By Robert R. Kopp | Pastor, Bethany Presbyterian Church, Loves Park, Illinois
The war of words through local newspapers and clergy conclaves proved my conclusion about unconverted clergy who don't really believe in Jesus as attested by the New Testament yet are duplicitously hypocritical enough to pick up checks from churches that have traditionally, historically, confessionally, and constitutionally acknowledged the unique saving Lordship (Kingship) of Jesus Christ.
The irony of those criticizing this rapidly growing unity overcoming diversity through common and unmasked faith in Jesus is the critics and cynics represent religions, institutions, and organizations advocating but not demonstrating the joys of indiscriminate community so apparent at every gathering of GRIPP.
The growth of GRIPP in the face of rabid rebukes from very white socioeconomic and ecclesiastical elites testifies to the accelerating decline of mainline religion in America. While the familiar mainline denominations are old homogeneous wineskins cracking at the seams and losing members quicker than Michael Jackson's Fan Club, GRIPP is Rockford's expression of a spiritual movement sweeping people up into unity disrespecting previous exclusions.
Rockford's Christian community gathering with increasing regularity as GRIPP has not paid much attention to the naysayers; regarding them as irrelevant to the advancement of the Jesus Christ's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Or as Edward Sharp wrote in a letter to the editor of the Rockford Register Star on 2 December 2002,
Again, I say this issue that has been voiced by Bob Griffin is a nonissue. Jesus the Christ is already the Lord of Rockford, the United States, and the world! There are those that do not recognize the truth but will some day.
I've been saying for almost two decades that the lampstand or efficacious place in the Kingdom is being transferred to those who are seizing the appointed moment (kairos) and moving with God as profiled in Jesus and prescribed in the Bible (see Revelation 2:1-7). While sociologists of religion and membership statistics have substantiated my suspicion for several years, GRIPP has provided the clearest and most conclusive apocalypse of this transfer for me. I see a joy, wholeness, happiness, evangelistic fervor, sacrificial attitude of service, existential unity, and eternal security unknown to contemporary mainline denominations which are breaking down all of the old ecclesiastical, color, class, and culture boundaries.
The good news of Rockford's miracle is spreading across America; but you won't hear much about it from local mainliners who aren't involved or media who are more interested in heralding the irenic potential of Islam.
It doesn't really matter.
An old camp song comes to mind:
It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing. That's how it is with God's love,
