"Why doesn't the Spirit show up more in the Church?" A Conversation with a Friend
Hi David,
I really appreciate the time you took to answer my questions (and correcting me that it was Matthew not Mark that had the quote from Jesus about adultery in the heart) . I have so many questions it's ridiculous and have another one for you (just one for now ;) ).
A funny side note - you were really fired up last week on the atheist and the ridiculous demands they place on the Bible and the whole morality podcast. Coincidentally, I was listening the WLC debate with Shelly Kagan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiJnCQuPiuo) so your diatribe was in context with other things in my week ;) I have more questions and comments about what Kagan said ...but that is for later.
So to my question... spurred on by Ravi Zacharias. He said the single apologetic that he wrestles with is that the seemingly lack of effect the Holy Spirit has on Christians. I'm not quoting him directly by my understanding of his point was that you would think the all powerful Holy Spirit would be more apparent in everyday Christian behavior. Or put another way, Christians are really bad at being Christians and I find that especially true in the US. Why do we get it so wrong so often? It definitely feeds the fire for non believers and nothing makes me shake my head more than when "evangelicals" warp scripture to something that doesn't look anything like something Jesus taught. I'm afraid I'll get to see this first hand later this month as I live just down the road from X Baptist Church; they are holding a presidential forum for all the candidates. I'm sure some strange things regarding the Bible will come out of their mouths. :(
Is it because we are inherently broken? Is our stubborn pride/free will denying the Spirit? Laziness in Christians to not learn their faith? Probably all of the above but what is your take?
Thanks, God Bless, keep podcasting!
Cody
Hi Cody,
I’ve seen/heard that WLC and Kagan conversation a few times, too. WLC said
at another place (perhaps one of his podcasts) that he was instructed NOT to
make it a debate, but a simple conversation. Nevertheless, I kept being so
frustrated that he was so…meh. He kept saying, “it just seems to me….” while
Kagan kept sounding so much more compelling and right. I would have talked much
more like a podcast I just recorded on morality. :)
That’s a great question concerning the effects of the Spirit. I had a similar
conversation this last Sunday at a Bible study I lead. I’ve also struggled with
that fact too. Of course, I’ve wondered about that fact often in my own life. I
read of the amazing things done in the primitive Christian community, along
with what is occurring in Christian communities around the globe, and I think,
“Dern! I want that!”
I don’t have any profound reflections. Yet, I think a few things: (1) The
Spirit acts in different ways in the NT, so I should expect that today. He
might do something in me regarding teaching; He can move in someone else in
healing. (2) The Spirit tends to do more “sensational” things among new
believers/pagans, it seems to me. That also fits the NT, where it was to affirm
the authority of the Church’s teaching.
Why don’t others (or myself) have more evidence of the Spirit? I think a few
reasons: (1) I think a significant portion of people who think they’re
Christian, are really not. I think that best explains why so many people seem
to have little to no influence by the Spirit. I think this would also be
exactly what Paul would say if asked. (2) I think our Christian communities are
so secularized that the amount of Christian maturity and discipline that the
earliest Christians possessed just rarely exists today. For centuries,
Christians were abhorred by pagan behavior. How many churches today are FILLED
with people having sex outside marriage? Addicted to everything and no one
cares? Affairs? Gossips? Political agendas? Racism? Etc. And what kind of
preaching is popular? “God wants to bless you. He loves you.” That preaching
will never help the Bride of Christ. Moreover, churches beg for the Spirit now for
a “breakthrough/blessing” not for guidance.
My point is, I think the American church is so overwhelmingly paganized that
it affects the way the Spirit can/does move.
So, I do my best to get sin out of my life. I read my Bible, pray, and have
moral accountability. I ask the Spirit to work/move/speak in and through me.
And, if and when He wants to, I’m ready!
For the Kingdom,
David