Emphasis Preaching Journal

The small church had been racked by controversy for years. Attendance declined dramatically as the seething cauldron of spiritual gifts flooded the church like the raging waters of the Mississippi River. The charismatics, scolding the conservatives for not speaking in tongues, insisted that they were more spiritual than their counterparts. The conservatives blamed the charismatics for dividing the church over an "insignificant issue." Finally, in frustration, the senior pastor called both groups together to resolve the problem.