 We are desperate for a word from God in a year of new beginnings. I received these encouraging insights while listening to a group of Christian leaders gathered in Orlando.
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2007 was a difficult year, but I’m feeling more positive about 2008 after spending two days with 61 key leaders of our movement. They convened in Charisma’s offices this week for the Charismatic Leadership Summit, an informal and refreshingly honest dialogue designed to help the church respond proactively to current challenges.
We didn’t solve the world’s problems by having this discussion. But a smaller miracle occurred when we knelt together on the first night and repented of the pride that has tainted the American church. The holy hush of that moment encouraged me more than any comment made from the podium.
Here’s my feeble attempt to summarize what these leaders said, and what God was saying through them, during three sessions that focused on these questions: (1) Where is the charismatic movement headed? (2) Is the charismatic movement healthy? and (3) Is the charismatic movement making a difference?
"As we enter this significant year of challenge and opportunity, a big 'IF' hangs over us. Our faithfulness to God will be determined … by whether we made the Great Commission our priority. "
1. We must have personal revival.
Marcus Lamb, founder of the Daystar Television Network, fought back tears as he lamented how far leaders have fallen in this day of Christian superstar scandals. “When was the last time we fasted?” he asked. “When was the last time we studied the Word just to hear from God?” Lamb believes “an alarm was sounded in 2007” that is calling each of us back to the simplicity of devotion to Jesus.
2. We must embrace humility.
This was the overarching theme of the Orlando event. Robert Morris, pastor of Gateway Church in suburban Dallas, said we must “go overboard in humility” by being genuine, touchable and accessible. Naomi Dowdy, who has pastored in Singapore for more than 30 years, noted that too many leaders today are enamored with their image or their frequent flyer status. “We think we are OK because our numbers are good. But prayer will break that seduction,” she advised.
Missionary mobilizer David Shibley, who spends most of his time training pastors in Africa and Asia, said he believes God is raising up a new breed of charismatic leaders today who display “anointing without arrogance, boldness without brashness, and power without pride.” Steve Murrell, a missionary to the Philippines and leader of the Every Nation church-planting movement, said his main concern for the American church is a prideful spirit. His comment prompted the crowd to get on their knees in repentance.
3. We are experiencing gracious judgment.
Many leaders alluded to recent theological and moral scandals involving charismatic ministers. Theologian and author R.T. Kendall, based in Nashville, Tenn., explained that there are five kinds of judgment in the Bible, some of which have no positive outcome. Gracious judgment, he said, involves correction but leads people to repentance and obedience. Joni Lamb of Daystar called 2007 “a year of sifting and shaking” and then held up a plumb line like the one described in the book of Amos. She said the Lord is measuring the church in this hour, and then asked: “Are we lining up to the Lord’s plumb line? Are we men and women of character in a world of compromise?”
4. We must balance the prosperity message.
Although not everyone in the room was in agreement about the recent U.S. Senate investigation of six charismatic ministers, many called for restraint and a new attitude toward money. Several leaders, including Hispanic apostle Héctor Torres, emphasized that God is calling us to a higher standard of ethics, integrity and corporate governance. A prophetic warning was also issued: Leaders should either adopt a policy of “full disclosure” in the financial area, or they can expect “full exposure” of financial misdeeds.
Robert Morris used the term “hyper-prosperity” to describe a theology that emphasizes wealth and personal blessing. He urged leaders to teach people “to give extravagantly, not expecting anything in return” instead of suggesting that people should “give to get.” Revivalist Rodney Howard-Browne bluntly suggested that the prosperity movement has “gone off the tracks.” Biblical prosperity, he explained, is not given so that people can focus on buying houses or cars but so they can fund the work of world evangelism.
5. It’s time to get back to evangelism.
The phrase “get back to the basics” was repeated numerous times over the course of our 24-hour session. Michigan pastor Barbara Yoder told how she totally restructured her church in Ann Arbor last year because her congregation was not evangelizing or nurturing new believers. “We’ve got to make it simple,” she said. Dallas-based evangelist Steve Hill agreed, announcing that our priorities must return to soul-winning and discipleship.
Other leaders, while stressing the absolute importance of the presence and power of God in our churches, cautioned against an inordinate emphasis on manifestations of the Holy Spirit. “We must get back to the core doctrines of the Bible, and test all things,” said prophetic minister Cindy Jacobs of Dallas, noting that our focus must not be on manifestations but on souls.
Rice Broocks, pastor of Bethel World Outreach Center in Nashville Tenn., said he believes our mandate for 2008 is simple: “Don’t get cute. Don’t get fancy. Go and make disciples.” He urged leaders to stop majoring in minors when evangelism has been neglected. David Shibley reinforced that message, noting that since the death of Bill Bright in 2003, no one is really championing the necessity of evangelizing the world in our lifetime.
6. We must root out racism in the church.
The tensest moment in the discussion came after California-based church leader Samuel Rodriguez, president for the National Association of Hispanic Evangelicals, called on the group to challenge racist attitudes toward Hispanics. He warned that unless we develop a true “kingdom DNA” in our churches—by welcoming and celebrating all ethnic groups—we will not successfully impact our culture or enact biblical justice on issues such as immigration policy. Charismatic prophet Rick Joyner also challenged what he called “spiritual bigotry” that is caused by “our prideful attitude about the groups we are associated with.”
7. Holiness is not an option.
The leaders had a lively discussion on the need for proper accountability so that leaders who have moral failures can be properly restored. Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Kan. decried the “greasy grace” that quickly forgives a fallen brother but does not offer tough love and discipline. “That is no grace at all,” he said. Everyone agreed that leaders not only must learn to restore but also must focus on how to prevent moral failure—which will require a new emphasis on holy living.
8. God is calling us to transform society.
Several leaders, including Harry Jackson of Washington, D.C., noted that American culture—and our government—is becoming increasingly hostile to the Christian faith. He and others challenged the group to become active politically, in the current presidential contest and on every level. If we run from our calling to transform culture, we may end up in a fish’s mouth like Jonah. We must engage in a kingdom mission rather than hide behind an escapist Left Behind eschatology. Barbara Wentroble, an apostolic leader from Dallas, noted that Christians for too long have viewed politics, education and the financial realm as evil when we must see those arenas as mountains to claim for Christ.
My quick summary: As we enter this significant year of challenge and opportunity, a big 'IF' hangs over us. Our faithfulness to God will be determined not by our prophetic conferences, the size of our churches, the trendiness of our music or whether we have gold dust appearing in our meetings. It will be judged by whether we make the Great Commission our priority.
Reprinted with permission from Charisma & Christian Life, January 18, 2008. Copyright Strang Communications Co., USA.
All rights reserved. www.charismamag.com.
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