The wages of spin is death
In this article, Roy Todd challenges the Church to avoid 'spin' at all costs – and instead create room
for God to work genuine miracles ... without hype.
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The Wages of Spin is death
Have you ever heard a preacher publicly say something like 'Can't you sense the presence of God in this place tonight?' Well, I'm going to let you in on a little secret (Shhhh ... don't tell too many people or I might get in trouble). Usually one of four things is occurring when a question like that is posed;
1) Nothing is happening ... so by saying this, the preacher is trying to make it look as if something is
2) It's sending out a subliminal message to the congregation that they should verbally respond louder…(in agreement with the preacher's sermon of course)
3) It's an attempt to liven the proceedings up
4) It demonstrates how much more spiritual the preacher is than everybody else when the meeting feels a bit dry – as only the preacher's sensing God's presence when no-one else is!
But hang a second ... let's just think this through. Surely if God's presence really is in a place, then it would be obvious to everyone present ... and there wouldn't be any need to ask people if they can feel it or not? That would be like standing in Buckingham palace in exactly the same room as the queen – asking those around you 'Can't you sense the Queen's presence here today?' A bit of a pointless question don't you think?
Yet in an attempt to whip up a sense of momentum, that's so often what happens in church. Our lack of patience to just allow the Holy Spirit to do his work then leads to a form of spin that tries to make things look and sound dramatic and compelling, perhaps even better than they actually are. But we do well to remember that the wages of spin is death.
I've just written a book, the working title of which is 'miracles'. I've entitled one chapter 'Less is more'. It's about learning the secret of moving in the miraculous. So what's the secret? Well ... the clue is in the title ... it's about learning to do less not more. Moving in the miraculous is not so much about creating a sense of momentum as it is about allowing space for a moment of encounter that has the potential to change things forever. Interestingly, the old saying 'Less is more' was coined by the 19th century architect and furniture designer Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, one of the founders of modern architecture and a proponent of simplicity of style. The phrase denotes the idea that making space to focus on one object will have a more outstanding effect than complicating it with many. Hence people today talk about being 'minimalist'. And so it ought to be the case with us, especially when it comes to moving in the miraculous. Isaiah 28:10 says "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little" (NKJV). In God's economy, less really is more.
Far from putting on a variety of extra programmes, 'less' is what we need to learn if we're going to see genuine miracles. It's about making space for God to show himself to us. This requires a tidying up process on our part, re-assessing many of our existing priorities and de-cluttering those that are unhelpful and in the way. Yet there's something about the insecurities of many that feels deeply threatened by minimalism, thinking that only when lots of things are going on are we going to see something happen. Many churches are far too afraid to clear the clutter for fear of what might be exposed if it were taken away. Their concerns are expressed in sentiments that are not always verbalised, but which ponder: will people still worship without our style of music? Will members keep coming to church if the programme changes? Will they continue to give financially if we stop the activities that we feel need to be brought to an end? Of course there's nothing wrong with music-style, programmes, extra-activities and the rest. But if those things become more important than God himself, surely they turn into clutter. If they are a blockage to miracles happening and lives being changed, then they are excess to demand and as such, need to be cleared out of the way. The process of de-cluttering is not about losing out but providing opportunity for God to pour in. Only when there is emptiness can God really do something of significance. Surely that's the lesson of the miracle at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine? But instead, many seem to feel that the best way to initiate momentum is by packing out each week with a vast list of programmes so that people can be engaged to get involved. Sure there's lots going on ... but when all is said and done, the question must be asked 'What's being achieved?" The danger is that we become reliant on spin instead of God.
God can do more in one instant than we could ever attempt in a million lifetimes. Making space for him to manifest his presence is the preparation we need for those miraculous moments that are yet to come. It's in times like this that one encounter with God can lead to situations being transformed forever. But the process of de-cluttering takes a step of faith and not a little courage as there are sometimes periods of seeming inaction. There can even be occasions when it appears that Heaven has gone silent. Some then make the mistake of assuming that the sense of nothingness means it's not working and so revert to endless programmes again. But we shouldn't be afraid of silence. Why be threatened by quietness? "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15 KJV). God is watching over his word and in his good time, he will bring it to pass. We just need to keep our lives clear of clutter so that nothing will hinder him working in and through us. Remember, your moment for a miracle will come ... so always be on the ready for it. Oh ... and it usually happens when you least expect it.
© Roy Todd, 2008.
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