Why Are We Fractured?
Q. I have been perplexed for some time now about the controversies that rage within the Body of Christ these days. There are large groups who hold views that other large groups claim are apostate. I know people from churches that are Willow Creek or Purpose Driven franchises that are committed and whose lives are bearing fruit. I know people who practice contemplative prayer who are and have been for decades far more zealous than myself. The many manifestations of charismatic or word-faith or New Apostolic Reformation or latter day rain or Toronto or Brownsville or Lakeland or etc., etc all seem to populated by committed followers.
My problem is, I agree with much of the criticism that has been leveled at these different movements. How can we all be led by the same Spirit in so many conflicting ways? Why is the discernment in one believer so different from the discernment in another? In the current race for president, there seems to be a clear distinction spiritually between the two platforms. Why is there not a consensus amongst the Body of Christ?
A. When the Christian community is united we are a force to be reckoned with. For example, imagine how different this country would be if all Christians believed that the Lord was coming back for us soon, developed a Christian world view, and and began to live their lives accordingly. To minimize the tremendous effect this would have, the enemy has to keep us divided and because we’re all sinners he’s able to do it. As long as he can keep the Body of Christ fractured he can keep us weak.
There are many God-fearing Spirit-filled believers in all of Christianity’s movements, but I don’t think discernment differs from believer to believer. I think very few believers practice discernment, and even if they do they don’t say anything for fear of the criticism they’d get. Since the head of the Florida revival resigned, several well known Charismatic leaders admitted have that they had reservations about what was going on there all along but didn’t say anything because they didn’t want to be accused of “quenching the spirit”. If respected national leaders are too timid to exercise their discernment how can we expect the rank and file to be any different?
