Have Not Love?

Fear, Control, and Manipulation: Have not Love?
Russell Benson

I have been running into a lot of people lately that just have been frustrated with "church". The sad fact is that all of them have been pentecostals/charismatics. After speaking with them, the same story usually follows. They have been hurt by a pastor, felt controlled, or did not sense any form of true love and care in the church.

Now as a pastor, I understand that people can exagerate and it is not always the pastor/ministers fault. I also understand that some people are too "supersensitive" and needy and may have been hurt becasue of false expectations they held. I know this. Understanding this, there still is a major problem!

The truth is people are leaving the church becasue it has lost its relevance. The sense of community and love is not being felt, that is a big problem!Many have given up on finding community and love at church, all they now expect is a good program when they go. Church is being redefined by our dissapointments. We are know lowering our expectations of what we think church should be.I have really been impressed lately by the Spirit to share on the topics of community, love, humility, and charector.

There is no bigger believer in revival than me, but if revival is going to be led by leaders without fruit and love, I dont want it!If so called revival churches and spirit filled churches dont have love, I want nothing to do with that.Jesus said they will know us by our love. Where is the love? What I have seen in the pentecostal church is a lot of manipulation. Pastors leading through tactics of fear and control. If you dare challenge them on any issue they will throw scripture like Annanias and Saphirra at you. They will warn you that you are close to witchcraft with any opposition."Follow what I say" or you will be under a curse, in rebellion, and close to the fires of hell.No wonder why they are leaving the pentecostal church. No wonder why people are being hurt and held back from fufilling thier destiny. No wonder why people are so bound up in church. They are scared! Thankfully, perfect love casts out fear.

Recently, a came across a website called the association of former pentecostals. It is a very large online community made up of people who left the penetecostal/charismatic movement. They are speading a message that we are hurting this world more than any other organization. This is coming from former members of our own movement!Do you want to know the major issues they have...the gifts of the spirit? wrong

worship? wrong

tongues? nope

The major problem these ex pentecostals have is the lack of love in our pentecostal churches. The fear and control used to manipulate people to obey. They are calling it "spiritual meaness." They are calling us a false movement because of the lack of love and fruit. The sad truth is...they are not all wrong!In many cases, pentecostal churches take themselves way too serious. There is an atmosphere of meanness, anger, and even hate. We have many "holy" christians who are meaner than a cobra! Where is the love that Jesus said we would be known for. He said that the world would know that we are TRUE disciples by our love.

What will mark true Christians? Gifts? tongue? good music? great preaching?NO! its love! What is going on with us pentecostals? Things must change! We should be the most loving, caring, body of people on the face of the earth.We are filled with the Spirit, so we should be filled with the fruit of the Spirit.We should be marked with love, care, concern, and community. I want a revival that is marked with souls, worship, and LOVE AND COMMUNITY. Together, cant we both have them together. Some people go to pentecostal churches becasue of the annointing. Some go to mainline denominations becasue of the fellowship and community. Cant we have both? I have been a part of the pentecostal movement my whole life and I have seen many things.

I believe we are right about worship, the power of God, and the gifts of the Spirit. Yet, I bear witness to the truth in the allegations against our movement and it breaks my heart! I want to challenge all of us. I recongnize the problem. I will not turn a blind eye to it, I cant.Lets recognize it, address it, and change!Lets be radical! Lets win the lost and shake our communities. But when they come into our church communities may they see Jesus. May they sense the love of God so much that it is unlike any love they have EVER experienced.May they not come in and be dscouraged by our atitudes and manipulation.May we be known for our love, church. Pentecostals have made fellowship a bad word. In our circles it's like a curse.

Things have to change. Please, let it start with me and you...even today.Be Christ-Like, Be a Christian. Love your neighbor! May we be truley marked with Love above all. If we have not love, we have NOTHING!

Harvest Festival 2007

Late Night Cosmic Bowling!

Hey everyone! We had an awesome time last night at Brandon Crossroads for "Cosmic Bowling." Here are a few pics of all the fun!

The entire group

Nice form, Dan!

It was a really late night.

It was kind of hit-or-miss in lane 37. This time, a miss.

Whoever said you can't practice the "laying on of hands" outside of church?

We ate at Denny's afterwards for a really late night snack.