The Word and The Spirit

This post is inspired by this video by R.T. Kendall – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82YlUWu_bAI – go watch it, I’ll wait. It’s two minutes long. This post offers a response and some further discussion of the topic.

This video speaks of the divorce of “Word” churches and “Spirit” church. I want to offer up some thoughts on what defines these types of churches , what causes division between these groups, and how our group attempts to walk the middle line.

Word Churches
from the video – “We need to get back to: expository preaching, know our doctrine, earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints, the teaching of Luther, Calvin, Jonathan Edwards.”
Churches under the Word look to the Bible as the lens for their worldview. Living biblically, preaching biblically, evangelizing biblically are all paramount. Interpretation of difficult passages of Scripture is most often done by checking the Greek/Hebrew and checking the exact ways hard words are used in other verses. Verses about various mystic practices, be they prophecy, healing, or tongues, are usually avoided. Individual devotions are usually focused on a time of scripture and Bible study. Worship is usually led by a single person or team of people, with little or no time of open worship for individuals to sing apart from guidance.

Spirit Churches
from the video – “We need to get back to: the book of Acts – signs, wonders, miracles, gifts of the Spirit. get in Peter’s shadow, your healed. Lie to the Holy Ghost, you’re stuck dead. And until we have that kind of power, we go nowhere.”
Churches under the Spirit look to the Holy Spirit as the lens for their worldview. Walking with the Spirit, speaking by the Spirit, evangelizing in the Spirit. Interpretation of difficult passages of Scripture is most often done by asking the Spirit what this passage means globally, or just what this passage means to me. Dwelling on the finer points of doctrine is not usually a priority, as it is understood that doctrine does not transform, the Spirit does. Worship is either directed by an individual or small team, but most often there are open times for individuals to express themselves – whether this means singing apart from others, dancing, shaking, and whatever else the Spirit leads, as crazy as it may be.

You may not agree with those definitions precisely – I wouldn’t blame you, I honestly haven’t been a part of a huge sample of both types of churches. But for purposes of this discussion, that’s what we’re going with.

The Divorce

It would be bad enough if these groups amicably operated apart from each other. A mere “agree to disagree” if you will. But that’s not the case – as is the case in many divorces, there’s criticism on both sides of the fence. They may be well-meaning, they may even be true, but at the end of the day they divide. Here is my understanding of how each group views the other.

What the Word churches say about the Spirit churches: The baptism of the Holy Spirit isn’t real. Too much these churches do is based in emotion and conjured up. Being slayed in the spirit/tongues/healings/etc. is manufactured, misleading, not real… or worse, being led by leaders that deceive.

What the Spirit churches say about the Word churches: Bickering about points of doctrine and meaning of words does not glorify God. In fact, a solid doctrine and not listening for the voice of the Spirit is a wasted life. If you memorize the Bible but can’t hear what God is telling you now, who cares? Their worship is at best dispassionate and at worse, lifeless.

Don’t mishear me – the vast majority of people on either side don’t slander the others – but it doesn’t take very many people to convince a much larger group about the other “side”.

The Middle

So where does that leave us? With two sides that have split apart from one so far that there is no hope for reconciliation? I don’t think so. It can’t be that way. The worst part of this split is that each side is unable to see the other side’s great parts.

By no strength or planning of our own, our church has been a grand experiment in how the middle of this looks. As of this moment, a quick review of the adults in our group shows that we are very close to a 45/55 split for Word/Spirit-background believers. Its close enough that we have no choice to meet in the middle. What does that look like?

It looks like a community learning to find balance through the strengths of others.
It looks like seeking the Lord for what he would have us do.
It looks like encouraging the formerly Word people to step out in the Spirit and encouraging the formerly Spirit people to study the Word deeply and daily.
It looks like finding unity in things that are eternal and not fighting over things that are temporal.
It looks like pouring over the Word in matters that we are ignorant or lacking unity, and then seeking the Spirit in how to proceed.
It looks like a community that melts away differences and focuses on the Lord.

At the end of the day, you may just have to come and see. Words on a computer screen can only go so far… maybe I’m just making this all up. Maybe I’m all talk, no walk.

As I said in my last post:

“One of the values we hold dear to is hospitality – so I offer you an open invitation – we’d love for you to come visit us. From wherever, whenever you like, with you and as many friends as you’d like. We don’t even need very long notice – just give me a call on my cell phone: 770-309-8213.

See you soon.