Following
the Spirit
From Kleingartach in southern Germany, our brother Gerd
wrote in the summer of 2002:
We greet you warmly!
Your messages bring so much peace and joy in the Lord. In
all I feel a deep closeness and unity with you and Jesus.
We have such a good Lord who gives us so much! I just write
down what I have in mind while reading or thinking about
your mails.
It's good that you think we should obey the word of God
where it is clear. That means we shouldn't start discussing
if everything is still valid in our time. We shouldn't be
too theological. Instead we should take care more for our
deeds.
It's interesting what you write about Hutterite history and
traditions. Traditions and rules help the community to be
firm over the years. Indeed I have no longing to join a
community that is totally new for the majority of the
members. My wish is rather to live in an "older" community
for a period of time in order to learn to live in community
and than to see what God wants next.
And here I'm at the topic of which I have the most
questions: How can we recognize the will of God for our
lives? I think that this is an important question for all
of us, because before we make the next step we should have
found an answer. I know that this is a personal question
for all of us between ourselves and God, but I think there
are common characteristics how to find God's will.
First of all prayer is the most important. God can show his
will in an answer to a prayer without ceasing. He can show
it through a longing that doesn't stop and clearly honours
him. Can a sign be a deep peace and joy in Jesus like it
was when you called me at the phone?
A decision like joining or founding a community has to be
made on a firm ground, because from outside the world and
from inside in our hearts there will come struggles,
doubts, trials and temptations. How can I know if these
struggles come from God as a sign to go another way or if
they are trials from the devil?
Can inner peace in Jesus be a sign when we hold on our way?
Is inner peace in Jesus usually a sign, no matter how bad
the outside circumstances are?
Do you understand what I am saying? Am I thinking right?
It would be good to know what the rest of you think about
these questions and what your experiences have taught you.
In Jesus name let us pray together.
* * * * *
Gerd, we believe we understand just what you are saying and
feeling. Like us, you desire with all your heart that Jesus
would lead you through this life to new heavens and a new
earth where righteousness dwells, and where we hope to live
with him (2 Peter 3:13).
You have come to the right place - that is, to prayer.
Through earnest heartfelt prayer (prayer of the soul, many
times without words, perhaps in unknown tongues) we open
the door for the Spirit to begin working in us. Many people
never make contact with the Spirit of Christ because they
expect something far too complicated, far too dramatic, or
"out of this world." They believe the Spirit could only
speak to them through some highly supernatural event like
on the Mount of Transfiguration, through a blinding vision,
or when the Spirit first came at Pentecost.
But ordinarily he does nothing of the kind.
He simply moves us to do what God wants. He prompts us
inwardly, giving us the impulse to do what is right. If we
learn to follow the Spirit, and discern what is really from
him (not from a false spirit) we will never again be left
in the dark, lost, or stumbling around for direction.
"I am the Light of the World," Jesus said. "If you follow
me you will NEVER walk in darkness."
Following the Spirit - that is following Christ - Gerd, is
as easy and straightforward as following your sense of
direction from Kleingartach to the Danish border. Could you
get there? Of course you could - even without a map or
anyone along to tell you the way! As long as you inwardly
felt which direction was north, you would not get lost. At
times the road might be a bit unclear. Of course it would
be unfamiliar. You might take some wrong turns and meet a
dead-end or two. But sooner or later, if you followed your
inner sense of direction - if you followed what you really
felt - you would end up at the right place.
Yes, I said that right!
We are well aware of what many Christians have been saying
for generations. They have been saying, "Don't trust your
feelings! Your feelings are unsafe. Just do as you're told
and you'll be alright!"
But it is not alright. Exactly for this reason we so often
and so grievously lose the way. Like a big flock of turkeys
all running around with not one of them knowing where they
are going or why they are running anywhere, we think we are
safe as long as we just stay together. We do all manner of
things even though we inwardly feel they are probably
wrong. Like children at the circus we gravitate toward the
biggest or most excited crowd without bothering to even
think why.
It is time we live differently. If we believe in Christ,
his Spirit moves us through our feelings (intuition), as
well as through the Scriptures and other believers, to do
what is right. We may trust him completely.
The Spirit of Christ will NEVER move us into the lust of
the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life! He
will NEVER move us into proud, selfish, individualism. The
Spirit will no more lead us into the world than our natural
mothers would have led us into a sewage pit.
If all of us Christians would dare follow the Spirit and
lean not on our own understanding we would discover
ourselves infinitely stronger, healthier, and spiritually
better off than before. We would not get caught in wicked
cults. We would not flounder in confusion. We would find
our way. We would become the Lord's Church to rise and
shine like the sun!
The Spirit of Christ invariably leads into unity and peace.
True, he also leads us into sharp opposition with
unbelievers and the god of this world (I came not to bring
peace but a sword) but to the humble he comes with the
angels' song of peace and goodwill to men.
All you must watch out for, Gerd, is that you do not fix
your eyes on Elmendorf, on any other community or group of
people. We might let you down. Jesus Christ will not! And
with him, together, you and we shall find our way.