If history has anything to teach us, it is that when the Spirit of God moves amongst his people, many don’t like it! In fact, we’ve seen from past revivals, that most the opposition occurs from within the church, rather than from those outside.
And this was certainly the case for the Charismatic renewal that began to spread in Dennis Bennett’s congregation.
As more and more parishioners experienced a fresh immersion of the Spirit of God, more and more were expressing exuberant praise of God in their everyday conversations with others.
The rising exuberant praise expressed by one parishioner to another, stirred a parishioner who had not experienced this spiritual refreshing:
“What’s going on in this church? Fanaticism?
While it is an expression not often used now (perhaps because not many remain in the Anglican church who’s exuberance causes such a label), nevertheless ‘religious fanaticism’ is defined as ‘uncritical zeal or obsessive enthusiasm’.
Unfortunately, the zeal that was being expressed, was most certainly being criticised!
On closer inspection, however, it was not the new experiences of the Holy Spirit, nor His new empowerment for service and mission that seemed to cause a stir, it was the spiritual practice of “speaking in tongues” which really unsettled many.
It is worthwhile considering why tongues always seems to cause such hostility and controversy within the church.
Yet returning to what occurred in Dennis’s congregation, he writes,
“Things seemed to be moving alone very nicely, which suited me just fine, for I was by preference a compromiser, not a fighter. However, I was underestimating the enemy. Most Christians are half-inclined to think of Satan as a legendary figure, but the Bible says that immediately after the Lod Jesus Chrit received the power of the Holy Spirit, just following His baptism in Jordan by John the Baptist the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan. All you need to do to be convinced of Satan’s reality is start getting Christians empowered with the Holy Spirit.”
Dennis Bennett, Nine O’Clock in the Morning, p 49
Dennis discovered this demonically fuelled opposition first-hand.
“As word began to spread that some people at St Mark’s were “speaking in tongues,” fear and prejudice was stirred in the hearts of a small group of well-meaning but poorly informed folk, who determined to set themselves flatly against this experience.”
Dennis Benett, Nine O’Clock in the Morning, p 50
Whether it be Mirriam and Aaron’s opposition towards Moses (Numbers 11 and 12), or Sanballat and Tobiah’s fuelling dissension against Nehemiah’s determination to rebuild Israel’s wall, or the Jews stirring the people against Paul (Acts 17:1-7), the devil is often successful in using religious folk to form a coalition of opposition against the movement of the Spirit.
Now in hindsight, having the seen the same opposition rise up again and again against the moving of the Spirit, we can identify such demonic spirits as a ‘religious spirit’ or a ‘pharisaic spirit’, namely the same evil spirits that were working in the hearts of the Pharisees during the ministry of Jesus.
Just at when it seemed like the Spirit’s momentum was in full-swing, the Spirit moving powerfully by at least sixty parishioners of St Mark’s Anglican Church including the young people, it is almost as though the devil decided this move of God needed to be nipped in the bud.
Although Dennis could have spoken earlier about the fresh wave of the Spirit occurring within his congregation, he chose to delay making a public statement. His silence while possibly allowing the Spirit to continue spreading, also allowed rumours to grow and suspicions to darken.
It is uncanny when you compare how the Pharisees responded to Jesus’ ministry with those in Dennis congregation who openly opposed the Spirit’s movements. The Pharisees believed Jesus was ‘dangerous’ or leading the people astray, and thought he was ‘being used by the devil’ (Matthew 12:22-29) and ‘must be stopped’ (Matthew 12:14)
In a similar vein, those in Dennis congregation who opposed the Spirit’s work, believed it to be “a dangerous secret movement that would undermine the church and damage souls” (p55)
Dennis was beginning to see the necessity of speaking plainly about what many were experiencing.
In what, to me, seems to be a profound statement, writes,
“I had also underestimated the irrepressible spread of the fire of the Holy Spirit, once it has been kindled. You can’t keep Pentecost under wraps – it burns through!”
Dennis Bennett, Nine O’Clock in the Morning, p 55
For Dennis, when he spoke openly on Passion Sunday morning of 3 April 1960 in all three services about his newfound freedom and empowerment, Dennis heard the Spirit whisper,
“I’m not asking you to hold this church together; I’m asking you to tell what has happened to you! This isn’t your church anyway, it becomes to Jesus!”
Dennis Bennett, Nine O’Clock in the Morning, p 61
Are not the Spirit’s words also applicable to many church leaders today?
In what can only be described as being the work of a ‘hostile and violent evil spirit, at the end of the second service, one parishioner yelled loudly, “throw out the damn tongue-speakers”!
While those who had experienced the baptism with the Spirit shone with love and grace, the opposition grew so vehement, Dennis felt it necessary to resign from his position as Rector.
His resignation brought a freedom to talk and share the Spirit’s work, and the afterglow gathered more than seventy five for an evening of prayer and praise! So, rather than sulking n the wake of his resignation, Dennis continued to pray for healing and speak openly about the power of the Holy Spirit.
Meeting in what can only be described as a ‘first century model’, Dennis writes,
“Many spiritually hungry people came to talk about and pray for the power of the Holy Spirit which would enable them to live more effective Christian lives. We met in private homes …”
Dennis Bennett, Nine O’Clock in the Morning, p 65
After a season of indecision, Jesus opened the way for Dennis to minister in another parish, hence the spiritual fires moved north, to a little run-down church in Seattle.
We have no reason to ask why this rather insignificant outbreak of the Spirit, which was first ignited in Van Nuys, California, later become the catalyst for an international movement? It is because the phenomenon was picked up by Time magazine – bringing widespread exposure and interest. The article named Dennis, “The Father of the Modern Charismatic Renewal.”
With such a hostile attack towards those who had experienced the baptism of the Spirit, the ‘tongue talkers’, is it any wonder there was a mass exodus of charismatics from mainline churches, particularly Anglican churches. Those who decided not to leave, began to hide in the ‘closet’ somewhat numbing their exuberant expression of the Spirit, until for many, the glow became unnoticeable.
As I read the responses of those opposed to the Spirit’s activities, I wondered why they found ‘tongues’ so difficult to accept as a normal spiritual practice for believers.
My pondering included the following:
- Cultural or Traditional Factors: Opposition to speaking in tongues may be influenced by cultural or traditional factors within a particular Christian community or denomination. Certain cultural or denominational backgrounds may view speaking in tongues as unfamiliar or even controversial, leading to opposition based on cultural or traditional norms rather than strictly theological reasons.
- Scepticism or Lack of Personal Experience: When a Christian has not personally experienced the baptism in the Spirit, or witnessed others speaking tongues in a way that does not align with their preferred understanding of biblical teachings, they are likely to reject the practice as being ‘unbiblical’. Without personal experience or a strong theological basis for the practice, some believers may be inclined to view tongues with suspicion or scepticism. Unfortunately, the devil can use this suspicion and scepticism to stir criticism and dissention in a body.
- Differences in how Scripture is understood: When tradition and ‘particular’ worship practices are held as ‘normal, true and tested’, certain Scriptures, especially those in Acts 2 or 1 Corinthians 12-14, are read with a skewed perspective justifying why ‘tongues’ are no longer a feature in our modern worship services.
- Concerns about Disorder or Confusion: In some Christian circles, there is a concern that the practice of speaking in tongues can lead to disorder or confusion within the church community if not practiced in a controlled or orderly manner. The apostle Paul addresses this concern in 1 Corinthians 14, emphasizing the importance of edifying the church and maintaining order in the use of spiritual gifts.
- Finally, Emphasis on Other Spiritual Gifts: While speaking in tongues is one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament, some Christians and Christian denominations emphasize other gifts, such as teaching, prophecy, or acts of service, as being more central to the life of the church. As a result, they may downplay or even oppose the practice of speaking in tongues in favour of other expressions of spiritual giftedness. It is interesting that the Apostle Paul directly spoke against forbidding tongues in public worship (1 Corinthians 14:39).
As Dennis embarked on this new season in his new parish, he was full of confidence and determination to speak of his experiences with the Holy Spirit, a new chapter of ministry began to blossom.
He writes,
“I had seen God’s power in action among His people, and I knew very well I could not be content to lead a congregation without telling them about receiving the Holy Spirit.”
Dennis Bennett, Nine O’Clock in the Morning, p 72
In my own context, I asked myself how often I speak of my Spirit-baptism experience?
Have I become ‘dull’ due to fear of those not understanding the Spirit’s role in the life of the believer? Have I, in any way, sought refuge in the closet, and as a result allowed the fire of the Spirit to die down, until it is only a nominal smoulder?
What can I do to rekindle the flame of the Spirit in my own life?
How may I become more confident in expressing the gifts of the Spirit amongst the believing community, so as to encourage others to seek after a greater empowerment in the Spirit?
Thankfully the Spirit was not finished with Dennis. The story continued ….