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Fire In Our Hearts

Fire in our Hearts: the story of the Jesus Fellowship/Jesus Army
By Simon Cooper and Mike Farrant
Multiply Publications. 384 pages. £4.99
ISBN 1 900878 05 4

This racy account of the Jesus Fellowship (JF), more popularly known as 'Bugbrooke', by two of its leaders, is an expanded edition of a book published originally in 1991 by Kingsway.
The JF and its founder, Noel Stanton, have always been controversial, with questions raised as to whether it is an authentic expression of biblical Christianity or a cult.
My response to this account was two-edged. My wife and I stayed a few days at Bugbrooke in the late 1970s at a time when we were seeking the Lord's direction for our lives and had been wondering if the Lord would have us join. While many ideals seemed excellent, some factors troubled us.
In Roger Forster's interview of Stanton, toward the end of this book, Forster asks Stanton why he thought the JF had 'travelled such a distinctive road'. Stanton replies: 'The important factor has been our obedience to the prophetic directional word . . . We haven't 'flirted' with the word by receiving some 'new' direction and then giving it up and going on to something else' (p.357).
This is a very significant statement, not just for the JF, but for Christian ministry in general. If the prophetic ministry is to flourish, it must always be subject to the apostolic dimension. In general terms, this means that the soundest vehicle for the prophetic word is the exposition and application of the written Word of God to the local church situation. Because there cannot be foundational apostles (the Twelve plus Paul) today, it is dangerous to cut loose the prophetic dimension and allow whatever appears to be prophetic 'so long as it does not appear to be unbiblical'. Rather, the two should be interwoven at all times.
The use of biblical imagery in alleged prophetic utterances is not enough; solid biblical exposition and application are the only safe contexts for prophetic directives. The whole Bible must be mobilised; the Bible should not remain static whilst 'prophetic insights' manoeuvre their way past apparently biblical obstacles.
I also felt that there was too much focus on the community itself and not enough upon the Lord as a person. I suspect that most readers would either by attracted to or repelled by this kind of community, without necessarily being confronted by the Lord in a personal way.
The other reaction I had was of an appreciation for the sheer daring of the enterprise. While I may disagree at a fundamental level with the foundation of this particular set-up, it is also extremely valuable to have an account of a radical movement of this kind which appears to be successful on its own terms.
We all need to be shaken up by the Lord because of our constant tendency to fall into spiritual self-satisfaction. It is as if there is a force of gravity ever seeking to prevent us flying high with God. I do feel that all who are satisfied with their present church structures would benefit from reading this book and then asking the Lord what changes he would want to see in their own local churches.

Mike Taylor