Below us on an island, utterly isolated from the rest of the world, was a clearing with a cluster of thatched huts that could easily have been a scene on the Amazon. The plane was low enough to identify palm-frond roofs and posts of Indian chickees on a small beach. “That is a Seminole village,” I explained, “They are Miccosukees--true 'native' Americans.” She was amazed. “How did they get out there?!,” she asked. “They were born out there,” I said, “Many have air-boats but some still rely on dug-out canoes.” I went on, “They live in both worlds–ancient and modern. Would you believe there could be Indian children down there who have never seen a white man's face--or a television--or an automobile?” She was amazed and kept staring at the village until it was out of sight.
Within a few minutes we landed in Miami, a sprawling, glittering metropolis famous for every luxury known to man. A short time later I was on an elevated super-highway heading home. Everything around me seemed to deny what I had seen from the plane window. But the picture would not go away. It seemed impossible that just a few miles to the west, surrounded by an ocean of saw-grass, suspended in a time-warp, was an ancient civilization that had changed little from the life-style of 2,000 years ago. I was genuinely puzzled that two radically opposite cultures could exist only minutes apart.
My question to the Lord was, “How have they done it?! How is it possible for the Miccosukees to be that close to the modern world and successfully resist it?” That was not a criticism. I too am part Indian descent--Cherokee from my father, Iroquois from my mother--and I respect my ancestors’ way of life. But the question kept stirring my mind.
God's answer came in a surprising way. Clearly, I heard Him say: “The spirit that causes Indians to reject benefits the White Man offers is the same spirit that causes Christians to reject what I offer.” I held my breath. The thought was astounding. He continued, “It is the spirit of tradition.”
Instantly, I knew what God meant. Jesus told the Jews, “You reject the commandments of God that you may keep your own traditions.” (Mark 7:9.) Traditions survive for centuries because the spirit working in them persuades people not to change--even if the change is beneficial. Change is feared. It is viewed as loss. For that reason, ancient Seminole tradition is hard as flint. So is the white man's. Whether we are struggling against Protestant tradition, Catholic tradition, Seminole tradition, ancient or modern tradition, makes no difference. The same spirit takes advantage of human weakness to operate through all of us. Hear this:
Tradition freezes us at our present level of achievement. It prevents us from moving forward. The spirit’s purpose is to paralyze progress.
The loss is horrendous. Seminoles die of snake-bite when some of the best hospitals in the world are just a short distance away. Tradition yells at them, “Don’t go to the White Man! Use your ancient medicine!” During the American typhoid-fever epidemic in the early 1900's thousands of people died needlessly because medical practice in that era still held the tradition to “starve a fever, feed a cold.” With food nearby, doctors looking on, numerous victims died of starvation. In our own way, we Christians do the same thing. Religious tradition starves us from truths known by other Christians and prevents our learning about their experience in the Holy Spirit.
I know. For years I suffered from that tragic mind-set. I was ordained to the pastorate in 1949 and for the first 27 years of ministry knew nothing about the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. Religious tradition kept me from receiving truth from others or for discovering it for myself. For nearly three decades my congregations suffered tragically because of my lack of knowledge. During those years I never saw a single person be miraculously delivered from drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, homosexuality, or other life-crushing problems. It did not happen. Nor did I expect it to. My answer for those needs was secular therapy--not God. That neglect finally ended in 1977 when crisis forced me into a deeper search for the Holy Spirit. After agonizing personal grief, I finally stepped out of a long, dark tunnel into the light of God’s Kingdom. That transformation was so total, so life-changing, that I could never go back. I blame no one but myself for my failure. The Bible message about the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit is very precise and clear. I should have been freed from traditional blindness much sooner than I was.
“More Truth To Break Forth ...”
When the Pilgrims fled England for America they left behind one of the bright stars of the Puritan movement. That man was Pastor John Robinson who had guided them through years of political and religious turmoil. With others, he had battled tradition’s unrelenting grip in the Church of England. It was in the abandonment of that hope for change in Britain that the Pilgrims finally sailed for the new world. The day of their departure Pastor Robinson preached a farewell address which is still a challenge to the Church today. He said:
"I charge you before God and before his blessed angels, that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If God reveal anything to you by any other instrument of his (another minister), be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry: for I am verily persuaded, I am very confident, the Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of his holy Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a full stop in religion and will go at present, no further than the instruments of their first reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw: whatever part of his will our good God has imparted and revealed unto Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it. And the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God; who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God: but were they now living, they would be as willing to embrace further light, as that which they first received." (John Fletcher's History of Independence.)
Robinson’s challenge for the Pilgrims to break with theological tradition is astounding. Some of the radical concepts of truth and liberty which were later birthed in Colonial America and became the cornerstone of democracy owe their conception to the principles of this man. Pastor Robinson clearly saw the hazard of religious and political tradition.
But are there not benefits to tradition? Yes, and that is the reason we love it. There are many wonderful, legitimate expressions of tradition. It can be very beautiful. Tradition is familiar, comfortable, predictable. Because of that, religious tradition usually pushes itself deeper into places where it does not belong. Tradition, like habit, removes the necessity of decision-making. Making decisions requires mental energy; life is simpler if we do things by predetermined routine. At the same time:
Tradition can only turn its eyes on the past. If it looks to the future, it ceases to be tradition.
This is where it becomes deadly to the Church. Like my Seminole cousins, we let tradition isolate us on denominational islands and live far below our privilege. Evangelistically, we move in dug-out canoes when we could be sailing in the power of the Holy Spirit. We survive on garfish and coonti roots, fight mosquitoes, snakes, and alligators, when just a few miles away are the bright, beautiful lights of the Kingdom of God. Those lights challenge us to change. They tell us Heaven has so much more than traditionalism has allowed. By that I mean:
The full Kingdom-message of the Holy Spirit’s miracles, signs, and wonders, is desperately needed by the modern Church. Religious tradition has stripped us of their benefit. Those power-enduing parts of Scripture have been emasculated and demoted to nothingness in many modern pulpits. (Mark 16:17,18, Acts 1:8. I Corinthians 12-14.)
Thankfully, believers in all Christian bodies, like Seminole children, are looking up from their islands to see magnificent sights in the sky. Supersonic jets, passenger planes, aircraft, of every kind, streak through the heavens above them. At first, these things may be alarming and people draw back in fear. In the past, when new truths have challenged the Church, it has thrown blankets of tradition over its members and said “You don't need to see that! You already have all the truth. Stay like you are!” But the planes, like the call of the Holy Spirit, keep reappearing day after day, and young Christians finally become determined to learn the truth about them. Suddenly, they throw off the blankets, leave their islands, and run for the Light. For many, the journey is difficult, but the blessing gained makes all other losses worthwhile. Like them, you too may discover:
There really is life beyond your island.
Be honest. Has tradition isolated you on a religious island? Are you missing something vital in your Christian walk? Does God's light in the distance challenge you? Go! Find out what it means! Throw off the blanket. Run toward the Light. Receive all the Holy Spirit has for you!
Something really is lost “behind the ranges! Go and find! Go and find!” The discovery awaiting you is phenomenal. Matthew 15:3. Mark 7:3. Colossians 2:8. I Peter 1:18. VVV
THE HOLY SPIRIT NEVER CREATES TYRANTS
Occasionally I encounter pastors and congregations from all denominations who are undergoing pain because of leadership that is carnal, dominating, and manipulating. In view of the need, I share the following advice:
The exercise of Biblical authority is twofold: 1: It is authorized in Scripture; 2. It must be directed by the Holy Spirit. Where either of these aspects are lacking, the result is not true Biblical authority. Unfortunately, there is much "church" authority that is so close to the authentic that the difference is not easy to distinguish. As a consequence, sincere believers are sometimes brought under the bondage of well-meaning but power-hungry leaders. Let me repeat that point in another way: It is possible for men to impose Scriptural authority by quoting the "word" over unwary sheep, but themselves be totally lacking in the right to exercise that authority. The result is tragic and deadly. I can best illustrate the two-fold requirement of Scripture authority plus the Holy Spirit’s direction in this way: Soldiers do not fire their guns because the manual has taught them how. They fire when given orders by their Commanding Officer. So also in the Church, we do not take actions simply because Scripture tells us how. We must be led by our Commanding Officer, the Holy Spirit. I have known cases where Church leadership rushed in to correct a problem before they had all the facts and created a situation far worse than the one they attempted to rectify. Even so, under no circumstance can we justify our inaction in abusive situations when the Holy Spirit demands attention.
The Apostle Paul warned of this undisciplined-soldier hazard when he wrote that God has made us “sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6-7. According to Paul, even the New Testament produces destructive, killing doctrines when it is presented apart from the grace and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. In other words, the New Testament may be preached exactly by the letter of the word and the end result be far from what God intended. Consequently, husbands may hammer their wives into submission, parents threaten their children, pastors control their congregations, all of them quoting the "word" to prove their points, and still be more wrong than the ones they are presuming to correct.
Pastors' Studies, Psychiatrists' Offices, and hospital rooms are crammed with people who are the tragic results of this deadly, religious machine. Oddly enough, Christians frequently ignore the villain and give it full power to take control. In the 1970's it came as the "Discipleship" movement, legitimately originating by good men but ultimately passing into the control of unscrupulous disciples. What could have been a good movement finally collapsed after it had done tremendous harm. I warn you to be alert to religious politicians and keep yourself well-armed. You are to surrender your conscience to God only. When Christians have yielded their hearts to the Lord there will be no need for them to become robots to each other. During the Middle Ages godly men and women were burned at the stake by those whose minds had become warped by unlimited power.
In Scripture, we find the Holy Spirit anointing and giving authority only to possessors of the lamb and dove nature. Goats and pigeons are excluded. By its very instinct, the dove-lamb nature is harmless to others, submitted to God, and loving truth. That quality of true humility must exist in church leadership as well as the congregation. Never submit yourself to an arrogant, selfish, un-yielded leader--whether he is the pastor or some self-appointed Lone Ranger "prophet" who is accountable to no one. You are safe in submitting only to the Christ-likeness which you know to be in a person. Again, Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ." No one was to follow Paul for Paul's sake. Paul, or others, are to be followed only in proportion to their following Jesus.
This is a difficult point to explain but please study it carefully. When God exercises authority through a man, the man must remain passive before God while he is active before the people. By "passive", I mean that he is to be utterly, totally submitted to the Lord. If he fails to do this, he will become active in his own authority and God's protective authority will be driven from the flock he claims to serve. When that happens, God pity the people who fall under the power of such a leader! But how can you tell the difference? Jesus said, "By their fruit you shall know them." Even in the exercise of Godly authority you will be able to recognize love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in the man. Galatians 5:22. If these are absent and he lapses into anger, rage, manipulation, intimidation, or control in any form, he is no longer God's instrument. Do not submit to him (or her). At the same time however, be careful that you do not justify your bad behavior by unfairly comparing your's to his. When you do that, you too have become active before God, lost your passivity, and are as disqualified as he.
In the attempt to bring ourselves into true church discipline, when I was pastor, we changed our government from congregational rule to presbytery rule. This is the Biblical pattern. Even so, we not only listened to the congregation but earnestly solicited their opinion in matters affecting the body. I must also emphasize that a Biblical pattern of leadership does not guarantee success. A non-scriptural form of government with godly personnel is safer than a scriptural form of government with ungodly personnel. The success of any system is dependent upon the character of the men and women at the helm. Godly leadership is mandatory. A church cannot rise above the standards of its ministry. Though I was Pastor and held a position above the Elders, we were in joint-submission to each other. In theory, they were submitted to me individually, I was submitted to them corporately. Did we function infallibly? Not at all. But we sincerely tried. One of the most serious junctures of my life came when I submitted to their wrong decision. But, in that submission I was right before God. In remaining passive before God I opened myself to receive blessings which are still pouring upon me years later.
But what about "congregational" authority? Aren't people more secure if everyone equally votes on issues facing the church? My first objection to congregational rule is that the practice is not found in the New Testament. Secondly, during my 30 years in that system I frequently saw it degenerate into a popularity contest. Large families would create “block votes” and control the church. Relatives who had been uninterested and non-supportive would suddenly appear and cast deciding votes that overrode the faithful ones. This practice is disastrous.. The concept and practice are not only morally wrong but unscriptural. It was inconceivable in Paul's day that someone could join the church today and tomorrow "vote" to fire the pastor. I have observed in more than 57 years of preaching that the very people who demand congregational government are the first ones to abuse it. The worst disasters I have seen churches experience came from such practices. The Apostle John describes this scene when Diotrephes, "who loved to have preeminence", led rebellion against the Apostles. III John 9,10. Hear this point:
Submission can never be demanded by leadership, it must be earned by them and grow out of loving respect with which the congregation intrusts them.
To accomplish this, the Elders must be passive before God while at the same time they are active before the congregation. Confusing? No. Read it again. It is essential that you grasp this truth. God's authority will not be active in pastors until they willingly allow it to pass through the passivity of their yieldedness to Him. In the spiritual operation of authority, I must become passive before God before God will become active in me. Do you understand it now? Be certain you do! Those who minister to the congregation in teaching, music, counseling, secretarial work, and all other ministerial functions, must first be in submission to God and His assigned leadership. Disunity in any capacity, even if carefully hidden, will produce spiritual schism and disrupt the work of the Holy Spirit. Many a church reached the point of receiving God’s ultimate blessing only to fail because of hidden sin in a leader’s wife who gained her way through him.
How is a congregation to protect itself from wrongly-implemented authority? How was it done in the New Testament day? First of all, the Apostle Paul continually pleaded with the people to pray for him. He knew the dangers of wrongly implemented authority in himself, other leaders, and the flock "over which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers". So it is today. The church which prays for its leaders, instead of criticizing them, is the only church that is safe.
The bottom line is this: We cannot improve upon God's method of Biblical government. Rebellion is never a substitute for Godly authority. Pray for your leadership. If they are Godly, support them. If they are not, appeal to them. If that fails, leave them. But also know this, if they are genuine and sincere, and you attack and renounce them, it is your sin--not their's--to which you are accountable. Read your Bible. Follow the Lord. Don't be led astray by Lone Rangers. Bloom where you are planted. Stay with the church where God put you. Above all else, remember that those who attack the Bride of Christ are attacking Christ Himself. ___
Reliability of the Oldest New Testament Manuscripts
The following information is from my book, The Edge Of Glory, published by Creation House Press. This material is vital to all serious students of Scripture. Study it. Memorize it. Be ready to defend the New Testament by giving “a reason for the hope that is within you.”
THE MOST COMMON ATTACK against Scripture centers upon the reliability of ancient manuscripts and their having been copied various times. Since we have only copies and not the original works of the apostles, how can we intelligently defend a book that is thousands of years old? Our defense of the Bible academically can begin with this observation: Not only are there no original copies existing of the following historic writers but the time-lapse between their originals and today’s versions is greater than the time-lapse between the New Testament and today. Observe:
1. Plato: Greek philosopher. His writings are found in a mere seven manuscripts, the oldest copy written twelve hundred years after his death.
2. Aristotle: Greek philosopher, student of Plato, tutor of Alexander the Great. Only five copies of any one work of Aristotle exist, and none of these were written less than fourteen hundred years after his death.
3. Herodotus: Greek historian. Only eight manuscripts survive; these were copied thirteen hundred years after the original.
4. Euripides: Greek playwright. Nine manuscripts exist, dated thirteen hundred years after they were first written.
One is immediately struck by the scarcity of copies of these authors and the vast time lapse between the originals and today’s existing reproductions. Yet no one questions their authenticity. Contrast the scarcity of works done by these secular writers to the abundance of New Testament copies. Bible scholar and professor, Dr. F. F. Bruce, verified the existence today of approximately 4,000 ancient Greek New Testaments. A second estimate places the number nearer 5,000. Observe:
1. Two complete manuscripts are dated less than three hundred years after the original.
2. Most of the New Testament is preserved in copies written less than two hundred years after Jesus. 3. Some existing books were composed about one hundred years after the originals.
4. Part of one book came within a generation of the first-century.
If four thousand ancient New Testament manuscripts survived the ravages of time, we are overwhelmed with this question: How large was the original number of other copies--now lost--that exploded upon the public in the first centuries? What was the excitement that pushed early believers into such a mass production of this book that it outraced the production of Aristotle, Plato, and others combined? The answer, of course, is that the book itself contained the miraculous presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Thousands of unknown readers were motivated to copy and preserve it. Our Bible's claim to authenticity is totally beyond the reach of all other writers of antiquity. As believers, we stand secure in its reliability.
Two of the ancient manuscripts, the Sinaitic and Vatican, do not contain the last eleven verses that appear in the King James Version of Mark's Gospel. These verses do appear in other ancient manuscripts and were quoted by Irenaeus and Hippolytus in the second century. The controversy involves not just the antiquity of the passage but also the contents. It says this:
These signs will follow those who believe; In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:17-18).
A major complaint regards the statement: "They shall take up serpents." This passage has had two adverse effects: At the suggestion of handling snakes, some have rejected the passage altogether. Others, having determined to prove the passage literally, have suffered snakebite and died. Neither position is valid. The Greek verb airo, translated as "take up," means "to seize, bear away, cast out" in the sense of removing violently. The same word is used in John the Baptist's introduction of Jesus when he said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away (airo) the sin of the world!" (John 1:29.) Jesus never caressed or fondled sin; He snatched it away in angered fury. The expression, "They will take up serpents" is parallel to one Jesus made earlier, "I give you the authority to trample on serpents ..." Luke 10:19. In both instances, trampling upon and snatching away serpents are parabolic examples of believers exercising authority over demonic powers. The exercise of this power is the greatest verification of the New Testament’s reliability. The New Testament is in fact, a two-edged sword: It is reliable in its content and reliable in its record. _ CC
DWIGHT L. MOODY'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
A century ago, the ministry of Dwight L. Moody shook the nation in a way that continues to vibrate mankind to this day. What changed an ordinary man into one of the great voices in Christian history? Moody himself gives the explanation:
"I began to cry as never before for a greater blessing from God. The hunger increased; I really felt that I did not want to live any longer. I kept on crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit. Well, one day in the city of New York --- oh!, what a day, I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it. It is almost too sacred an experience to name. Paul had an experience of which he never spoke for fourteen years. I can only say, God revealed Himself to me and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand."
