Crystal Clear

Yesterday I read two (PDF) reports (PDF) that will be going to my church’s main gathering next year. A group was formed to report on ‘third wave pentecostalism’. After research and deliberation, the group split into a majority group and a minority group and each submitted a report.

I read the majority report first. I liked how it felt, and I agreed with much of it. It was mainly in favour of what the ‘third wave movement’ (the name they decided to use) brings to our understanding of Christianity, yet included cautions against the overemphasis of its ideas. In all, it stressed balance.

Near the end, I read who the authors were and two of them I know personally. I respect both of them for their diligence in analyzing scripture and their understanding of the Holy Spirit.

I then read the minority report. From the outset I found the tone negative and heavy handed. This report is not in favour of much that has come out of the ‘third wave movement’ and urges caution about most of its aspects. It also critiques the majority report for easily dismissing a new development in the ‘third wave’. While the majority report argued that this new development is a clear break from their definition of the ‘third wave movement’ and is really something new to consider separately (and they did urge strong caution about its origins and goals), the minority report contends this new development is simply the logical progression of the entire ‘third wave movement’, and is then a proof that we need to be very caution about the entire movement.

At the end of this report, I read who its authors were, and one of them is a professor well known and respected by a very good friend of mine.

So now I have a dilemma. People that I trust for their ability to think and discern about God’s word and his revelation have come to conflicting conclusions. People who I want to believe are listening to God’s Spirit, a Spirit who brings unity, are in disagreement.

I wish there was more emphasis on what Christians have in common, and I thought that this was progressing around the world recently. And I know that the Evil One wants nothing more than to have increased strife and discord within the Church.

And I remember my friend just witnessed a split by those who truly believed that it was the only way they could be true to their faith. They didn’t want to split, especially since it would possibly mean a good school would close. But they felt compelled to act, as they could not longer keep the status quo.

But where is the unity that Jesus prayed for? I have no answers. I can only ask the questions. And I can only pray. Some days though, this seems like a defeatist attitude.

Κύριε ἐλέησον, Χριστὲ ἐλέησον, Κύριε ἐλέησον.
Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

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