Time with Jesus - Friday, 16 March
2012
Hi all,
In
our library we have a couple of authors of whom we are particularly fond; Gene
Edwards, Dr AW Tozer, Jamie Buckingham and David Pawson to mention only four.
We would be hard pressed to select a favourite. Each in their own way are
unique and profound.
The
one I’d like to refer to this Morning is David Pawson. He’s an Englishman who
has travelled the world with his teachings and insights into the Word of God.
David trained at Oxford and started out as a conventional Methodist Minister. A
couple of years later he had to leave the Methodist Church as a result of his
position concerning infant baptism. He joined the Baptist Church and shortly
thereafter received the “Pentecostal” experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
The impact on him was extraordinary. It left him with a great desire to
reconcile Charismatics with Evangelicals. It is a desire that Phyllida and I
share. We love the enthusiasm and freedom of the Charismatics. We also love the
Evangelicals great desire to teach and understand the Word of God. In our
opinion, we need each other. Evangelicals tend to be too rigid and stodgy. Charismatics
tend to allow liberty to turn into license!
David
wrote a book entitled, “The Fourth Wave”. It was an attempt to bring
reconciliation between these two streams. It’s an excellent book. It outlines
the strengths and weaknesses of both.
If
there is one issue that causes friction between the two, it’s “speaking in
tongues”. We’ve sometimes thought that if we could all pause long enough to
listen to each other on these sorts of differences, we may be able to narrow the
gap. That would thrill us beyond measure. We also believe that Jesus Christ
would be pleased.
Today’s
meditation seeks to close this gap. I suspect that the meditation will offend
both sides of the divide. I hope it won’t and I hope it will. The body of
Christ is divided on this issue. We think it’s time we looked at ourselves and
see ourselves for the pompous bigots many of us have been in the past. I’ve certainly
been there. It’s time to laugh at the things which divide and embrace the truth
we all have in common. Jesus is so much bigger and better than we are. So let’s
move closer together in love and Christian fellowship.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Can we Agree?
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Right
here in South Africa, the Church is in two parts.
The
one is Pentecostal. The other will not start
To
think about the other. It’s really rather sad,
Because
the unbelievers are saying we are mad!
The
issue is “tongue talking” Some say it’s only junk.
A
form of glossolalia that people can debunk.
The
others say it’s genuine; it hasn’t passed away.
It’s
just as valid as it was in apostolic days.
These
gifts have never passed away, look back along the years;
At no
time in Church history do any disappear.
“But
it is only gibberish!” is how some folk react.
“They
don’t know what they’re saying!” That’s true and is a fact!
Without
interpretation, it’s just a foolish sound.
But
when it’s from the Spirit, it always has been found,
To
give help and direction; so that God’s people know,
The “sounds”
of what they’re hearing, is how they aught to go.
“It
isn’t from the devil!” as many people state.
If it’s
from God, such people are really tempting fate.
To
attribute to Satan, the things the Spirit’s said,
Is
almost unforgivable, just as Christ Jesus said.
Of
course no one is perfect. Mistakes are often made.
But
that is not a reason for standing back afraid.
It’s
sad to have to comment that folk are just like me.
“We don’t
like to be criticised. We hear reluctantly.
For we
have got the standard that truly is the norm
And if we
see things differently, It’s you who must reform!”
I mean,
let’s be quite honest. I’m hardly ever wrong,
And when
you disagree with me, my shouting gets quite strong.
My
brothers and my sisters. When will we ever learn
To
love in spite of differences? If we would only turn,
And
say to one another. “I don’t know if I’m right.
But
since you are my brother, I am prepared to fight
With
everything I have for you”. The Lord did that for me,
When
I was just a seething blob of lost humanity!
That’s
when the Master saved me. In spite of all my mess,
He
took me in His loving arms and said that He would bless,
Any “whosoever”
who trusted in His Name!
Is it
so impossible for us to do the same?
Jim Strickland
Written Friday, 16th March 2012
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