Vol II: #61 Continuing in Love
Bethel and its ministry school is a crazy place. The leaders and people do all types of odd things like fire tunnels and ‘prophetic acts’ which often look like welding an imaginary sword. I’ve laughed at them more than I’ve laughed with them. And, I don’t feel bad about it. Act like a fool or jester and I’ll pay you in laughs. Isn’t that the arrangement? On a more serious point, several teacher and speakers have drawn theological or doctrinal points that left me openly asking the questions, “Huh? What?” and “How did you get there?” One criticism of Bethel is they play loose with scripture and on occasion the criticism is warranted. I knew all this going lunacy before I started and it is not why I went.
What I appreciate most about Bethel is the culture they try to maintain. We hear so often about honor and respect and encouragement yet rarely see it. Bill Johnson- for all his many faults- makes the effort. His team makes the effort and by extension the church makes the effort. They are imperfect and infuriating yet honest and kind. They don’t complain or judge people. And when they say “we try to call out the gold in others,” the pastors at BSSM take that task to heart.
As the last month of BSSM starts, it is this culture of honoring others (the Lord and myself) I want to carry with me. Yes, I want to see the Holy Spirit move through me and my community. But, that’s not up to me, at least in part. What’s in my ability is to choose to love people with my words and thoughts- to believe and hope for the best even if they are 80 and nasty as a snake. I’m guilty of being cynical and judgmental. But, there’s a better way. BSSM gave me a glimpse of what’s possible and I aim to take it with me. While we all laugh at the person with boundless optimism and hope, we also want to be them.
All of my reading and learning taught me the world is amazing place and it is filled with amazing people. Flip on the TV or scan some news and we are led to believe something else. The world is awful. Everything sucks. There is no hope. But on the whole we can only believe one of two possible truths: God is good or God is not good. If God is good, then we live in amazing world with some wicked stuff. If God is not good, then we live in a terrible world with a few bright spots.
I choose the former. God is most definitely good. He made us a wonderful planet to enjoy. The earth is covered with all kinds of creepy things, fuzzy animals, thick forests, towering mountain, gentile waves, and cool breezes. Thankfully…many of the planets and animals are “good for food” and it is a joy of life to eat them.
Most good Christians agree that God is good and this Earth is great, but they stop short before the last bit. Most of us do not believe “we are good” or “I am good.” We’ve had the dogma of “sinners saved by grace” drilled into our heads rather than the truth. We are a new creation. This reality means we no longer subject to the old, but we have access to every good thing through rebirth and the Holy Spirit.
Since, I am no longer a slave to fear and the sin it produces, then I am no longer slave to self-protection, insecurity, or impatience. Once these rivals are cut off, I’m no longer slave to the words of others, hopelessness, or addiction. Depression and self-pity have no place, and I find strength to be kind while maintaining healthy boundaries with the world around me.
It is these ideas and beliefs I carry with me from BSSM, way more than the miracles and Holy Ghost hokus pokus. It’s a form I love I knew was possible but couldn’t access. And now, I can.
