A Spirit-Inspired Voice to the World
Generally speaking as I read about what Christians are saying in relation to world issues or cultural concerns they fall into two camps. Many evangelicals take a very cerebral and intellectual approach. Because they try to be informed and are actually thinking the issues through, they have some insights; but you seldom feel that a prophet of God is speaking, or that the Spirit is in it. Then you get many charismatics-pentecostals who don’t think the issues through enough, often taking a knee-jerk reaction, or just concerned with personal life rather than the wider issues. They are also frequently alarmist, negative doom-mongers. Obviously, this is a general observation and there are thankfully some great exceptions.
However, I am convinced of the need for a Spirit-filled and faith-filled people to arise, a prophetic people who are neither merely cerebral or superspirtual. They will speak from a position of clear, radical, biblical faith on issues that they have taken the time to think through. They will have at times struggled through some of the tough questions of applying biblical truth to the contemporary world with all its complex issues, but never budged from the conviction that God has spoken and is still speaking a word to our world today that is not only relevant but is its only hope.
Such people will:
-
Recognise that what they are into is not just a worldview but it is a supernatural faith. They have been born from above into a Kingdom that is unshakable and is in the process of filling and taking over the world. They are not just representatives of a religious tradition but they are citizens of a dynamic, world transforming Kingdom.
-
They will be people of faith and the Holy Spirit
-
But they will use their minds submitted to God’s Word and God’s Spirit, for God’s glory.
-
They recognise that they have the mind of Christ but that it needs to be applied rigorously and faithfully.
-
They take time though reading, studying, thinking, praying, talking with others (Oh for the lost art of conversation) and active engagement with current affairs to understand the world that they are living in, that it is God’s world and how the message of the Kingdom of which they are a part applies to it.
-
They will be neither intellectualist or anti-intellectualist. They will use their minds in the service of God and in subjection to the Holy Spirit.
-
They will be like the prophet Daniel of whom it was written that he ‘has a sharp mind and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding.’ (Dan.5:12)
October 21st, 2005 @ 2:34 pm
In the words of Debora Lyon, “Would the true sons of God please stand up!”
October 21st, 2005 @ 5:33 pm
And in the words of Nathan the prophet, “you are the man.” [2 Sam 12:7]
October 24th, 2005 @ 9:48 pm
Firstly let me say that I enjoy reading your blogs because they are very interesting. having read your blog. The bible tells us (christians)to be prepared for perilous times to come. the bible tells us that there will be moral muddle, it tells us to be prepared for the many signs and wonders and voices which are so deceiving that, the very elect would be fooled by them. The bible prepares us for these things. It tells us that the delay in the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is nothing but salvation.The longsuffering of the Lord is salvation.
The rebellion against the Lord God Almighty what we see today will continue, and that as things get worse rebellion will increase, chaos will abound. Thats why we need to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ it’s a message to men and women to save themselves out of this world that is doomed. it is a message which say’s if you do not want to be involved in the condemnation that faces you, repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and come out of this world. Would you agree that’s the prophetic voice that should be preached today