"What Spirit Was Released into Your Country on That Day?"

As westerners, we often suffer from a hyper-rational worldview which clouds our perception of spiritual realities. On this matter, the growing influence of the African missionary thrust into North America is proving most helpful. In the introduction to his book, Never Silent, Bishop Thaddeus Barnum recounts a conversation between Bishop John Rucyahana of Rwanda and an American evangelical clergyman. +Rucyahana's holistic perception of the consequences of the schismatic actions of one mainline denomination in the United States is chilling precisely because it is dead on accurate. It exhibits the kind of spiritual discernment that is so tragically lacking in so much of western Christianity.

"You don't care?" John reacted immediately, his voice unconsciously rising.

The clergyman responded apologetically: "It's not my denomination. It's not my problem."

The pain struck deep. John Rucyahana is an African missionary to the States. In 1994 his country of Rwanda suffered unimaginable genocide. His people cried for help. As a matter of documented history, the world heard that cry, saw their suffering, and did nothing. Nearly one million perished. Rwandans know these words too well: Not my problem.

"You think there's a firewall between you and the Episcopalians?" John asked.

The clergyman had no response.

John wouldn't relent. "What do you think happened in November 2003 when they consecrated an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire? They invoked the name of the Lord Jesus Christ over that man--the same One who died for you, who saved you. They did it publicly, for all the world to see. That didn't move you? Who can sit back and do nothing when the One you love is being mocked and spit on?"

Still no reaction.

John pressed harder: "They laid hands on that man. They called on the Holy Spirit to bless and consecrate him. You know the Holy Spirit doesn't do that. He will not bless sin." John lifted his hands, palms up, pleadingly. "So what spirit came upon him? What spirit was released into your country on that day? Do you know?" His eyes were wide and fixed on the minister. "Aren't you troubled by that? Isn't there something inside you rising up to protect the Christians in your country?"

Finally, the clergyman's eyes fell away, and he shook his head slightly.

John's voice took on an urgency. "How can you say, 'Not my problem'? Fire is raging in the house of God. Can't you feel the heat? Doesn't the smoke fill your nostrils with burning pain? How can you pretend that your people are safe? Who told you there were firewalls between denominations?"

The clergyman looked back up and did his best to show concern. But he remained distant, unaffected.

John knew it and reacted sharply, "You Americans sleep while the devil goes after your children." (pp. 15-16)

What spirit, indeed, was released into our country that day? It's a frightening question with an answer we might not want to hear.