Is God Listening?

Of the United States, Historian Garry Wills notes that the first nation to separate the Christian Church from the government produced possibly the most deeply Christian nation in history. Within this most Christian of nations, I live in its most Christian region, the South, evidenced by the fact that I pass no fewer than 12 churches and one Christian bookstore on my 6-minute drive to work every morning. 4 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 2 Catholic, 2 Pentecostal, a Salvation Army, and a non-denominational worship center all stand within a two mile stretch of road. Nowhere it seems is Christian faith, practice, and tradition more alive than in the American South.

In his historical study of revivals, John White finds that there is no revivial without abuse, manipulation, and conflict. Yet he believes that these are not sufficient reasons to condemn genuine revival and renewal, or the signs, wonders, and powerful manifestations of God's Spirit that accompany them. Likewise, in this most Christian of nations, and this most Christian of regions, I witness a bloody trail of casualties left by the Church's abuse, manipulation, and condemnation. The anti-Gospel nature of much that is preached and taught causes one to wonder if "evangelical" churches are reading the same Bible that proclaims the good news to the poor and sets the captives free. (One Baptist preacher last year righteously declared from the pulpit that "if anyone in this room voted for John Kerry, they should leave right now," resulting in his removal from the position and the eruption of devastating conflict in the church.) But contrary to the vehement criticisms of Church opponents, also numbering legion in "progressive" Asheville and often former churchgoers themsevles, this isn't properly addressed by mere reactionarism and counter-condemnation. A maxim used by Graham Cooke to address those who would abandon the prophetic realm is also true for church MIA's: the answer to misuse of a tool is not disuse, but proper use. The correction, of course, can't come from outside of the Church. It must come from within...