All my adult life, both personally and professionally, I have been testing the tension in one big issue: how to live as both missional and charismatic. If you cant see where the tension is, then it would probably take too long to explain.
The first church Wendy and I planted–a charismatic house church–grew out of a youth theatre group. At about the same time I got passionate about adult literacy and left teaching to develop Bible translations for adults with reading problems. Experiencing huge tension, I invested myself in refining communication when I knew that even if you could read perfectly, you still need revelation I got a huge lift–and still do out of Isaiah 29:11-12
For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please”, they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed”. Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I don’t know how to read”.(TNIV)
The first part appeals to the charismatic. But there’s a second part too. Communicating appears equally important. The issues don’t change. It’s ‘both and’ not ‘either or’
So from time to time I make notes here: that’s if I’m thinking about missional or charismatic issues. It depends what I’m reading and the pressures of church life.
I also blog on my Sunday talks and church issues here and contribute generally to our church website
