“James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"
But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.”
(Luke 9:54-56)
It seems to me that the power of Pentecost (that fire and wind event, which stands out as the prime example of God's power working in and through Jesus' followers, and becomes both a model we look back to, and an experience we hope to discover for ourselves) has a central motivating factor which is so simple that we overlook it.
The power of Pentecost seems to be that of granting blessing.
Jesus was none too happy with the "sons of thunder" who wanted to call fire down upon those who rejected the message of Christ. Though Peter had to call the young men to carry Ananias' and wife's bodies out of the house, this was not the common power motif of the book of Acts. The few instances of power judgments appear to be the exception and not the rule. The stories of healing and deliverance far outstrip the stories of power judgments in the New Testament, and any general reference to power encounters in the New Testament do not mention judgments, but always blessing.
I have heard a great many prophecies of judgment during my 28 years as a Christian. I have not seen these judgment prophecies come true - at least not with any accuracy beyond that which monkeys playing the stock market would achieve. I would think that if we see judgment as a power play by God during these current days that we like James and John have misunderstood the "manner of spirit [we ] are of."
6 comments:
Good post Phil- though isn't there one version where Jesus still says those villages will be worse off than Sodom and Gomorrah on the last day, even though he made them hold off now?
Of course, one might ponder it a number of ways... is it God's wrath pouring out on them in the future, the result of their own deeds (or something in between?)? Ideas proposed by figures like NT Wright suggest Jesus may have been talking about political as well as divine results- the results of a violent revolution against Rome and the destruction it would get rather than his far more powerful, but subversive ways of resisting and transforming oppression. In rejecting Jesus' way, often violently, were these villages dooming themselves on a number of levels, such that there own deeds would lead them there?
Anywho, I've felt the spirit's stirring in a few places this weekend... while singing songs in support of both the Zimbabwean and Tibetan people, at two different events. That's my hunch about where the Spirit of Jesus is leading us today... to be with and for those facing deep sufferings.
"I have heard a great many prophecies of judgment during my 28 years as a Christian. I have not seen these judgment prophecies come true - at least not with any accuracy beyond that which monkeys playing the stock market would achieve. I would think that if we see judgment as a power play by God during these current days that we like James and John have misunderstood the "manner of spirit [we ] are of.""
Two points, Phil:
1) We have a number of prophecies to specific churches on record in Revelation. They were all highly negative, except for the two churches who were so flat on their back that they needed nothing but encouragement.
Though of course Revelation was written by one of the two 'sons of thunder'. John at times seems a bit of an enigma .. in some verses extremely loving and gentle, in others all fire and brimstone.
2) I have a mind to ask: You have found a # of judgemental prophecies that have not come to pass. I'm curious if the accuracy of positive prophecies you have heard is any better?
I for myself have heard all four varieties -- happy happy that didn't come to pass, unhappy that didn't happen, unhappy that did happen, and happy that did happen. The last is the least numerous of the four.
Respectfully,
Brian P.
We walked through some teaching on this issue this weekend. Some of the negative points of judgment were listed, and compared to the occurances of blessing. The overwhelming majority of power actions (miracles...) are blessing, and the so few are judgment that we can not find a standard by which we might determine when we judge - this is designed by God this way, so that we might learn to walk in non-judgmentalism methinks.
Hey BP!
I certainly do not think that there are no statements of judgment - especially in scripture, but when we transpose that to activity in our own lives, it too often goes awry.
Blessing prophecies going wrong? - oh yes, but that is often imbalanced by a lack of gentle, loving correction, which is significantly different than prophecies of judgment.
The scriptural warnings against legalism and judgment leave us in a position of God designed weakness - we are people who truly only have supernatural power to bless, so that we even must "bless those who curse [us]."
That's a short answer to a very lengthy issue which was taught on Sunday here at The Gathering.
Thanks Phil. I think you capture the principle that perfect love casts out all fear. Preaching (or "prophesying") that inspires fear does not build a healthy foundation nor an open relationship with God. It builds a barrier instead, even if there is outward compliance for a while to avoid punishment.
I'm with you. Good post!
Pete,
The nature of that fear based approach is always a form of the law, and outward compliance. I suppose it has occasional power to work with drug addicts who face personal injury and incarceration, but beyond that it is not a great way to preach Christ.
Thanks,
Phil
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