The Test of Love World Prayer Assembly 2023 (7.10.23)
Introduction
The World Prayer Assembly is over, and though unable, due to medical issues, to attend all sessions, I was able to attend enough to gain some sense of its overall purpose in God’s sovereign plan to bring Christ glory in “all things” (Eph 1:9-11). The question confronting the Church in Perth, is, have we now left behind our “childish ways” (1 Cor 13:11) to enter into “mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” (Eph 4:13)? The context of the great love chapter in 1 Cor 13 is indispensable to its interpretation. It is preceded by the dynamic of chapter 12 with its list of charismata (vv.4-11) and their use under the Lordship of Jesus (v.3) within the Church as a Body (vv. 12-31). It is followed by a discourse on the use/misuse of speaking in tongues (14:1-4, 6-40) in relation to the higher gift of prophecy (see v.5). The judge of the “all things” to be done in worship (14:26, 40) is the unsurpassability of love (13:7). My sense is that amidst my own afflictions, and numerous reports of the trials of others, (cf. Acts 14:22) the Lord has been testing the love of the saints in Perth for one another (Eph 4:2). How have we done?
Well Done
I have been quite overwhelmed by the love shown to me by so many brothers and sisters, some whose name I do not even know, but who have been faithfully praying for me! If I truly am a personal spiritual barometer for the Church in Perth, I can happily say, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matt 25:23). Prophetically, I believe this means the Lord will supply an ever-increasing number of broken and lost people for the Church in our city to care for. Beyond this however I must echo Paul, whose standard for measurement in the Church is Jesus’ own glorified state, “the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13). Speaking as a father to his spiritual children (1 Cor 4:15), he potently and lovingly evaluates the “coming together” of the Church, “What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.” (1 Cor 11:20, 22).
The Myth of Unity
For decades, the Church in our city has had a reputation for being marvellously unified. This is a myth on a host of levels. We have not, “become perfectly one” as Jesus is in the Father and vice-versa (John 17:23). Based on earthly comparisons, I am sure we are more unified than the Church in Sydney, but I am not so sure we do that well in contrast to the Church in Adelaide. The unity of the ekklesia in the city of Melville might be impressive, but in Belmont (where I live), it is weak. (I believe that is because we lack an active apostolic figure locally.) If we are so united as a Body in the city where were all the members of the A(ustralian) C(hristian) C(hurches) at the WPA? Sadly, the conference was not promoted across their congregations. For as the old megachurch motto goes, “If it’s not started here, it’s not done here.” (Bill Hybels). Most significantly, the virtual absence of conservative Evangelical/Reformed leaders grieves the heart of the Spirit. Granted some of them simply don’t want to associate with Pentecostal-Charismatics, but the issue goes much deeper. Let me take a step back to help us see further.
Six Streams one Stream
Baptist leader Nick Scott helpfully points to Richard Foster’s vision of the six steams of Christianity: Contemplative, Holiness, Charismatic-Pentecostal, Social Justice, Evangelical, Incarnational, coming together as one mighty river. This is a great and God-pleasing vision (Ps 133). However, “what goes around comes around”. I recall a (fundamental) pastor from the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches refusing to join in a conference solely because Margaret Court was involved. In like manner, the posture of Conservative Evangelical/ Reformed leaders was ignored during the WPA. This surely grieves the undivided heart of our common Father. We all claim that our unity it is all about Jesus, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”” (Acts 4:12), but listening to a nationalistic lecture about loving Australia by sister Court or a half hour sermon (Dean Briggs) on tithing from the Old Testament (Ex 25:1-9) without reference to the gratitude inducing grace of the cross, “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19), will never make the Body “perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). Dr. Niko Njotorahardjo, whose love for the people of Perth is palpable, categorically asserted that “speaking in tongues” is the sign ofbeing baptised in the Holy Spirit and that there have been multiple Pentecosts in history (e.g. 1906 Azusa St.). However the Greek used in Acts 2:4 for “other tongues” differs from that used in 1 Cor 12-14, and fails to understand that the original Pentecost was a unrepeatable salvation-history event like the resurrection. Rick Ridings asserted that “the dragon that is in the sea” (Isa 27:1) is a prophecy about China’s impending war over Taiwan. But I hear not a prophecy but the “invincible authority of ignorance” (Leon Morris) and outdated exegesis, for the chaos dragon’s real background is the Baal mythology of ancient times.
Fellowship with the Impossible?? (WPA Perth 2023 – EVENING/NIGHT Session (4 October 2023)
So far, I have spoken on a natural level, which leads to despair. The Spirit however spoke greater thins: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet 4:8). In the midst of the World Prayer Assembly, and from far higher than its manifest errors, I had a clear awareness of the love and joy of our Father in heaven (cf. Heb 2:12; 12:23) over the gathering of all his children. Then, at a breakout meeting led by the glory resident within two apostolic leaders, a Columbian female (Esther Milian) and an Indonesian bother (Daniel Pandjii), I sensed the Lord pouring out his love to “unhinge” the Church from the “fear of punishment” (1 John 4:18). Such transformations partake of the cosmic scope of the blood victory of the Lordship of the cross permanently liberating God’s children from the power of their Accuser (Rev 12:7-12 cf. Dean Briggs).
Conclusion
“Any friend of Jesus is a friend of mine.” Though most of the history of Christianity contradicts this truth, (Paul and Barnabas fell out, as did Luther and Zwingli, Wesley and Whitefield….), we are called to live consistently by it. Whilst my call as a prophet-teacher will never allow me to “turn a blind eye” to the sins of my brothers and sisters, I accept that neither accurate doctrine nor ecstatic experience is our bond of the Christian unity that pleases God, but only the “perfect harmony” of love (Col 3:14). Such love empowers us to live with the idolatrous adulation of insecure yet prominent Christian leaders. Having been “realistic” in my estimation of the “wave of glory” brought by the WPA, my “prophetic imagination” (Brueggemann) sees the rising up of another younger generation free from “partiality” (James 2:1) and people pleasing (Eph 6:6). Their obedience to Christ can fulfil the Great Commission in a way that our generation has failed to realise. For this we may confidently pray.