# 2 - LEAVING the "OUT-OF-CHURCH" - Andrew Strom
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
I got quite a lot of support - but also many people angry and upset
over last week's "LEAVING" article. In fact, there seemed to be a
"3-day war" over it on our Forum at Revivalschool.com . Oh, well!
It was something I felt I had to write, and it had been coming for a
long time.
Some people seem to think that I am sending people back to
"any old" church - whether 'dead' or hype-ridden or whatever. I
have to ask- When did I ever say such a thing?
The point I was really making is that it is totally unacceptable
(in New Testament terms) to be without a 'Body' or 'Leaders'. -A
simple fact straight out of the Bible. But how you put that into
practice is totally between you and God. Do I myself belong to a
'local church'? YES! -But do I also believe that God is doing a "new
thing"? -YES, I DO!! Hopefully my follow-up article below will shed
more light on the whole thing:
"RELATING to LEADERS - A TESTIMONY"
-by Andrew Strom.
The main "wilderness" period in my life lasted for seven years -
from 1986 to 1993. A great 'crushing' and brokenness entered
my life during those years, as God dealt with my pride, my
self-righteousness and my arrogant attitude. In 1993 He led me
to DEEPLY RENOUNCE these things and COMMAND them
out of my life in the name of Jesus - at a deeper level than I ever
had before. Rebellion, hurt, rejection - all these kinds of things
were deeply renounced over a 3-day period. The transformation in
my life and my whole attitude was amazing! A great number of
'strongholds' were suddenly broken. This brought an end to my
"wilderness" years. -God could now trust me to be with His Body again.
So after 1993 I no longer considered myself to be a real "Out-of-
church" person - though I was certainly a strong supporter and
sympathiser with that movement. Why did I support it for so long -
even after I was back in church fellowship myself? Well, I could
see that the church was in need of drastic "change" and Reformation -
and I thought that these people, who had left 'religion' behind,
might be the very ones that God could use to spark something.
(-George Barna seems to have reached the same conclusion in
'Revolution'). Also, I remembered my own 'wilderness' experience -
and felt that it had a positive impact on my life overall.
It took me a long time to see that many of the 'Out-of-church'
people I came across seemed to be making their 'home' in the
wilderness. They were not about the 'Promised Land' at all - even
though they said they were. Many were not interested in getting
rid of their attitudes about 'leaders' and so-on. They were quite
happy being "out" - and staying that way.
There was a lot of 'TALK' in those circles about "New Testament
church" and a New Wineskin, etc. -A new move of God. But after
awhile I started to realize that most of it was just "TALK"!! Many of
these people seemed honestly INCAPABLE of entering into a real
move of God because of their attitudes about 'Body' and 'Leaders'.
And most of them did not seem to want to change.
After 1993, I have to admit that my own attitude toward leaders
changed a lot. I now had an insight into the insidious nature of
'Rebellion' - how subtle it had been in my own life and how it plays
out in our relationships with leaders and parents, etc. Very ugly.
Very insidious. No wonder leaders have such a hard time! Most of
us don't even realize the deep motivations behind our attitudes-
"Who do you think you are - telling me what to do?"... "How dare
you think you have any say in my life?", etc, etc. -Just like spoilt
teenagers throwing a tantrum. How demonic. And how it dominates
fallen human nature.
I am a father of six children and also worked as a school-teacher
for a couple of years (-teaching 11-12 year olds in secular school).
I tell you, after 1993, there was so much that I saw related to
'Rebellion' that I had never had insight into before.
A school-teacher can usually tell after the first day - who the
rebellious kids in the class are. They just have an "attitude". Even
if they try to hide it for awhile, it still comes out. There are several
options for dealing with it. You can try 'discipline', you can try
'isolation' (-so they won't disrupt the whole class), you can try
"managing" the problem, 'coddling' them along a bit. But sometimes
you are stuck with a rebellious "problem-child" for a whole year.
(As most teachers know, this is particularly true if the child has
no father in the home. -The leadership vacuum there can affect all).
So how does this apply to the church?
Well, over the years I have seen many 'Out-of-church' people
and "prophetic" people and 'hurt' people who exude exactly the
same kind of attitude. Sometimes it is so strong that they might
as well have these words stamped on their forehead: "I do NOT
RESPECT AUTHORITY. I do NOT TRUST LEADERS. Therefore
I will make TROUBLE". Or, just as common: "I have a REJECTION
COMPLEX. I have been REJECTED BEFORE and I am waiting for
you to REJECT ME." Sometimes it is so strong that you can pick
up on it right away. But other times it is more subtle. Either way,
the results are the same. -Many of these people are unteachable,
they take offense easily, they talk against leadership behind their
back, etc. -All the usual hallmarks. Some of the 'Out-of-church'
people that I have met are absolutely DRIPPING with this stuff.
Quite a few 'prophetic' people too.
Have you ever wondered why you sometimes meet a church leader
and immediately it seems you are "rubbing him up the wrong way"
without even saying much? -Sometimes the leader is at fault, but
quite often they are sensing something inside you that is ringing
alarm bells. Perhaps they can't put their finger on it, but there is
a sense of "Rebellion" and 'Trouble' about you - and it is not just
because you are "different". Often there really is something wrong.
Just like a school-teacher, most leaders can pick up on this kind
of thing. -So it is up to us to make sure that this darkness is
GONE out of our lives, my friends.
The fact is, some leaders may oppose you because of a "Saul-
David" complex (ie. they are 'jealous' of you) - or perhaps they are
'controlling' or prone to 'pre-judge' people. Don't hang around those
kinds of leaders!! But just as often, such opposition will be caused
by 'strongholds' inside your life that make leaders uncomfortable
around you. And I know a lot of "Out-of-church" people in this category.
A good test of this is pretty simple: In every mid-sized town in
America, I bet there are at least 3 or 4 good Christian leaders
who are Spirit-filled, not into 'hype', preach Biblical doctrine, etc.
I bet if you look hard, you can find them.
I wonder how they would react if you start hanging around there?
-If you go in without an "agenda" - without wanting to "reform"
their church or thrust yourself forward into "ministry", etc. But just
tell them you are into Revival and repentance and prayer. And
simply hang around - praying and supporting - letting them see
your heart. -I wonder what those leaders will 'pick up' about you?
And I wonder if you can handle simply doing that, anyway? Are
you up to it?
A lot of 'Out-of-church' people I have met simply are not capable
of this. There is something wrong inside them that will mess this
whole thing up. And yes - it is something wrong inside THEM. It is
not always the "system" that is at fault. There are 'strongholds' in
their life and they desperately need to be FREE.
I have explained before about "DEEPLY RENOUNCING" specific
strongholds BY NAME until they are gone. As I have said before,
a lot of us simply need to get alone with God, and RENOUNCE
and RENOUNCE such things as 'hurt', rejection and rebellion
until they are utterly gone. -We need to do it TODAY.
My heart goes out to a lot of leaders - it really does. I truly
believe there is a 'LEADERSHIP CRISIS' in the Western church,
but I also see that leadership in Christianity is one of the most
difficult jobs on earth. Dealing with human nature on a daily basis
can be an absolute nightmare. The number of good-hearted leaders
leaving the ministry year after year runs into the THOUSANDS just
in America alone.
A lot of these people got into ministry for good reasons and with
a good heart. Some of them are leaving with their marriage in
tatters - overworked and undervalued. Others have been seen off
by "boards of deacons", where one or two members with an
'agenda' have made their life a misery. You can blame the "system"
or you can blame the "unredeemed" state of much of the church.
(-Certainly a big part of this!) But the fact is, even in a 'good'
environment, leadership is a hugely challenging task. -Ask Joshua!
Ask the apostles!
Today I generally enjoy being around leaders - especially ones that
have a true heart after God. We may not always agree, but we
usually get on pretty well. In my early days I used to avoid leaders -
but no longer. I guess that growing older has helped (-I just turned
40 recently). And also being a leader myself - seeing the challenges
involved. But the biggest thing that has made a difference has been
'RENOUNCING' those dark strongholds out of my life over the years.
Today I make sure to let leaders truly see my heart. -For how can
"trust" be built up otherwise? -It is only by being completely open-
hearted and being around people for periods of time, so a relationship
can be built up. Don't hide your heart from people. Open up and let
them get to know the real 'you'. -Only then can trust develop.
In closing, the New Testament tells us to "honor" our Christian
leaders - particularly good ones - and to support them financially.
(1 Tim 5:17-18). It also likens the authority and respect that a
father must have in his home, to a leader's position in the church.
(1 Tim 3:4-5). All of this is undeniable, and if you have a problem
with it then I suggest that you may have a stronghold of 'Rebellion'
in your heart. Find good leaders and get around them, my friends!
To hear in more detail my journey through a crushing "wilderness",
my early battles with leaders and then the transformation in my
life through 'RENOUNCING' these strongholds - please download
my sermon "Deep Dealings of God" which is on the RIGHT at-
http://www.revivalschool.com
God bless you, my friends.
Kindest regards in Christ,
Andrew Strom.