Program Versus Power

7/29/2000

My friend works at a camp for at risk youth and we got to talking about how man can build all sorts of programs that really run great and do good things but have nothing or very little of the Holy Spirit involved.

And that reminded me of an old polemic (is that the word I want?) regarding home church, saying that the “Institutional Church” would be the same on most Sunday mornings in most IC’s regardless if the presence and power of the Lord was there or not. The program is capable of “running itself,” or rather, people are capable of carrying out the program in their flesh with no Spiritual enablement.

I have levied this accusation at the IC many, many times. But a disturbing thought arose last night: what about the HC? A bunch of people can come together in anyone’s living room and have free sharing without the Holy Spirit behind it. Is there a way in which HC could just as easily carry on itself without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit?…could it just as easily be said that when a home church comes together the glory of the Lord could have departed and most would not know it?

—wlh

Hello. :) I’ve said it many times…but after many countries and many states worth of observation first hand, I’d have to say that your scenario of Spirit-less HC meetings and lack of Life is the NORM, not the exception. That doesn’t mean that IC is okay after all, but rather that the EMPHASIS and MEANS are flawed in BOTH situations, as an almost ubiquitous rule.

The answer lies in the Apostolic Foundation of “obedience of the Faith” that is unheard of to most, and repulsive to some. BUT, apart from God’s Action on the matter, and man’s embracing of this Mystery, there will be nothing more than garage sales and lemonade stands of the Faith, and Jesus will be poorly represented and thoroughly heart-broken…until we bend our knees and call out to the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers. And I DON’T mean “pastors” and “meeting usurpers” and “Bible study leaders”…THAT’S for sure! xoxo

Love, m