A thoughtful minister writes, “I am really beginning to believe that a pendulum swing in reaction against pentecostalism and emotionalism has cost us some of our faith in God’s abilities. I think we are missing out on powerful avenues of help.”
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I am afraid we have missed much by such over-reaction. The good news is that God is at work among his people in all Christian groups and the situation is changing. Thousands of believers across denominational lines are hungering for a deeper personal relationship with God — and are seeking and finding it in honest prayer, open-hearted Bible reading, and practical daily discipleship.
Thank God there have always been many solid saints in the pews, including those in our own Churches of Christ — people who walked with God, trusted in Jesus and rejoiced in the Holy Spirit. But, as in many fellowships, they were often drowned out and ignored by a more vocal crowd with a different attitude and agenda — a defensive and threatened group which unfortunately is not yet extinct. I believe we are seeing a day of divine visitation and refreshment. We all need to be sure our eyes and hearts are open to the Lord as he comes calling. God is still able to do “exceeding abundantly” beyond all that we can request or even imagine according to his power that works in us (Eph. 3:20).
None of us has any special claims on God’s grace or his truth. The name on our church door is nothing but false advertising if we do not focus on, center in, depend on and seek after the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the Holy Spirit by which he now lives and works among us, and the Father who sent him to save us weak and miserable sinners. What we need are not new ideas, new programs, new gimmicks or new efforts. All we really need is God’s power to accomplish God’s agenda to God’s glory!
