Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Insights from Modern Church History (A.O. 1830-1980)

to wrong decisions. If only prayer and careful thinking had prevailed! The awful effect of gossip destroyed a godly man and split a church. 3. The goal of restoration should be uppermost in dealing with lead ers who appear to be straying away. Religious people are sometimes more animated about preserving their perception of religion and doctrine than contending for "the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3, NIV). Prayer and communication should have prevailed. Irving violated no teachings of the Scottish Church. Sometimes the defrocking of a minister is motivated more by jealousy than by a sincere desire to help. In love elders and leaders should seek above all the care of God's people, the restoration of the fallen and the will of God. 4. A successful pastor should not automatically be disqualified from being a spiritual leader just because he does not possess certain spiritual gifts. At the same time a leader must lead, which means he must be able to interpret the dealings of God with the people. Irving's eloquent teach ing and preaching about spiritual gifts created an atmosphere of recep tivity, although "he himself never spoke in a 'tongue', or interpreted, or prophesied, or worked a miracle. He looked on and approved and per haps allowed himself to become the victim of the extravagances of those who had gathered around him." 20 It was a difficult time in that none of the church leaders had the experience to guide the neophyte charismatics in their manifestations. Writes George H. Williams: "The situation for Irving did, indeed, quickly assume tragic dimensions. He himself never spoke in tongues; but his inabil ity to lead those who did cost him significant support and evoked the ridicule of the fashionable classes who had once thronged to hear him and the alienation of those whom at a spiritual distance he actually trusted." 21 Irving's leadership was so easily dismissed that it violated the sanctity of his shepherdhood. Forgetting his great contributions and spirituality, those who possessed the gifts claimed the spiritual authority to reorgan ize the church and direct all aspects of church life. The man who had con tended for the Spirit and opened the door for spiritual manifestations was silenced by his former followers in the name of the Spirit. At the same time he himself needed to seek and experience that which he was allowing in his church. It is difficult for a man of intellectual prowess to humble his mind to the simple reception of the Spirit. Irving prayed and preached for the church to receive spiritual gifts and mani festations, yet his own faith was insufficient to bring to him what others were receiving. As Paul told Timothy, "The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops" (2 Timothy 2:6). 5. Strong pastoral leadership is required in dealing with spiritual mani festations. While Irving himself seems to have had great patience, it might • 272