It is evident from the engagement with my last article that I was met with a healthy dose of agreement and disagreement. That aside, I find that It is important to express to my readers that the articles I publish are not sent into the digital atmosphere as a means to find a bully pulpit and rally together what can best be described as an echo chamber. To the contrary!

The articulation of thoughts, ideas, and opinions through speech or writing is risky and, no matter what the intent of one may be, the moment we communicate we agree to enter into the fray of the listener’s response. I fully understood that by engaging with the events at Asbury as a means to undergird my underlying call against a culture of reactivity I would be thrust into a turbulent maelstrom of criticism.

I fully understood that there would be many who would shoulder me into the camp that was being critical of the throngs of Asbury attendees, even though such criticism was lacking in my message. I understood that I would be vociferously maligned by some as an arrogant, self-righteous nay-sayer sitting upon the rusty perches of narrow-minded religious bigotry. I knew this and yet I still published the article for the sole purpose of serving as a cautionary voice in an era where act first, think later has been coronated as king.

I used three examples and each example served to outline the nuanced degrees of our impulsivity in the church that mirrors impulsivity on the streets, though our impulsivity is focused on a more complex interplay between what I called Kingdom Wars and Culture Wars. I stand fully behind the cautionary stance the article outlined and I heard and read each criticism, except those hurled with rapacious vitriol, and I was and am giving them careful thought. Why would I not? I have even learned a few things from some of them.

You see, that is the nature of dialogue. It is the mark of healthy debate and discussion and though I’ve far to go in the pursuit of ideals I believe strongly in we must not lose the ability to agree, disagree, or reserve judgment on matters such as this or we will come crashing down to the lowest common denominator of divisive demarcations and only a few win and most lose. After dialogue in our world was seized by cancellation and screaming, too much of society has resorted to the sadism of inflicting pain and retribution through the means of trolling that extends beyond the digital distance to the conversations of brethren chartering character assassinations.

My prayer life, my love for souls, my character, and my relationship with Christ; all were called into question by some readers responding to the article. I was made aware of my becoming group message fodder for a few, but that’s ok. Not because of some lofty opinion I have of myself claiming the proverbial high road, but simply because I cannot expect my plate to include only the things I like. Also, I’m sure some took the article far differently than others did and due to this, struck a negative chord. I’m sure I could have chosen language a little more neutral, but I did not.

Now on to insights.

Some Additional Insights

#1 Proper Tension

First, let me start by saying that tapping the brakes is not the same as slamming the brakes. When I receive word that someone has engaged in sketchy behavior or that they have done, said, or communicated something troubling, I try my very best to counter today’s culture that violates the cardinal principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” Some of you reading this article may likely attest to phone calls you received from me that severed communication with the grapevine to ask you “what meaneth this?” Of course, this does not mean I have always lived up to such an ideal, and, for that, I am ashamed of the times I spoke or acted without thinking.

We have a lot of words floating around right now, regressive and progressive among them, and little consideration for those seeking to be compos mentis (of a sound mind, memory, and understanding). This does not mean those caught rightly or wrongly in the labels of the other two camps are not seeking the same, but oftentimes emotions, agendas, and echo chambers can come to cloud self-awareness (of which I am guilty at times).

It is a good thing that not everyone drives too fast and a good thing that not everyone drives too slow! It is good that not everyone drives offensively and a good thing that not everyone drives defensively. It is even a good thing, regardless of those who drive fast and slow/offensively and defensively, that some hover around the speed limit while paying careful attention to when circumstances and surroundings dictate a bit more gas pedal or a bit more brake regardless of the posted speed limit. I say this often, but not every voice that speaks caution is faithless, judgmental, or critical! Success in life is realized by finding the proper tension between the gas pedal and the brake pedal.

A biblical call to caution, prayer, and discernment is not skepticism and we must be very careful, especially with the nature of social media’s forceful narrative of “accept or lose face” mentality, to not denigrate those who still exercise caution.

My optimistic watchfulness (prayerfully) of these events happening are not a demonstration of a lack of faith, a secret desire for things to fail, or my belief that a spiritual outpouring can only occur through a small-minded corner of my own spiritual house! I can’t speak for anyone else, but it simply remains a cautious optimism that is undergirded by continued prayers for our nation and our world to be swept up with the Spirit and the Truth; the same prayer I have prayed endlessly and for which I have come to Portland, Oregon to dig out a work for Jesus Christ.

#2 Don’t Gain by Losing

Second, being careful is not always critical, and in this tumultuous age of transition and unprecedented “firsts”, we should always seek to find a proper tension between faith and watchfulness. What I mean by this is simple: pray for and seek the win, but be cautious enough to allow for divine discernment and direction to illuminate potential snares and pitfalls along the way. In my own life, I can directly attest to gaining new ground at the cost of ground I had already held simply because I rushed into things without the proper tension between faith and watchfulness.

It is concerning to see the onslaught of those among us who have made it their ongoing hobby to pick apart every feature of the church community they deem wrong coalesce and capitalize on the events at Asbury as a means to further denigrate and demoralize the church community they are bizarrely part of, but publicly seem to despise. More concerning is the ease with which so many seize these proverbial digital pitchforks provided by these agencies to disparage and cannibalize their own.

My father addressed so many problems amidst his squabbling children by saying, “it takes two to tango” and “two wrongs don’t make a right.” I think there is a way we can win, but it isn’t through losing. Another great statement I have had to learn over the years that isn’t easy is, “stop taking everything so personally.” Yes, that one is difficult for sure but necessary in the age we live in! Not everything is an attack, even if the words are blunt and filled with passion. Sometimes, it is exactly that; passion.

#3 Sword and Trowel

The masterful title of Spurgeon’s “The Sword and the Trowel,” brings to bear the third insight I wish to share; we must build but we must also be careful to always be on guard against the subtle plans of a covert enemy. Caution should never be a dog whistle for cessation just as faith should never be a dog whistle for reckless pursuits. Faith and watchfulness in prayer must operate together. We must always be mindful that snakes love to crawl in tall grass and sometimes it is necessary to gain a better picture of the path forward only after we have trimmed what can be the harbinger of hazards. “Watch ye and pray,” Jesus admonished Peter, “lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38).

We are called to a unique paradox of sightless faith (II Cor. 5:7) and watchful prayerfulness. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walkers about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet. 5:8). Understanding that we live in latter times where “some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim. 4:1), we must “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (I Jn. 4:1).

#4 Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord

I am exceedingly thankful for the reports of repentance, baptisms, and those receiving the Holy Ghost. I have no reason to doubt the character or intention of these reports, although I have lived long enough to know that we can sometimes have a tendency to rush to numerical declarations without taking the time to sit down and talk with everyone that prayed or responded. The “prayer language” doctrine has swept the nondenominational world with fervor and I am always careful to discern what is authentic. Some of the videos I have watched included background commentary regarding prayer languages and it is evident from many other videos that there is a larger presence of those who walk in a charismatic worldview.

That said, I am thankful for any ministerial effort connected to these gatherings that is expounding “the way of God more perfectly.” (Acts 18:26). Again, I pray that this becomes more than an experience and translates into a true pursuit, not just for divine presence, but for biblical obedience. The truest sign of spiritual hunger is evidenced by, not just hunger for divine presence, but hunger for His Word.

I am writing another article defining hunger and one remark I will make is that, “we do not lack for those who are hungry for divine encounters but there has been a famine of hunger for the Word of God.” We must have a hunger for both! Sometimes the former can lead to the latter but if it does not the results can be devastating.

I rejoice that we have had someone receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost almost every Sunday since the first Sunday of the year and we have not had a single Sunday without new guests attending, worshipping, and being impacted. I rejoice that I am hearing this same report among other pastors and congregants.

I stand with sword and trowel; always building, always reaching, always praying for open doors and opportunities, but ever watchful, careful, sober, and praying for direction and wisdom in a complex hour.

Let’s be God’s hands

Let’s be God’s feet