I once heard that the reason we don’t hear more about the Holy Spirit is because He was to testify about Christ. Charismatic writings emphasize the Holy Spirit. Do you think charismatics speak too much about the Spirit and not enough about Christ?

Their emphasis is off. First, the idea that the Holy Spirit shuns attention because he is to testify about Christ, or to say that he is deliberately self-effacing, is speculative and a begging of the question. Second, the regularity and prominence with which he appears in Scripture would make such an explanation too simplistic. The Spirit puts himself on the very top of Genesis, prominently throughout Judges, the Kings and Chronicles, the Prophets, at the birth of Christ, the baptism of Christ, on the day of Pentecost, throughout the letters, and so on. However, the main attention still belongs to Christ and the Father. I believe that we should approximate the biblical proportion in our emphasis.

There are times to stress the Holy Spirit more, such as when he is especially misunderstood. Many years ago when I preached at a gathering, a lady said to me, “Is your holy spirit doing something to my holy spirit?” This showed me that it was time to teach on the Holy Spirit.

There is also the matter of prayer and worship offered to the Holy Spirit. It is said that because the Spirit is God, we should direct prayer and worship to him, and that we have really neglected to do so. I agree that the premise, that the Spirit is God, warrants the conclusion that he could receive prayer and worship, and it would not be idolatry to direct such to him. However, the proportion, emphasis, and examples in the Bible certainly cannot produce the conclusion that we should direct prayer and worship to the Spirit just as much as we do the Father or to Christ.