Now is the time for change - for me anyway...

Background link: Dutch Sheets pretty much says we're in deep trouble now...

My Friends,

I too, once and for all, consider myself post-charismatic. I am absolutely sick to my stomach to think that we have devolved as a movement - yea a church - into seeing the world through first testament language. I know some wings of the church have always had this view, but I thought we were different. We are not. We still think God gets us to do things through fear and threat of punishment. When we feel that God treats us this way, we start to treat others the same way. Will there ever be a time when loves rules? Seriously, is there any hope?

For this reason, I refuse to include myself in this "we" anymore. I know a lot of people - people who I think are good people - who call themselves Charismatic and who listen to the counsel of others based upon whether or not they are also using this label. If it was ever unclear, I officially quit this game.

I am not walking away from the Lord . If anything, I am walking towards Him even more, because I believe that He is moved by love, not judgment. I believe we live in a world of fallen people whom God loves anyway. When I find something to do to show love to people, I do it. When I find reason to judge them for their sin or stupidity, I choose to love them instead. If it's the Holy Spirit's job to convict, I think he'll do a better job without my help.

And if I am wrong and our nation 'goes to hell' or gets judged based on this election, it will only be one in a long line of charges that can be leveled against it. Genocide. Theft. Forced Labor. Ignorance of the poor (the true sin of Sodom). Destruction of the Earth. Wasteful consumption. Greed. Racial hatred. Idolatry. I don't think a case can be made that this "great nation" is not also guilty of everything on that list, and more besides. The audacity it takes to arbitrarily proclaim God's judgment of this nation because of an election is truly beyond the pale.

With love for all,
Eli Renner
founder of Ex-Charismatics For Jesus.

Comments

[heather]

I sooo totally feel you...

[Kimber]

Amen Eli!!

[Robin]

The word-faith movement has always been about saying and doing "the right things" to move God, and unfortunately it seems that many in the charismatic movement have fallen for the deception that everything depends on us. Prayer is communication/communion with God, not a way to manipulate Him into doing what we (with our limited vision and intelligence) think is best. I think our time is better spent influencing our culture for good and towards God, in whatever way we are called to do so, than in endless petition for miraculous intervention.
I myself feel Mr. Obama will move this country in directions that are not good for it, and it's entirely possible that his election was, in part, God allowing us to continue on the downhill path we are already on. My prayer before the election was that God would deliver us from the judgment we so richly deserve here in the USA. It's still the same prayer now. I'm interested to see what God will do in the next four years, and if the church will respond, in action, to the pressures likely to be leveled against our society.

[Cynthia]

Hey Eli,

Sign me up.

I have been there for awhile.

[Leighton Tebay]

I saw "ex-charismatics for Jesus" and I came here to see if I could sign up.

[Kevin]

God has a great destiny for you related to this nation if you choose to continue down this path.