The Jesus Sensitive Church Review

Mike Leake 3 Comments

If Jesus were on earth today where would he worship?  That is the intriguing question posed by Ron Auch and Dean Niforatos in their work The Jesus Sensitive Church: Would Jesus Worship Here? .  I received this book free from New Leaf Press to review. 

I actually received this book without much knowledge of it.  The title was compelling, and the central question was one the piqued my interest.  I was further interested by the fact that these men are of the Pentecostal faith.  I am not.  It is always interesting to here ecclesiological critiques from people of different denominational backgrounds. 

It is interesting that most of what you read in the first few chapters could have easily been taken out of a book from the Reformed community critical of the “seeker-sensitive” movement.  Chapter 2’s Give Them What They Want is a familiar sounding critique that is not exclusive to Pentecostalism.

I typically feel a great disconnect between myself and many of those in Pentecostalism.  Honestly, much of that is probably my own limited exposure (ala TBN).  I was shocked to hear these guys saying much the same thing that my own communities are saying. 

Then in chapter seven the Pentecostal beliefs begin to really thunder through the pages.  The first six chapters deconstruct the seeker-sensitive church.  Essentially they are saying that Jesus would not worship in a seeker-sensitive church. 

Well then, what type of church would Jesus worship in?  What they are really asking is—what type of church gathering will have the blessing of Almighty God.  Their answer?  One that is Spirit-filled, full-gospel believing, and baptized in the Spirit manifested through the speaking of tongues. 

The last six chapter are about the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” and that this is the mark that is missing in modern churches.  If you know me, then you know that I disagree.  Debating with Pentecostals is not the point of this review.  I’ll just simply say I disagree with this major thrust of the book—and leave it at that. 

So, since I won’t be following the advice to pursue “getting filled” what can a Jesus-loving Southern Baptist take from this book?  For one, even though I disagree with their application and interpretation of passages on the Spirit, I do agree that a de-emphasis on the Holy Spirit is rampant in churches.  This book can be a wake up call to consider the Spirit in our ecclesiology. 

Also to be respected is their passion for holiness.  And I really do think that the author’s of this book have a deep love for Jesus and want to see Him glorified in churches and throughout the world.  Many of their critiques are spot on and there is much to commend here. 

However, at the end of the day I think this book falls into the same trap that many books of this type do.  That is the if you do ___ then God will do _____ formula.  They are not nearly as bad as many of the other books—because I don’t think they really are hoping to have mega-churches.  They want to be faithful to God.  But I think their underlying theological presuppositions necessitate this formulaic understanding.  In other words Pentecostalism stems from this very If I do ___, God does ____ formula. 

Would I recommend it?  Honestly, probably not.  I think if I were a Pentecostal then this book would be great and serve as a wonderful wake up call.  I hope the Lord uses it this way.  I hope God uses this book in Pentecostal churches to call the people to get back to the Scriptures, pursue holiness, embrace the gospel, and surrender to Jesus and not to methodologies. 

But I would not suggest this book to those in my congregation because I fundamentally disagree with the last six chapters.  And where this book is strong I can find other books that are also strong and do not end at the Pentecostal conclusion. 

But that’s my take, you can check it out yourself: The Jesus Sensitive Church: Would Jesus Worship Here? You can buy it used at Amazon for less than a buck.  It’s pretty well-written and is an easy read.

Rating 2.5 out of 5 Stars

Newton On the Contrite Heart

Mike Leake

The LORD will happiness divine

On contrite hearts bestow:

Then tell me, gracious GOD, is mine

A contrite heart, or no?

 

I hear, but seem to hear in vain,

Insensible as steel;

If ought is felt, ’tis only pain,

To find I cannot feel.

 

I sometimes think myself inclined

To love thee, if I could;

But often feel another mind,

Averse to all that’s good.

 

My best desires are faint and few,

I fain would strive for more;

But when I cry, “My strength renew,”

Seem weaker than before.

 

Thy saints are comforted I know,

And love thy house of prayer;

I therefore go where others go,

But find no comfort there.

 

O make this heart rejoice, or ache;

Decide this doubt for me;

And if it be not broken, break,

And heal it, if it be.

–John Newton

Take it away, Jesus

Mike Leake 1 Comment

I am not certain where this little gem came from, but I have seen this “powerful prayer” pop up all over facebook, emails, and a few other places:

WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES AND ILLNESSES; AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY IN JESUS ‘ NAME.. AMEN

I understand the heart behind this.  Nobody wants worry.  Nobody wants illness.  Everybody wants their family to be healed (emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc.).  And you have to commend the underlying reliance on Jesus in this prayer.  It is assumed in this prayer that it is only Christ that can heal worry and illness. 

Yet, something about this prayer rubs me the wrong way.  It’s not that I deny the Lord can take away worry, illness, etc.  Nor is it that I think his intention is to ultimately redeem us and heal us in Jesus’ name.  What bothers me, I think, is the focus and “Americanization” of this prayer.  Compare it to this one:

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30 ESV)

This prayer is on the lips of a persecuted church.  Notice that they do not pray for the Lord to take away the persecution, to cure them of illness, or anything like that.  They do pray for healing but notice its focus.  It’s missional. 

The Americanized church prays to be relieved of suffering for the sake of comfort, security, and peace.  The gospel church prays that God will use suffering and equip them with boldness and power for the advancement of God’s kingdom.  HUGE difference.  One views God as the means to an end (prosperity).  The other views God as the end, and suffering as a means to more fully enjoy Him. 

The Americanized church thinks that the best life is now—or at least that if God had his way then we’d all be healthy, wealthy, and worry free.  Our health, poverty, and pain is the result of demonic influence.  If we would only let God be the center of our lives and trust him with these prayers then we would not be in the grip of Satan and we would have prosperity. 

Small problem with that, though.  God IS on the throne and Jesus-loving Christians get cancer, have mental breakdowns, and starve.  And unless you want to embrace dualism ALL of this happens through the goodness of a God that is actively ruling the world as He sees fit. 

God will eventually heal.  There will be a day when no child of God will suffer.  Cancer will be no more.  Illness will be gone.  Death will be defeated.  And we will have wealth–real wealth–that is immeasurable. 

But that doesn’t happen in this age.  In this age suffering has a mission.  Make sure that your prayers reflect that.

The Root of Church Defection

Mike Leake 2 Comments

…those who more boldly than others incite defection from the church, and are like standard-bearers, have for the most part no other reason than their contempt of all to show they are better than the others. (John Calvin, Institutes, 1030)

Ripping on the church has become a national past-time.  It is not uncommon for people to get so fed up with the brokenness of the church that they decide their relationship with Jesus could be just as easily cultivated at home. 

There is also the other type of person that hops from church gathering to church gathering but never firmly plants within a body.  There is nothing wrong with trying to find a church home.  But there is something wrong with NEVER planting.  And I question someone that is just “following where the Spirit leads” but never commits himself/herself to a local manifestation of the body that Christ died for. 

I understand there is more to this than the simple John Calvin quote. I understand there is much debate about what constitutes a “church” and that many are moving away from an institutional variety and embracing a more organic house church model. 

I simply want to make one point.  Make certain that you aren’t “defecting” out of pride and a sense of having it all together.  Do you love the church?  If your heart is not beating for the church of God then I doubt it truly longs for Jesus.  You can’t love Jesus and dis’ his wife.