Copyright 2011 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Several months ago, I was contacted by someone who was put off by something they read from another writer in a social community I oversee. They interpreted that writing as “something is not right here and please watch that person.” So, I went back and read the writing in question. It was in the style of old school scribes like Ravenhill, Spurgeon or Bounds. The writing was in your face, and completely scripturally sound. The Lord said to me: “No, Theresa. This writing is of me and so is the scribe who penned it.” The Lord revealed to me that this scribe was writing “out of and into a different time.” The writing was from the perspective of the time in history in which the Word of God was imprinted upon their soul and released in a time in which that type of exposition of scripture was foreign to this rising generation.
It was then that the Lord began to speak to me intimately about GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES in scribal ministry. We all write out of the times in which we live in some way.
Immediately, I thought about my mother and my paternal grandmother. They would say things to me like, “I don’t know what’s wrong with these young people these days! When I was young we would never…..” And so the story goes. You can stick anything you like there that shows “distinct generational differences” in how life was processed around us. Today, this generation is so far removed from the move of God that established believers in the 50s, 60s and early 70s that their language and tone is, for many, meets a deafening ear.
Yet, there are many PROPHETIC SCRIBES still releasing teachings that reflect the anointing from those times. Whether we believe people need to “come up” to the familiar time of the present day or not — this truth stands as a reality. Sadly, this younger generation doesn’t value or respect that legacy. Rather, it stands out as a time they would rather forget. Yet, the truth of the matter is this: “Those times became the path or the sidewalk that enabled many of us to stand here today.” We can be progressive in our present day understanding of God’s Word, without discounting the cobblestones and bricks of the past — our history, legacy and the wisdom it presents to us.
In this hour, Father has given me a desire to DISCUSS these differences with His present day scribes so that the scribal ministries of these patriarchs who are still penning from a heart surreneded to God aren’t “discounted” and ignored because of a perceived IRRELEVANCE concerning their scripturally sound ministries and messages
We must learn to respect the LEGACY of scribes who have gone before us. Otherwise, we run the risk of not only deeply wounding God’s people, but closing our ears to wisdom. I’ll be the first to say that my grandmother said many things that absolutely didn’t interest me and left me saying, “Grandma is so OLD FASHIONED! That stuff she’s talking about isn’t relevant today.” I see NOW that that was a not the case! EVERYTHING my grandmother said to me was relevant, I just didn’t have the wisdom to carry it.Those things that we don’t often understand we quickly dismiss.
In your writing circles, groups, etc. you will always have WISDOM around you. If you’re very, very young (let’s say 28 or younger) some things you read and hear about the Lord may seem very out-dated to you — especially old-school teachings on hell, the rapture, the millennial reign, salvation, healing and other foundational topics.
But understand this: Many schools of ministry are using those old teachings in their classrooms today in addition to the scriptures. While the progression of the Gospel in this generation may be presented differently, it doesn’t necessarily mean that what was written 50 years ago or even hundreds of years ago is irrelevant. I’ve read books written by scribes during the early church formation that are absolutely ASTOUNDING in their wisdom, application and guidance. Scholars would agree that many of these men were light years beyond their time.
Why are we talking about this?
As prophetic people, it is imperative that WE LEARN TO RESPECT & VALUE the generational differences in writing among scribes of the King. Understand that the root of legacy BEGAN with those who have gone before us, and while this present and rising generation may see their contribution as “out-dated,” there will come a time when the WISDOM pouring from these men of God will provide a guiding light. They could very well be life-lines of wisdom in a “compromising and entertaining world” for believers seeking truth. They could be the scribal projects that ignite destiny. I thank God for the work of Ravenhill, Tozer, Wigglesworth, Chambers and others. Their insight into the heart and mind of God have been instrumental in shaping my destiny and revealing my purpose.
With that said, it is important to understand that each and every writing that flows from us by the spirit of the Lord is ALSO subject to our uniqueness in the Father — our experiences, perspectives, level of wisdom, understanding AND the times in which we live! Your experiences, how you’ve been taught, what has been rooted in you and even who has mentored you will impact and influence different seasons in your life.
As we go about our ministries, I’m learning that Father has a way of connecting His sons with OTHER sons who have similar or not so similar backgrounds, personalities and even passions. Every one us belong to a spiritual company, a tribe. We are essential to a particular function and purpose in the Body. We walk along a frequency that is all our own and that frequency is for those whose ears are conditioned to hear it. So just because the voice coming from one person does not speak to you, it could mean that the message wasn’t assigned to you. The diverseness of God and His people is so very strategic. The TRUMPET SOUND in each one of us draws the Spirit of those who are DESTINED to hear what the Lord is BLOWING THROUGH our lives!
I often look at the type of worship music that I am drawn to. For me, I can hear the sound of the Lord in the midst of those singing and connect with what the Lord is blowing through them. My husband, for example, is drawn to old school gospel — and the music really ministers to him. NEITHER ONE OF US have missed God in our choices. Our ears are simply tuned to different frequencies in this area.
If we do not learn to value the different administrations of scribal ministry in others, we run the risk of hurting and wounding the people of God. There must be a point or a place in which we seek God for the better way – even if error is in the midst! I was so honored one time when an 80 year old woman came to one of my open mics. It brought me to tears as she read her poem in the style of Langston Hughes. As she stood there, she said: “I really don’t fit with all you young people but I really need to do this — for me.” This brought me to tears. I was probably around 29 years old at the time. The poem was POWERFUL! I mean “Maya Angelou” kind of powerful.
I am sharing this because we see the “generational differences” at its greatest in creative environments as people describe the world they see in the “vocabulary and context” oft the time in which they live. Listening to Gill Scott Heron’s famous poem, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” is a secular example of this. You see, we want to embrace all “aspects” of the Kingdom — not just the parts that have a tenor that agrees with us. DISCERNMENT is our most POWERFUL weapon in this hour as scribes!
It was Father’s discernment that brought this particular issue to light in me.
I can distinguish those “generational differences” in the midst of writings…. quite easily, and respect those writings based on the Spirit of the Lord in which they were written. I am finding that as I mature in the things of the Lord, I am becoming more sensitive in the spirit, more insightful and compassionate. Again, a writing by someone in their 70s or 80s will be very different from a writing by someone in their 20s, 30s or even 40s for that matter. Why? Because you’re seeing across generational contexts, pivitol moments in history…. and your seeing through experiences and circumstances that quite honestly one would not fully comprehend unless they soberly through those times.
One of the mistakes that rising and present day scribes make is that they miss AND disregard the beauty in these differences.
Scribes, if you have a literary ministry, a publication or writing group or whatever — ask Holy Spirit to raise your awareness in this area concerning the wise among us. Don’t fall prey to the nasty attitude that so many embrace when there is a lack of wisdom and understanding. It is easy to let self-righteousness, pride, arrogance, personal feelings, strange beliefs concerning relevance and what have you get in the way. Not only do we want to be sensitive to the generational differences in scribal ministry, but we also don’t want to miss a visitation from the Lord that might be in the midst.
Legacy, in this hour, is very significant to the body.
