tbeachhead
Well-known member
I have never believed that WoF is a denomination, any more than it is an exclusive movement bereft of historical or theological roots. As I've said here many times, WoF is a paradigm for systematic hermeneutics that actually permits the WoF believer to thrive in any denomination, and effectively fill the gaps left by others as they move and grow.
Since 1982, I have participated in and been a part of the ministry in at least three dozen churches, in times ranging from days to weeks to a maximum of seventeen years, of which only one claimed any link to Rhema, and in that one I had the most negligible relationship with its leadership even though I was the titular "head of children's ministry." (I was made head, and for eight years provided ministry to the children's service without ever once meeting with the pastor.) I have never gone into a church to correct the doctrine thereof. I've gone in to find the gap, stand in the gap and say "What gap? There is no gap here." In any building, my goal was to relate what scripture says and to elicit faith in the promise. As I see it, the Holy Spirit does the rest.
With that in mind, I will also state freely that the least qualified pastor, because he knew scripture the least, was also the Rhema grad. Over the years I have found errant doctrine in every building. I firmly believe that doctrine can be as errant as the roots of a tree. A seed can be planted in different fields, and the roots will err to where the richest nutrients are found. Trees can differ in size, growth, girth. But the fruit will be the same. It was not because one church focused on a single facet of scripture that it was not part of the plan. And no tree is ever expected to lash its fruit forever to its own branches. Fruit is borne to bear seed elsewhere.
And here is the point: When Paul arrived in Ephesus, the first thing he asked the "disciples", the believers he encountered, was whether or not they had received the Holy Spirit when they first believed. They had not even heard of the Holy Spirit...because they had been brought to faith by Apollos, who had never heard either until he was taken aside by Priscilla and Aquila...who had worked with Paul in Corinth and seen the fullness in operation for three years before coming to Ephesus. So were these believers "WoF"? "Charismatic"? What box do they fit in?
They are called disciples. That sufficed for Luke who imposed the label. And they became "Charismatic" as their instruction was completed by Paul. They heard the Word of God, and faith came as Paul says it will. When did they become disciples? When they first believed. When did they become believers? Same...
When did they become "Charismatic?" They would not have believed in the first place unless the Spirit had called them. They didn't have to admit to a thing...charismatic...WoF...didn't matter. The seed was sown, watered and produced. I have always wondered why divisions are so necessary. I've been instructed by the doctrines of believers, even if details in their own system were lacking. Enforced, artificially and arbitrarily defined divisions are not the final goal of the Spirit...ever.
Since 1982, I have participated in and been a part of the ministry in at least three dozen churches, in times ranging from days to weeks to a maximum of seventeen years, of which only one claimed any link to Rhema, and in that one I had the most negligible relationship with its leadership even though I was the titular "head of children's ministry." (I was made head, and for eight years provided ministry to the children's service without ever once meeting with the pastor.) I have never gone into a church to correct the doctrine thereof. I've gone in to find the gap, stand in the gap and say "What gap? There is no gap here." In any building, my goal was to relate what scripture says and to elicit faith in the promise. As I see it, the Holy Spirit does the rest.
With that in mind, I will also state freely that the least qualified pastor, because he knew scripture the least, was also the Rhema grad. Over the years I have found errant doctrine in every building. I firmly believe that doctrine can be as errant as the roots of a tree. A seed can be planted in different fields, and the roots will err to where the richest nutrients are found. Trees can differ in size, growth, girth. But the fruit will be the same. It was not because one church focused on a single facet of scripture that it was not part of the plan. And no tree is ever expected to lash its fruit forever to its own branches. Fruit is borne to bear seed elsewhere.
And here is the point: When Paul arrived in Ephesus, the first thing he asked the "disciples", the believers he encountered, was whether or not they had received the Holy Spirit when they first believed. They had not even heard of the Holy Spirit...because they had been brought to faith by Apollos, who had never heard either until he was taken aside by Priscilla and Aquila...who had worked with Paul in Corinth and seen the fullness in operation for three years before coming to Ephesus. So were these believers "WoF"? "Charismatic"? What box do they fit in?
They are called disciples. That sufficed for Luke who imposed the label. And they became "Charismatic" as their instruction was completed by Paul. They heard the Word of God, and faith came as Paul says it will. When did they become disciples? When they first believed. When did they become believers? Same...
When did they become "Charismatic?" They would not have believed in the first place unless the Spirit had called them. They didn't have to admit to a thing...charismatic...WoF...didn't matter. The seed was sown, watered and produced. I have always wondered why divisions are so necessary. I've been instructed by the doctrines of believers, even if details in their own system were lacking. Enforced, artificially and arbitrarily defined divisions are not the final goal of the Spirit...ever.
