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A Charismatic Civil War?
J. Lee Grady in his latest Fire in My Bones column (07-09-08 -"Can We Avoid a Charismatic Civil War?"), notes that we seem to be in the midst of, or heading for, an internal battle within the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement.
He notes that Rick Joyner in his popular prophetic book, The Final Quest, had predicted a major split in the church between those who he called the “Blues” who emphasize spiritual life in the supernatural realm of dreams, visions and miracles; and the “Grays” who rely more on knowledge, organization, and intellect. According to Joyner’s vision, the Blues will win the day and usher in true revival.
Since the coming of the Lakeland Outpouring, many have taken up conflicting and uncompromising positions on the Florida revival. Some have said that the whole controversy reminds them of The Final Quest scenario. Unfortunately, there are quite a few on both sides who seem to welcome the conflict. Just google: ‘Lakeland’ or ‘Todd Bentley’ and read a few–you’ll see and experience the ‘meanness’ of the battle!
If all you know about me is contained on this blog, you might suppose that I am clearly one of the ‘blue’ guys. Actually, I like both the ‘blue’ and the ‘gray’ sides and try to balance it out in my own life and ministry.
I happen to believe that Lakeland is a move of God, but that does not mean that I will accept any excess or excuse any possible error in the name of revival.
Grady ends his article with three very good suggestions:
1. Let’s accept one another.
2. Let’s admonish one another.
3. Let’s pray for one another (see James 5:16).
If there really is a ‘war’ between brothers, it is our enemy the Devil who will really gain in the process.
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Posted: July 13th, 2008 under -Lakeland Revival, Division, Revival.
Comments
Comment from Michael
Time July 14, 2008 at 7:07 am
Carl:
Actually, I think that he gives some good suggestions here about how we should respond in case we do have some reservations.
It is far better than tossing a grenade at a brother like some of the heresy hunters continue to do. For so many it’s an all or nothing issue. We really need to get past that.
Grady has actually gotten a lot of heat from both sides lately from some of his Lakeland comments.
Comment from slw
Time July 16, 2008 at 7:52 pm
What’s wrong with having some reservations. What’s one to do, deny his or her own convictions? As long as one doesn’t make an unbrotherly assumptions, or lash out without deference to our bonds in Christ, questions always have to be fine. We’re not to Lord our authority nor our gifts over our brothers and sisters, are any of us above their honest questions?
Comment from Michael
Time July 16, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Thanks SLW, absolutely correct.
The problem with Lakeland responses is that so many have made unbrotherly assumptions and called the whole thing a work of Satan.
Everyone that does think it to be a sovereign move has become supersensitive and gunshy of all the criticism.
Unfortunately, for so many it is becoming an all or nothing proposition. I think that is what Grady is observing.
Comment from Carl Thomas
Time July 14, 2008 at 5:59 am
Grady ends the article with three suggestions but lets not forget that in 2 of the 3 he spends an entire paragraph each outlining his reservations about Bentley’s meetings. What is lost on Grady is that it is this type of attack that is causing the riff.