Tonight Merv and I made our decision. We have decided to fly home a week earlier than anticipated.
The straw that broke the back of the proverbial camel was this evening's meeting. Almost three hours of emotionally charged dancing, singing, wailing and swaying. Merv had been asked to preach, but they felt that it would be a better use of their time to 'worship', so they cancelled his session. We had struggled when we arrived here with the question of whether what was happening was cultural or charismatic - we are now certain that a deliberately charismatic gospel is being vociferously inculcated in these young believers, and equally certain that very questionable practices are going on unchecked. The attitude of the leadership is that they should allow God to decide what is passing and what is permanent in the various streams of teaching that they are allowing in. Very little, if any, boundaries and discipline are in evidence.
One of the Mission leaders confided in us that he too was concerned about the schoolboy exegesis of certain texts attempted by our fellow-countrymen. When challenged that some of the teaching that they were receiving was so left-field as to be almost heretical, he reminded us that the churches behind these men are good givers and supporters financially. How sad that in such an influential organisation with so much blessing in evidence, that incoming finance should be placed in a position of greater importance than truth.
Conversations over meals centred upon the miraculous manifestations of God in the revivals and awakenings at East Timor and in various places in India - people walking on water across raging rivers to preach the gospel, the dead being routinely raised as a sign, eyes growing back in sockets and limbs visibly extending to normal usage. I don't want my small experience to dull my appreciation of the sovereignty of God - even as a convinced cessationist - but it seems that these people are obsessed with the spectacular.
We felt that once God's Word was being so marginalised and eventually pushed aside, that we could continue no longer. After speaking with our church leaders at home, we have organised flights from Delhi for Thursday, 5th February.
It is a real shame, as there is much prayer and seeking of God going on here. We could learn so much from their sense of dependence and passion for souls! Our hosts are both godly and gracious. Some of the folk I have met have moved me so much.
There is a time when lines have to be drawn in the sand. Today is one of those days.