Originally Posted by
FireBrand
Shutting God out.
This is from a missionary pastor friend of mine. He tells this tragic story:
“Years ago when a teenager I often visited a Nazarene church because it had a great youth group and youth pastor. We went out street witnessing at MSU and in the red light district. I learned a lot from these people and this pastor. Then the Nazarene church issued a ruling that no pastor could be Spirit-filled and speak in tongues. Both pastors left, and the youth group left. The Nazarene leaders thought they would be better off without the messiness and the craziness of Pentecostals and charismatics. They wanted an orderly, quiet service, and they got it. I just found out that church has been permanently closed. It reminds me of this verse: "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox." [Pro 14:4]. To me this ox represents the dunamis power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Yes it is as messy as an ox in a barn stall; there will be mud and manure and hay and spilt grain, but you couldnt have a farm without it. You would be out of business, just like Kendon Drive Church of the Nazarene. Just sayin' “