Just thinking...
Something I was thinking about today. If we, as Charismatics/Pentecostal believers believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to move in people's lives in supernatural gifts, why is it that we don't train people to build relationships with people outside of their circles which already experience it? I mean, I believe God wants to touch people with His gifts and love, and we have taught people extensively about moving "in the Holy Spirit," but it isn't happening outside the four walls (sometimes not even inside them!). I think it's because people don't understand that God's gifts are not for us, but for others, for the people in our community. Not that we have these "supernatural"-like experiences that happen on the street either, but that naturally through relationships, people begin to receive from God's Spirit on the inside of us.
I guess one reason this came to me was that my mom has begun ministering to a woman at the gym she works out at. It happened naturally out of conversation, and now the woman is knowingly or unknowingly pulling on the spiritual gifts in my mom. I think this is how we should teach on the gifts and the supernatural in the emerging church. Start from the beginning to tell people that the gifts are not for inside the house (though they operate there as well and are important), but their true value is only found in the community, with our neighbors. Not in spooky spiritual settings ("the Lord has spoken to me about thee..."), but in simple conversation, sharing the voice of God without even people knowing. Their spirits will respond, because it's God who does the talking, not us. Just thinking.
I guess one reason this came to me was that my mom has begun ministering to a woman at the gym she works out at. It happened naturally out of conversation, and now the woman is knowingly or unknowingly pulling on the spiritual gifts in my mom. I think this is how we should teach on the gifts and the supernatural in the emerging church. Start from the beginning to tell people that the gifts are not for inside the house (though they operate there as well and are important), but their true value is only found in the community, with our neighbors. Not in spooky spiritual settings ("the Lord has spoken to me about thee..."), but in simple conversation, sharing the voice of God without even people knowing. Their spirits will respond, because it's God who does the talking, not us. Just thinking.
