Month: September 2025

Jesus Wept

On By Rob Prince1 Comment

When Paul wrote how believers are to “mourn with those that mourn”(Romans 12:15), he didn’t include in that directive to  check passports or voting records or social media posts first. He meant as you put yourself in the shoes of others, mourn as if it were your child, your spouse or your parent.  

This week’s 24th anniversary of 9-11 and the violence in our country (murders of the Ukrainian woman, a political activist in Utah, and the school shooting in Colorado –the 47th of 2025) shook the nation. There were those who chose to respond to these occurrences with outright glee or turning the blind eye of indifference. Clearly neither are acceptable responses for the American tragedies. Nor should the same extremes be evident in the deaths in Gaza or Ukraine or anywhere else in the world where evil and murder seem to reign. Death (in any form) is the enemy on display at Golgotha. It’s the bitter foe defeated in Christ’s empty tomb. 

Put yourself in the other’s shoes. Lace up the tennis shoes of the children who will be in school knowing  their classmates are dead or marred for life. Step into the sandals of a mother in Gaza who’s child was killed because of a bomb. Put on the heels of Erika Kirk as she navigates life with two children and no husband. Slip into the loafers of Iryna Zarutska’s mother who is dealing with the horror that her daughter survived a war but not a bus ride in America. For that matter, put on the boots of the father, who turned in his son for the assignation of Charlie Kirk. It’s not about politics. It is about Christian concern and empathy. 

It is just as troubling to have people happily lashing out about Kirk’s death and those who ignore school shootings or deaths in war. Jesus called us to love our neighbors and love our enemies. To love is to come alongside in grief. To offer hope amongst a hopeless situation. To point people to Jesus when they are walking the most difficult road of their lives. 

Followers of Jesus respond to death, crime, and war as Jesus would. Not ignoring. Not rejoicing. John 11:35: Jesus wept.

What are the Assemblies of God churches doing that the Nazarenes aren’t doing?

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

According to the research of Ryan Burge, Professor of Practice at the Danforth Center for Religion and Politics at Washington University, there is only one denomination (of all the denominations in the USA) that is significantly larger than it was 30 years ago: The Assemblies of God (see the graph). Of course, the big question is: why them and not us?

The Assemblies of God is a global Pentecostal church which began in 1914 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Church of the Nazarene began in 1908 in Pilot Point Texas. In fact, the original name of the Church of the Nazarene was the “Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene.” (The word “Pentecostal” was dropped in 1919 so as to not be confused with churches like the Assemblies of God that emphasized speaking in tongues and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit). While we differ on “the tongues issue,” we certainly would consider the Assemblies of God church a “sister” church. So why are they doing so well, when the until this year, the Church of the Nazarene in USA/Canada has been in a massive decadal decline?

One might pick an obvious answer and say, it is because of their emphasis on speaking in tongues. But is that it or is there something else going on? I’m sure there are several factors that have contributed to the denominational growth. I will suggest one. 

By virtue of their emphasis on the workings of the Holy Spirit, the Assemblies of God preach a gospel that is near. By that I mean experiential. They are in tune to the fact that Jesus is with us when we gather (with “two or more,” remember His words). In a world that is increasingly disconnected from one another, they preach a gospel of connectedness. This isn’t a tongues issue. It’s what our society is seeking. In an ever increasing lonely world, it’s a message that says, “God wants to connect with you.” 

It can be our message too. Again, I don’t think it is about unknown tongues. It is about meeting with Jesus. Seeking Jesus. Expecting Jesus to show up at our gatherings. It’s the presence of Jesus that makes for a compelling worship service. Not music, lights or preaching. It’s Jesus. 

The Assemblies of God figured that out long ago, and people are drawn to their story. That can be us. Jesus wants to meet with us. Do we plan, pray and prepare our hearts for an up close and personal encounter with Jesus. Maybe if we saw that happening more and more in our churches (starting with our pastors and church leaders), our growth trajectory would look more like the Assemblies of God rather than the stock graph line of Radio Shack (It’s not that bad my fellow Nazarenes). 

Our world needs Jesus. The Assemblies of God doesn’t have a corner on the market of Jesus. It’s a message we can and do preach. The more our people get in touch with Jesus, the greater our impact on culture and society will be. Our task is simple: Connect people to Jesus.