Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSAWAKE O ZION!The tragedy caused us to see afresh the preciousness ofeach brother and sister. Dave was ‘with the Lord’, but hisdeath was an untimely loss. It was a particular grief for hisparents who felt we must be to blame. Local newspapers,though, reported the coroner’s comment that he could see noreason to blame the church.However we sensed the spiritual battle was increasing asfalse rumours, accusations and opposition now mounted up.Some of the stories were silly, ranging from Swiss bank accountsfor Noel to cold showers for erring members! It wasinevitable. Quakers, Methodists, the Salvation Army and thePentecostals had all received the same treatment. So had theearly Christians. ‘In fact, everyone who wants to live a godlylife in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,’ wrote Paul in 2 Timothy3:12.Some Christians, too, thought us arrogant, purposely isolatedin our ‘Zion fortress’ in the Northamptonshire countryside.‘Bugbrooke think they’re right and everybody else is wrong,’they said. ‘If you watch telly you’re a spiritual moron. If youdon’t live in community you hate your brothers. If you playtennis you’re in love with the world. And if you criticise themyou are a tool of the devil! — Just who do they think theyare?’‘Bugbrooke’ became a worry to the world, an irritation tothe evangelicals and an embarrassment to the Baptist Union.But we were confident of the leading of God and the radicalmessage he had given us to proclaim. As Arthur Wallis wrote:156