Things Better Left Said, Part 1

By the way, the results from ninetyandnine.com's State of the Apostolic Nation - Media Consumption is up this week. Definitely go check it out; it's quite interesting and quite telling. And now, for our feature:

Dear Wendy,
I have a very serious problem. It bothers me very much that you’re rubbing shoulders and helping out down there with people who are not Oneness Pentecostals. In fact, it makes me downright uncomfortable. I feel like somehow you are a compromiser for not throwing a hissy fit and making every last one of them go to the water right now and get baptized in Jesus Name. Deep down, when I read your blog, I want it to end with “And then I told them that they’re all going to hell unless they obey Acts 2:38.”

And I am deeply ashamed that I feel this way, so please do not tell anyone. But it’s true. I feel this way and I know that it is wrong for me to do so but it is what I have been taught by the church since I was a little boy – that we can not fellowship with other denominations because their theology is flawed and wrong and they don’t know who Jesus really is and they’re lost.

How screwed up is my mentality? What kind of person would profess that he loves God yet squirm in his seat at the very mention of helping desperate people if it meant working with Methodists and Baptists and trinitarians? My whole attitude and my emotions betray what I’m saying with my mouth. I feel like I should get a “Pharisee” t-shirt, go stand on the corner and pray really loud for as long as I can. At least then my words would match up with my heart.

I’m not saying that our doctrine isn’t true or that it should be silenced for the sake of getting along, but what is wrong with me that I take this so far as to feel like association with people who believe different somehow makes me a less holy person? Where is the line? How does someone in your situation share truth in love. When can you say “Hey, what’s your take on Acts 2:38,” without coming off as the mean little church lady with her legal pad, deciding who gets to go to heaven or not?

How do we, as Pentecostals, hold a bright message of truth and simultaneously rid ourselves of this disgusting arrogance we have developed? And finally, how many of your readers probably feel the same as I do to some degree but will never admit it? Or am I the only true nut job out here?

Dear Anonymous Guy,
Ah, I do love your honesty! And I am so glad you are thinking about these things. Sit back, put your feet up and relax, because I have lots to say about this subject.

First of all, you're not nuts. Check out the article, The Nut Test, by my man Wayne Jacobsen and you'll see why I think that. And then let me assure you that you have not expressed any thoughts or feelings that I haven't experienced myself thousands of times. Like you, I have been taught from an early age that "we can not fellowship with other denominations because their theology is flawed and wrong and they don’t know who Jesus really is and they’re lost."

Now, I hope I'm not twisting Kent's point here, but you remember what he said in that last ninetyandnine.com article he wrote, Controversialists or Revolutionary Traditionalists? Which Century Are You In? He wrote about scripturally rethinking issues that "are reframing models of thinking that may have worked even 10 years ago, yet are noticeably deflating today." He even went as far to say, "Sometimes that reflection is unusual and mold-breaking compared to previous mindsets, but that doesn’t mean it’s neither scriptural nor effective."

I loved the way he put that, because I guess that's what I am: a scriptural rethinker. And I've come up with some ideas that would probably be considered non-traditional by most A/P standards, particularly in this area. In my blog the other day, I quoted John 17, which also includes the following in verses 14-19,

"I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world. Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth (emphasis mine)."

Now, we know that when Jesus was sent into this world, he spent large chunks of his time hanging out with sinners and doing things that were traditionally thought of as sinful by people who followed the letter of the law and totally missed the spirit of the law. I think I can tell you in one word why He did that: relationships.

You asked, "How does someone in your situation share truth in love. When can you say 'Hey, what’s your take on Acts 2:38,' without coming off as the mean little church lady with her legal pad, deciding who gets to go to heaven or not?" From all that I've learned so far, I believe I can tell you the key to that lies in the power of building relationships. I've been downright amazed to discover what happens when you work alongside a person, or become a person's friend, or help a person. When you are demonstrating that you truly care about a person, that opens the door to a tremendous opportunity to share what you believe and have that person be receptive to it. I think I should add, too, that I discovered this by accident. When I came down here -- and I carry this principle into my own life -- I had no agenda to proselytize or preach. I just wanted to serve and love people without strings attached. And in doing so, I've been given opportunity after opportunity to share what I believe.

Another thing I've learned is just to relax. Jesus said He would build His church, not me. I'm not in control; He is. He's in charge of who belongs to His body and what they believe; all that He asks of me is to remain faithful to all He's showed me. Truth need not be silenced for the sake of getting along, but we can -- and should -- present truth without cramming it down people's throats, without conducting what I call "guerilla warfare": showing up, hollering out our message, and then disappearing without ever investing our time into the lives of others like Jesus did.

I do need to throw this in here, as well. When I work with folks or build relationships with people who disagree with me on certain issues, I always try to keep an open mind. I know who I am and why I believe what I believe, so there's a line in my heart that doesn't get crossed. Still, there are still a lot of things I don't know, and those people have taught me and blessed me as many times as I hope I've taught and blessed them. It's important, I think, to have that give and take so that the relationship doesn't feel one-sided. I'm not about patronizing people. When I am non-judgmental and receptive to discussing their beliefs, more times than not they will return the favor.

Finally, God showed me something awhile back about wheat that I think is applicable. Now, we know that in the harvest, one plants, another waters, and God gives the increase. That's the funny thing about wheat: we don't create it and we can't make it grow. It's already there; all we have to do is just gather it into the barn. And I believe a large part of that wheat God wants to harvest is among those who already call themselves Christian. That's why I'm here.

You asked, "How do we, as Pentecostals, hold a bright message of truth and simultaneously rid ourselves of this disgusting arrogance we have developed?" The answer, I think, is simple. Be Christlike. Follow His example. Believe that truth isn't more important than love, but that love is the most important part of truth.

And since we're being honest here, allow me to be blunt: Yes, I agree your attitude reeks of Phariseeism, and you should really examine why that's so. But cheer up: Very few Pharisees ever realize they're Pharisees. That means there's hope for you :) In fact, I used to be quite a Pharisee myself, and look at me now! Of course, I owe all that to the transforming power of my Savior and feel deeply appreciative that He loves Pharisees too.

Can I use this convo in my blog? Like you, I believe there are a LOT of A/Ps out there who feel the same way as you but just don't have the guts to say anything, and they might appreciate having this question answered.

As always, this can be an on-going convo if you're so inclined. Thanks, as always, for the fascinating conversation :)

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!