This #StrangeFire conference has exposed some serious issues in the Church. As I see it, we (both cessationists and charismatics) love to make sweeping generalizations about what EVERY Christian ought to do in EVERY situation. Our fundamental problem is not charismatics obsession with parlor tricks, carried out in the name of Jesus; and its not cessationists refusal to celebrate what they cannot understand--our fundamental problem is a RELIGIOUS SPIRIT. This religious spirit seeks to create a uniform Christianity that can be applied, mindlessly, throughout the entire Church. It hates diversity in the Kingdom and the uniqueness of expression that could make our churches so dynamic and eclectic. That religious spirit (carried by both charismatics and cessationists) is seeking to remove Holy Spirit from the equation altogether, and create a formula for Christianity that can be replicated, controlled, and marketed safely and without unexpected incident. But, let me tell you this: Every victory God won for Israel was different from the last. From the plagues in Egypt to marching around the walls of Jericho, from God stopping the sun from moving so Joshua could continue fighting, to Gideons 300 finding a very unlikely victory; from a little boy slaying a giant with a shepherds sling to that same little boy, having grown up into Israels great King, listening for the faint sound of marching in the mulberry trees, Yahweh has always been (and still is) CREATIVE!! He is NOT a God of formulaic predictability, He is vibrant and expressive, always introducing us to new aspects of Himself! (He is unchanging, but each of our ability to understand Him will always continue to evolve). The only thing every single Christian MUST DO is to hear and obey the voice of God. It will call us to repent, and it will call us to persevere. It will call us to the miraculous, and it will call us to steadfast daily discipline in our pursuit of Him. Being as wise as He is, the Father has provided us with a number of ways to sharpen our ability to hear His voice. The first and best of these is Scripture (the Holy Bible); it is a clear picture of His nature and His character. The second is fellowship--He will bring you people you can trust and admire to help guide you as you seek to remain on the narrow road of obedience to His Word to you. There are many more that each of us will find, but these are the two most standard and foundational, so Ill leave it here. I pray you find the courage to become the vibrant, unique, powerful, disciplined son or daughter that almighty Yahweh has created you to be! Please dont let fearful men try to convince you that, the best you can do is to be more like them! God bless you! Mattie Montgomery
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 21:25:11 +0000
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