His Hand is on the Door

Walking out the tensions with true compassion…

January 14th, 2007

I recently posted this comment towards the end of our current (and ongoing) discussion about seeker-sensitive models and IHOP-KC’s slight suspicion of them - or anything resembling them. It is great that we are able to hit this issue, which at the end of the day is about excellence in stewardship in regards to our entrustment from the Lord. We are growing in the area of excellence in the care of those whom He is sending us - and we are all in this together. Here are my most recent comments, if you missed them:

“I agree - no one wants to reject actual “seekers”. But as one who understands IHOP a bit, I would say that few really think about them either, when it comes to changes that can function to build effective bridges for these seekers. Mostly we tend to think about how changes affect us personally.

But that’s normal human nature, which I talked about in the article.

Beyond that is a distaste for the excesses of seeker-sensitive models, which I think is a good thing - a necessary thing.

We don’t want to do the converse of what I talked about - swing so radically the other way to embrace the seeker-sensitive model that we turn a blind eye to its errors. We need to walk in the tension of both being true to who we are called to be by God (in the full expression - we’re not there yet) while building strategic and meaningful bridges for people to be able to encounter Jesus along the way.

It is difficult for an unbeliever or new believer to connect with who we are and what we are doing at times. This is not because Jesus is embarassing, but because we are needing to grow in the excellence in which we shepherd people to the place of encounter. There are true cultural hinderances and obstacles within our little family that need to be addressed and improved so that we serve the people in a more excellent way.

This does not mean “water down” or “shy away from” the gifts and expressions of the Spirit. It does mean that we are helpful in setting the right context for people to stay around long enough to understand and then participate in life in the Spirit. This is called, in our day, “sensitivity”. I call it “caring”.”

This is one of our many challenges as a spiritual family this year. We who are called to “prophetic and intercession” are also called by God to walk out “worship and compassion” as well. That was God’s heart for us years ago when He knit us for a season with John Wimber and the Vineyard movement. Our authority in the area of healing, for example, can be directly knit to our growth as a people in the area of true compassion (in my opinion).

God is jealous for us to come up higher in this area. He is kind to us, and will help us. As we grow in the keeping of the first commandment, the second will begin to flow to greater measure. To me, that is the greatest error of the seeker-sensitive movement - the idea that a community of believers could truly accomplish “loving thy neighbor” without growing in “loving the Lord with all your heart…” We must encounter His heart this year, and come a little closer to expressing it to the measure that we are called to our city and our generation. I am confident that we will.
David

Entry Filed under: life at ihop-kc, life in the spirit, prayer, prayer movement