i've pondered this thread ever since it was posted, and kinda went back and forth as to whether to post my feelings about it, as it hits pretty close to home in my own Christian walk (thus far) and life ... i know in my spirit that i am just about at the close of "one season"
and the beginning of a "new season" ...
Quote;
"Andrew Strom ... For many years he was a "publisher of the prophets" on the Internet - and widely known in prophetic circles - until he publicly quit the movement in 2004, causing shockwaves around the world."
--- After a very short space i learned quickly what it meant to concider oneself called of God as a NT prophet, let alone make the ultimate mistake of actually saying so openly ... i thank God that in my belief of His moving me in the prophetic (in my own little circle of assignment) i had no idea until coming to SI that there was any such thing as "The Prophetic Movement" ... i've always thought the NT prophet was to be pretty much like the OT prophet, in that you don't even know they're around as long as God's people are on plumb, but when things start to get shaky within the throng God brings us to the fore with "warnings" of slippage ... i've also always thought that the prophet/prophetic was a singular man, in lone singular reluctant movement, not some broad movement that the 'prophets" were supposed to all get together and join up into for comfort, support and solace ... i thought early that the NT prophet, like the old, was supposed to only draw comfort, support and solace from God in the calling, not from fellow men ... Anyhow ... ---
docs wrote;
"Do we as charismatics have the courage to ask the hard questions? I'm not preaching, I'm just somewhat frustrated. In all of these "silly and dry denominational churches" I have looked down my nose at in times past you don't see these kind of unbiblical excesses. "
--- Amen, i know what you're saying here, altho i've never looked down my nose on any other saints/denoms after i got saved ... i was raised a JW and belive me they look down their noses on everyone else, so that by the time Christ brought me to Himself i was reallt flabberghasted to find so much division within the Body, and it was the first mission i believe He had me attack ... it was the onset of what was to become a long salvation walk of "annoying saints" and "aggravating pastors" with questions as to why they made such snide, and sometimes even nasty, comments about one another, even from the pulpit, regarding saints of different denominations ... When i look back on my spiritual upbringing, especially being raised JW, i can see many things from that that God could use in me such as having a perfectionist view when it comes to what scripture says we ought to be, especially in regards Him, our fellow saints, and our fellow man ... But on the other hand if such traits are not used of God, but of ourselves, then we could be doing much more harm than good moving in the perspiration of our own initiative, attempting to help God by making something happen, while all the while making matters worse ... This has been my own most gut wrenching concern in my own (i hope called of God) walk with God thus far in the "prophetic" ... i thank Him that out of a pronouncement a long time coming i believe led of Him to make, that i'll soon be made aware of whether "i'm live (of Him), or memorex (horribly of myself) ...
But this i know for sure, tho my belief structure of being called to NT prophet wasn't formed in a Pentecostal setting, it was further enabled and supported to a strength that was able to survive on it's own apart from that initial nurturing once the "words" started to be delivered
and were contrary to the new direction of the church/pastor ... i've often thought over the years that to get grief for delivering God's messages has intrisic value for oneself as treasures stored up in heaven and hopefully in His use of bringing the Body to repentance, but to be doing such out of self motivatioin is such gross dross, a sure sign of some kind of sick masochistic tendency, and as in bro Strom's expose the cause of an even greater sickness in the Body and further besmirchment of the name of Christ ... Thank God for the cleansing away of anything and anybody that's not trully of Him ...
True most so-called mainstream "denominational churches" don't have the amount of "unbiblical excesses" as many Charasmatic and Pentecostal churches/movements but then they may be just as guilty to the other extreme ... i looked up these definitions ...
Charismatic: a member of a religious group or movement that stresses the seeking of direct divine inspiration and charisms.
Charisms: a member of a religious group or movement that stresses the seeking of direct divine inspiration and charisms (as glossolalia or healing) .
In these definitions it seems to me ALL saints should be defined ... i'm always seeking Divine inspiration and charisms, tho of the latter i have no drive whatsoever toward the visible miracles that so many seem to seek amongst Pentecostalism ... i seek spiritual charisms, in particular a fresh annointing of Holy Spirit on the Body to massive repentance and REVIVAL to our first love and works toward Him ... i care nothing of if i ever see a physical healing, etc., my drive is only toward that of spiritual healing for the Church, and toward that which will occur in the harvest of other unsuspecting vessels of mercy into their being brought into the sheaves ... If God wants to follow that up with visible miracles, so be it, and He can give such gifts to whomever He choses, but i don't have to be one ... If He wants to bring exquisite joy to this saint all He has to do is latter rain down Holy Ghost REVIVAL, and of all else His grace would be more than sufficient ...
i've given my salvation testimony on SI in many places, how i believe it was He who moved me from from JW, to a Baptist assembly, then to a Pentecostal one, which i've said previously certainly wouldn't have been my choice because i'm a much more quieter worshipper than they ...
Andrew Strom left the Prophetic Movement, and God knows that when this year is over, and if i'm proven to also have been one operating in as dos's wrote "unbiblical excesses", my intent will be to apologize to all i feel led of Holy Spirit to apologize to, then gladly leave the Pentecostal C.O.G.I.C. behind and attend some nice, little, multi-cultural Presbyterian assembly, much more appealing to my personality and demeanor ...
Blessings in Christ Jesus, and may His will only be done, especially apart and separate from even well meaning men who somehow get things all twisted to further shame ... Let God be found true, and all men and our movements whether individual, or in tandem, a liar! ... What ALL of us need is much, much, much more of Him, and none of our "selves", for the latter makes nothing but more mess ---
|
