matthew 7:22-23 — "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 — "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
1 Thessalonians 5:21 — "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
1 John 4:1 — "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Vineyard Movement combines third-wave charismatic theology with contemporary worship; the Toronto Blessing manifestations and broader signs-and-wonders practices have been sharply critiqued by Reformed-confessional voices.
The Vineyard Movement's softer charismatic style and influential contemporary worship music have produced a mixed Reformed reception. On one hand, the Vineyard's emphasis on the already-not-yet kingdom framework, its avoidance of the most extreme Pentecostal excesses, and its substantial contribution to contemporary worship music have gained sympathy in some Reformed-evangelical circles. On the other hand, the third-wave continuationist theology, the prophetic-gift practices, and the controversial 1994 Toronto Blessing (with its manifestations of uncontrolled laughter, animal sounds, and other physical phenomena) have been sharply critiqued by cessationist Reformed voices (MacArthur, Gaffin) and more mildly by sober continuationist Reformed voices.
The patriarchal-Reformed reader engages the Vineyard Movement with discernment. The contemporary worship music produced through Vineyard Music Group has substantively shaped global evangelical worship for four decades; some of this music is biblically sound and edifying, some is theologically thin or charismatically loaded. The third-wave continuationist theology underlying the movement is rejected by cessationist Reformed voices and held with sharp critique of excess by sober continuationist Reformed voices. The Toronto Blessing manifestations should be evaluated by 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (prove all things; hold fast that which is good) and 1 John 4:1 (try the spirits whether they are of God). The patriarchal-Reformed reader navigates this landscape with biblical-confessional clarity, retaining what is genuinely edifying and rejecting what is biblically unsupported or excessive.
Founded 1982 by John Wimber; third-wave charismatic; power evangelism; contemporary worship music; Toronto Blessing.
['English', '—', 'Vineyard', "movement name (from Wimber's original church name)"]
['English', '—', 'John Wimber', 'founder (1934-1997)']
['English', '—', 'Toronto Blessing', '1994 Toronto Airport Vineyard controversy']
"Vineyard Movement: late 20th-c. third-wave charismatic church movement."
"Founded by John Wimber 1982; power evangelism, contemporary worship music."
"Toronto Blessing 1994 controversy; mixed Reformed reception."