Allen: quenching the Spirit?

Tuesday, June 9, 2015
    Feast of Columba, Abbot of Iona, Missionary, 597
    Commemoration of Ephrem of Syria, Deacon, Hymnographer, Teacher, 373
Meditation:
    Quench not the Spirit.
    —1 Thessalonians 5:19 (KJV)
Quotation:
    [Continued from yesterday]
    The reason of our failure is, I believe, largely due to the fact that we quench that Spirit. We educate our converts to think... that none but duly appointed ministers may preach. We dread the possible mistakes of individual zeal. The result is that our converts hesitate to speak of religion to others. They throw the responsibility on the licensed evangelist and “the mission”...
    We need to begin again to teach ourselves and our people what Spirit we are of, and to give liberty that the word of the Lord may have free course. When we do that, the Church will again reveal itself in its true character and become self-propagating.
    ... Roland Allen (1869-1947), Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or ours?, London: World Dominion Press, 1927, reprinted, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1962, p. 126 (see the book)
    See also 1 Thess. 5:19; Ps. 51:11; Eph. 4:30; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6-8
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant that may I never ignore the prompting of the Spirit. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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